Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope in Ramallah

The Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope is located just minutes from the Manara, the bustling center of the West Bank city of Ramallah. With 60,000 people in its metropolitan area and over 280,000 in the surrounding governorate, Ramallah is one of the primary centers of Palestinian government, business, arts, and culture. The Palestinian National Authority offices are here along with many of the largest businesses, schools, and cultural centers of the Palestinian territories.

The lively atmosphere of this vibrant, growing city mirrors the atmosphere at the Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope. Over 400 students take courses in traditional academic disciplines and participate in a variety of extra curricular activities, such as choir and dance ensembles, sports teams and scout troops.

The student council is also particularly active at the Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope. The first of its kind in any school in Ramallah, the council works to engage the school in community service projects, help shape the school's policies and environment, coordinate educational events such as visits from local speakers, and plan school celebrations and gatherings.

Many graduates of the Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope continue their education at the nearby Bir Zeit University, where they can study courses in languages, engineering, medicine, and education.

Mission

The Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope, an educational institution in Ramallah whose name was adopted from 1 Corinthians 13:13 (“And now abideth faith, hope, and love…”) is one of the institutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL).

Founded in 1965, the school was nurtured and embraced by people with administrative and educational competencies, who at that time realized the country’s continuing need for knowledge and education.

Without regard to religion, gender, capabilities, or financial/social status, the school aims at serving the whole Palestinian society endeavoring to achieve its mission by spreading religious and national values, such as acceptance, love, civic spirit, forgiveness and openness.

Striving to continue its unique position in Palestinian life, the school has always emphasized curricular and extra-curricular activities that build purposeful relationships with local and international organizations, and provide experiences that will develop effective graduates who excel in their contributions to society.

History

Prior to the Arab-Israeli War of 1948, Ramallah was a small, largely Christian village of approximately 6,000 persons located in the hills to the north of Jerusalem. Many of Ramallah’s families emigrated prior to or during the war, and refugees from throughout Palestine poured into the city in the war’s aftermath. By 1953, the town’s population had doubled.

Lutherans from the Bethlehem region, along with refugees now residing in Ramallah, petitioned the heads of churches in Jerusalem to establish a Lutheran congregation in the city to serve the changing population. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hope began in 1954. The church building was completed in 1963, and the congregation immediately made plans to open a school.

In the fall of 1966, the Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope was opened as a kindergarten with just ten students and two teachers in the lower level of the church building. Rev. Basim Nijim, then pastor of the congregation, served as the school’s first principal from 1966 to 1982; he divided his time between the church and school. Under Pastor Nijim’s leadership, the school systematically added one grade level per year, graduating its first class in the spring of 1979.

The first two levels of the school building were constructed in 1976, with a third level added in 1982 and a partial fourth level in 2000. Today the Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope continues as a K-12 school, enrolling approximately 400 students. The twenty-fifth class of students graduated from the school in 2004.

Contact information

Michael Abu Ghazaleh, principal
Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope
PO Box 162
Ramallah, Palestine
via Israel
Phone: +972-2-295-3977
Fax: +972-2-298-7952
School e-mail: hope@schoolofhope.sch.ps