Project’s Website:
Sr. Susan, Sr. Frantiska, and Fr. George visited three preschools and two recently renovated homes on August 29 and 30. Sabah, who had recovered from a second, severe bout of COVID, led us on the visits. The first preschool was called Shamsy Ed’da School. It was in a very poor area within the eye-sight of farmland where most of the parents worked. In the past, Sabah had worked with the director, a university-trained preschool administrator. This school also helped Sabah with food distribution and medical aid programs. The school needs new bathrooms, a storage shed, a counter in the kitchen, an artificial lawn (too much sand tracked in), and a canopy for the playground.
The second proposed school had two small classrooms on an upper floor, a challenging staircase, and dilapidated bathrooms. We felt there were too many major needs. The school had 150 preschoolers in the past—too many for the space. We questioned if this school follows the local preschool guidelines.
The two renovated homes with eight and six children had multiple improvements: a new bathroom, kitchen improvements, newly tiled floors, windows, and painted walls. The children were happy. The parents of the family with six children said that their kids no longer spend all their time outside on the street because they have a real home with more space inside to play.
We cut our visit a little short on Tuesday to allow Sa bah more time to rest. Through Sami, our driver and helper, she had kept abreast of renovations and other work even while ill. We pray for her continued recovery. Wasel our social worker lost her husband two weeks ago so these two women have had a difficult summer.
