Friends of the Holy Land hold first virtual meeting

Fr Mamdouh Abusada in Q&A

Friends of the Holy Land supporters from across the country gathered online for the first time yesterday, to hear from Father Mamdouh Abusada, director of the School of Joy for special needs children in Beit Sahour near Bethlehem.

Fr Abusada spoke about the challenge facing the people of Bethlehem, especially the Christian families, where more than 80% of were employed in tourism industries which have completely closed down since the outbreak of Coronavirus. It looks unlikely things will return to normal before Easter next year. This is having grave economic consequences. Fr Abusada warned that many people are struggling to cope without income.

Fr Abusada went on to talk about the many challenges the School of Joy was facing in reopening in September. The School needs to purchase thermometers to take children's temperatures, masks to make sure all staff and students are safe and new uniforms in six colours, to allow bubbles of children to stay separated. They are also introducing new systems, with half as many children in each classroom and students attending only every other day, to limit the number of children on site.

The supporters of Friends of the Holy Land asked a number of questions about the situation in Bethlehem, and how we could best support our Brothers and Sisters there during these difficult times. Fr Abusada and Friends of the Holy Land committed to remember each other in prayer; continue to raise awareness of the plight of our Christian Brothers and Sisters in the Holy Land and keep fundraising to support them.

Friends of the Holy Land are planning more virtual events in the future and hope to see many of their old and new supporters at them in the future, and are continuing their mission in Standing Firm with Christians in the Holy Land.

Friends of the Holy Land have two major projects in Bethlehem, School of Joy providing education and therapy to disabled children and St Martha's House which is a day centre for elderly women, mainly widows or those whose family have emigrated. FHL also provide long term support to St Luke's Hospital in Nablus, by supporting a medical exemption fund for the local Christian population.

For more details, see: www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/home