Two of the McCabe Educational Trust sponsored volunteers tell us about this year’s Summer School – our fifth consecutive Summer School at Jeel al Amal Boys Home in Bethany. Over the years, they have noticed great changes for the better at the home, and feel strongly that this should continue to be a regular feature of the McCabe Educational Trust calendar.

This year four volunteers stayed in Bethany and helped run the summer school at Jeel.  The programme was run and completed earlier than usual due to Ramadan.  Visits included water parks in Nablus and Jericho and to the Jerusalem Zoo.  The boys enjoyed various crafts, games and activities during the sessions – and work continued on some new murals in the boarding house.  The spare money at the end of the programme was spent on school uniforms for some of the boys!

Francesca Lemanczyk and Panna Chauhan tell us how impressed they were with the progress there:
Francesca writes:

“I really enjoyed my time at Jeel Al Amal, thanks to the fundraising done by the McCabe Trust, we were able to not only be there to put on fun activities but also treat the children to swimming trips away from the orphanage.  As soon as we got on the bus to Jericho the children were so excited at the prospect of going out for the day – throughout the entire journey their faces were glued to the windows, absorbing the world around them.  After the initial splash of all the children jumping into the pool at once, games, diving competitions and new underwater tricks ensued.  The boys were in their element, playing happily and without worries – they were being given the chance to be children again, something which must be hard for children who have had to grow up so quickly.  By the time we were back in Jeel, the bus was silent as all the boys were fast asleep, exhausted from their action packed day.  Carrying and walking the sleepy boys back to their rooms is something I’ll never forget – they were drifting between sleep and reality, entirely content after their fun-filled day.

Personally, I also learned a great deal from my time in Palestine – so much history, politics, religion, language, traditions and culture.  Most importantly, in a country with so many challenges I saw that the children at Jeel Al Amal were growing up to be intelligent, thoughtful and already inspirational young people. It was an honour to meet them.  Thank you McCabe’s trust for making this wonderful project a reality for the boys of Jeel Al Amal.”
Panna writes:

“I am very privileged to spend my 4th summer there.  Being able to see the boys grow up is so lovely and to see how the home is improving every year with the amazing changes with the building and all the great experiences for the boys — a new play area has being built as well as a new music room and there so much more!

We had a lovely 3 trips in the time I was there, one to the Jerusalem Zoo and to 2 water parks, one in Nablus and other in Jericho.  The boys were so well behaved and I am so proud of them. They helped me with four murals on the walls in the corridors where they live and  they were so pleased to have been part of it.  They can tell everyone that they helped, and this made them very happy.  I am very proud of the boys and so lucky to see them every year. They are in my heart and always will be.

I thank you for giving me this opportunity.  I spend my year looking forward to the next visit, Thank you.”

 

Donations Summary

For more than twenty years, the McCabe Educational Trust has been creating partnerships with inspiring people we have met on pilgrimage.   A special Thank You to McCabe pilgrims who helped us raise £8,560.23 during July contributing to a total of £139,360 raised so far this year!

With your help, we will continue helping those in need we encounter on our travels