Phone: 972-2-626-6800 FAX: 972-2-628.5764 ADDRESS: Muristan Rd. P.O. Box 14076 Jerusalem 91140 via Israel
There are a number of ways you can support the work of the ELCJHL Schools and educational programs. One important and timely way is by contributing toward the tuition fees of ELCJHL students. Because of the continuing economic deterioration of Palestinian communities during the second Intifada, which began in 2000, many families who once could pay for or contribute to their children’s education can no longer give even a minimal amount. During prosperous times tuition fees paid by students’ families provided approximately 45 percent of total school costs; today fees collected from students amount to less than 25 percent in the ELCJHL Schools. Contributions designated to compensate for this loss of funds are very important to local needy families and to the continued functioning of the ELCJHL Schools today.
The best way to support an ELCJHL student is to contribute directly to the ELCJHL Schools scholarship fund, a pool from which scholarship committees in each ELCJHL School can draw. Through an established application process within each school, families of students receive tuition fee exemptions in varying amounts based on their financial situation and expected tuition contribution. Your contribution to the scholarship fund allows the ELCJHL Schools to grant exemptions to a greater number of families in need; in many cases, these exemptions enable a family to continue sending their child to an ELCJHL School.
FOR THOSE IN THE US:
Contact Rev. Twila Schock
Global Mission Unit
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
8765 W. Higgins Road,
Chicago, IL 60631
twila.schock@elca.org
FROM ALL OTHER COUNTRIES
Contact Dr. Charlie D. Haddad, Director of Education for the ELCJHL
Dr. Charlie D. Haddad Director of Education for the ELCJHL P.O. Box 14076 – Old City Jerusalem 91140 Phone: +972-2-626-6865 Fax: +972-2-626-6857
Despite the challenges of working under the present situation, the ELCJHL Schools and Educational Programs continue to develop educational programs and facilities to meet the needs of our students. Some of the projects/programs and initiatives planned or currently underway in the ELCJHL Schools which could use your support are very briefly described below:
Continuing Education Courses for those who have a basic education and wish to improve their job opportunities. Such skills are crucial especially with the closure of the West Bank by the Israeli Separation Wall.
Training Workshops open to community groups on topics dealing with social, economic, and political topics, such as human rights and women's issues in Jerusalem as a divided city.
The MLCDC offers sports and recreation programs in order to provide for youth of the Old City of Jerusalem a refuge and alternative to the streets. The MLCDC wishes to add more group sports activities to the existing ones, to add equipment to the sports hall, and to enhance the playground. Your contribution would help offer youth a safe haven from aggression, drugs and other street related violence.
The MLCDC operates a daycare center for children between 2-6 years of age at the request of mothers who are participating in activities offered by the MLCDC. The daycare center offers educational activities as well as entertainment for the children attending it. Your contribution will help in the MLCDC’s efforts to empower women in the Palestinian community.
The EEC is always in need of volunteers for the implementation of its environmental programs and projects. Anyone interested in these areas is encouraged to apply:
The ELS needs special funds for the annual salary of a librarian. Library skills are vital in a society where reading is not encouraged or promoted. Students also need professional training in using library resources for research and projects. A librarian will help organize and update the library resources and schedule its effective use by students, staff and community.
The ELS needs updating and upgrading of the equipment, tools and materials needed for the effective teaching of chemistry, biology and physics.
Sports are an integral part of the school program and are crucial to pupils’ holistic development. These structured programs are especially therapeutic for children traumatized by the prevailing violence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, the existing outdoor playground at ELS is too small, and there are no sports facilities for indoor sports or winter activities.
The science laboratory at the Lutheran School of Hope has not been upgraded for 25 years. The current condition of the laboratory, which serves all the students in grades 1-12 in all the science classes offered is inadequate for effective learning.
The Lutheran School of Hope is planning to establish a Technology Laboratory to meet the rapid development in ICT (Information and Communication Technology). Among the subjects taught will be communication, electronics, electricity, data analysis and interpretation.
The Lutheran School of Hope is planning to start a commerce stream of program offerings in addition to the existing science and arts streams. Commercial courses, unavailable at any of the private schools in Ramallah, will provide students with additional job skills and opportunities in an area where such demand is rising. The construction of two new classrooms will be necessary to offer this stream.
Dar al Kalima would like to expand its use of drama to improve communication skills and creative expression among its students. Volunteers with relevant background and experience are encouraged to apply. Contributions to support this project are welcome.
Dar al Kalima has been operating since 2000 without any language or science laboratory facilities. Constructing and equipping these facilities are essential to develop skills in English in German and to prepare students in the science stream.
Dar al Kalima also lacks a school library, which is essential for providing students with the resources and facilities for research and enrichment.
The Al-Mahaba Kindergarten needs computers to give students from poor neighborhoods an equal advantage for learning readiness in the increasingly technological world. Your contribution to a special fund for this purpose will help the children of East Jerusalem, which now has a 45% dropout rate.
Please for more details and information on how you can support any of these projects or for additional opportunities to assist in the educational work of the ELCJHL.