Phone: 972-2-626-6800 FAX: 972-2-628-5764 ADDRESS: Muristan Road P.O. Box 14076 Jerusalem 91140 via Israel
There are a number of ways you can support the work of 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 50-60 percent of total school costs; today, fees collected from students amount to less than 40-50 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 strategic plan of the educational ministry of the ELCJHL includes as its ninth goal financial self-sustainability with five years. Because the schools’ largest budget items deal with fixed and continuing expenses like salaries, this will be achieved by careful attention to hiring and retirement policies and equalizing tuition fees among the grade levels and schools.
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 U.S. AND CANADA:
Contact: Rev. Twila Schock, director for Global Mission Support (Missionary Sponsorship/Global Gifts) Global Mission and Development Services Unit Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 8765 W. Higgins Road Chicago, IL 60631 Phone: 773-380-2641 Fax: 773-380-2410 E-mail: Rev. Twila Schock (twila.schock@elca.org)
FOR THOSE IN ALL OTHER COUNTRIES:
Contact: Dr. Charlie D. Haddad, Director of Education ELCJHL Schools and Educational Programs P.O. Box 14076 – Old City Jerusalem 91140 via Israel Phone: +972-2-626-6865 Fax: +972-2-626-6857 E-mail: Dr. Charlie Haddad (chaddad@elcjhl.org)
Despite the challenges of working under the present situation, 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 that could use your support are very briefly described below:
▫ Al-Mahaba Kindergarten needs computers and educational games.
▫ Furnishing and equipping science laboratories to give students the opportunity to perform scientific experiments.
▫ As part of the school’s educational objectives and strategy, a library is essential to give the students the opportunity to create and implement alternative student evaluation methods, such as projects and research.
▫ Furnishing and equipping the administrative area soon to be completed
▫ Completing the interior construction work for the administration building
▫ Construction of a school library facility
Providing funds for operating costs and staffing for programs like the following:
▫ Environmental public awareness campaign for the preservation of water:
The goal of this project is to create public awareness for the preservation of the limited water sources in the Palestinian Territories. Involving approximately 500,000 people in the three West Bank districts of Bethlehem, Ramallah and Hebron, the project will encourage local residents to use more effective conservation techniques to preserve safe water sources, now limited even more by the confiscation of previously available resources.
▫ Acting for the Palestinian environment:
Garbage not only contributes to the spread of disease; its disposal also requires landfills that increase potential environmental hazards. Burning and dumping methods used during the present political conflict cause environmental problems and waste reusable natural resources. In this project, glass and paper, which make up nearly 20 percent of hard waste, will be sent to recycling centers. The ELCJHL's schools plan to participate in the paper recycling project.
▫ Natures' Classroom:
Palestinians have few recreational outlets from the physical and mental hardships of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This project, an enriched educational experience for Palestinian youth, will address the recreational and emotional rehabilitative needs of Palestinian youth affected by the violence of their daily lives. The goal of this project is not only to provide Palestinian youth with a mental and physical pause from stress but also to promote environmental awareness via early intervention.
▫ Volunteers:
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 recently started construction of chemistry, biology and physics labs. Your contribution will help in the internal finishing work of the labs and in providing equipment, furniture and materials needed for the success of this project.
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.
▫ Contributions toward construction of a new school already planned and partially funded
▫ Construction of two classrooms and two labs for an information and computer technology program
The Lutheran School of Hope is planning to start a special program specializing in information and computer technology, in addition to the existing science and arts streams. These courses, unavailable at any of the private schools in Ramallah, will provide a two-year, post-high school program for students with additional job skills and opportunities in an area where such demand is rising. The construction of two new classrooms and two complementary labs will be necessary to offer this stream.
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 Israel's 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 a sports and recreation program in order to offer the 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 continue repairing the playground. Funds for trainers' salaries are also needed to continue such programs.
The MLCDC has a weekly daycare program for children 3-12 years of age for mothers who are participating in MLCDC activities. The daycare center offers educational activities as well as entertainment for the children. Your contribution will help in the MLCDC’s efforts to empower women in the Palestinian community.
Please contact Dr. Charlie Haddad (chaddad@elcjhl.org) 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.