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School Is Starting!

August 1, 2012

In just a few weeks, summer vacation will finish, and the children of Israel will once again be in school. For most children, this is a happy time, a time to see friends again and get involved with their studies. But, not all children look forward to the first day of school. Some children’s families are unable to provide the basics to insure their child’s success in school.

In Israel, education is free, but parents have significant costs including school books, workbooks, notebooks, pencils, markers, backpack, school clothing, outings, tutoring, extracurricular events, and lunches. It all adds up, and even middle class people find the burden heavy, especially if there are several children in the family.

For those in the lower economic strata—which usually includes new immigrants, who often struggle to feed their families—providing for their children’s education is beyond their reach. Many Israeli children come to school without books, notebooks, or lunches. They don’t have proper backpacks and don’t participate in school outings. Sadly, unless someone helps these children, they fall behind year after year until they reach high school and the age when they can legally drop out of school. What a waste of potential!

In 2006, Bridges for Peace started the Feed a Child Program to provide for some of their needs. We believe that children are worth the investment. Today, over 250 children in eight schools at Beit Shemesh and Karmiel are sponsored by Christians who want to see them have the tools needed to prosper in their education.

Each child receives a new backpack with supplies, all their schoolbooks and workbooks, lunch each day, and is able to go on all school outings. Some children also receive school uniforms (required in some schools). In Beit Shemesh, we also sponsor a summer camp for the children on our program in conjunction with the Beit Shemesh Foundation.

To my great joy, children who had no hope of a meaningful future just a few years ago are now at the top of their class with dreams of becoming teachers, doctors, and even archaeologists! The teachers and principals enthusiastically say the program is making a tremendous impact on their students’ lives and future.

A Day at Adayahu School

Recently, two volunteers from Bridges for Peace, Loraine, manager of the Feed a Child Program, and Pamela, a retired school teacher, went to Beit Shemesh to distribute birthday gift packages to children on the program. Pamela was very impressed with the children. She said they were so thankful and polite. Their excitement seemed to be subdued by the wonder that someone they didn’t know would give them a birthday gift, as some of them had never been given a birthday gift before. Subsequently, we received this letter from the English teacher of the Adayahu Elementary School.

Dear Bridges for Peace Volunteers,

I bet you are all wondering what I could tell you that you don’t already know about this topic. Many times over this past year, you have been to Beit Shemesh and specifically to Adayahu School. You are familiar with what a day at our school is like because you have given of your time and energy to come visit our children and bring joy, love, and gifts.

I would like to share with you what happens after you leave, so that you can understand the impact your visit and your time and your effort has on these children.

These are children who don’t see the bigger picture of the world outside of Israel, and most certainly not outside Beit Shemesh. Their reality is the day-to-day struggle to survive, economically, emotionally, and sometimes even physically. They deal with all kinds of stresses, including losing loved ones to disease and violence, family breakdown, drugs, violence and alcohol, and all the related issues. These children feel forgotten and neglected, and they struggle daily with lack of self-confidence and self-worth.

After a visit from you, these children feel empowered and confident. Someone who speaks a different language took the time to come visit them, took the time to come play with them, took the time to come and talk to them about things that happen outside the world they know. They feel enriched, motivated, and they go away feeling…“Wow! I matter!! I am important!”

This is something that we, as the staff at Adayahu, try to impact to them daily, but the message is so much clearer and stronger when it comes from strangers who just by showing up convey this powerful message to our children. I can only thank you from the bottom of my heart for your time, patience, and all the support you give our students and pray that this continues for a long, long time. There is nothing more important that you can do than giving these children a sense of self-worth and self-importance. You have saved a life.

Thank you very much,
Pearl Peller, English teacher

Do You Want to Help Save a Child’s Future?

We are looking for new sponsors for the Feed a Child Program. We are thrilled with the program results and would love to bring additional children and schools in more communities into the program. We can only do that with your help. Please consider sponsoring a child for the year.

If you cannot make a year commitment, your one-time gift will enable us to help the schools provide needed equipment. The generosity of Christians giving one-time gifts has allowed us to provide computer labs, smart board technology, electronics lab, air conditioning, and other needs.

Together we are changing the future—one child at a time.

Blessings from Israel,

Rebecca J. Brimmer
International President and CEO