The Al-Basma” (“smile” in Arabic) Special Education Center exists to serve the developmentally disabled in the Bethlehem area and refugee camps. Founded in 1987 as a modest project to serve disenfranchised youth, Al-Basma has become a vital part of the community. It served just 5 clients when it first opened. Since that time it has grown considerably and now serves 36 young adults from ages 15 and older. Families rely on the Center for programs for youth with special developmental needs. By engaging these students, the center also creates an opportunity for their mothers to be able to work outside…
Al-Basma Center
Beit Sahour, Palestine
مركز البسمة
The Quaker Palestine Israel Network and the Peace and Social Concerns Committee at Multnomah Friends Meeting invite you to provide financial support to a very special place: The Al-Basma Center in Beit Sahour, Palestine.
The Al-Basma” (“smile” in Arabic) Special Education Center exists to serve the developmentally disabled in the Bethlehem area and refugee camps. Founded in 1987 as a modest project to serve disenfranchised youth, Al-Basma has become a vital part of the community. It served just 5 clients when it first opened. Since that time it has grown considerably and now serves 36 young adults from ages 15 and older. Families rely on the Center for programs for youth with special developmental needs. By engaging these students, the center also creates an opportunity for their mothers to be able to work outside the home.
The center’s mission is to empower their clients and improve their quality of life, prepare them to participate in mainstream society, and strive to overcome barriers separating the handicapped and non-handicapped in the community. Emphasis is given to programs teaching the essentials of daily life. Students learn skills in social interaction as well as personal hygiene and self-care. Additionally, there are programs that nurture a sense of creativity, providing opportunity for students to display artisanship in skills such as weaving, recycling paper, and a small laundry project.
MFM Support for Al-Basma Center
All donations are tax deductible.
Annual statements are provided.
Click here for more info about the project