Our Projects
Our Projects
FHL fund a mixture of sustainable and immediate relief work the West Bank, Gaza, Israel and Jordan and focuses on the areas of:
Education
Employment
Housing
Family Support
Health
Education
FHL supports education in the Holy Land as a vital way to ensure the future of Christian communities, funding students when this is beyond the resources of their families.
FHL support students at the Arab Episcopal School in Ramallah, the Christ Episcopal School in Nazareth and the Greek Catholic Patriarchate School in Beit Sahour. We also support specific educational institutions supporting the wider community such as the School of Joy in Beit Sahour. Educational work extends to universities in Gaza and Bethlehem. Sponsoring summer schools in Nablus and Aboud means young Christians receive some distraction and respite from difficulties of their daily lives.
Opportunities exist to support a named child/student for just £20 a month – with Gift Aid this will fund the lowest school fees for one year. You can make an immediate on line donation here or contact the office on 01926 512980 office@friendsoftheholylnd.org.uk to support an individual named child.
Case Studies
West Bank Beit Jala School of Joy
Employment Projects
Improving employment prospects for Christians living in the Holy Land is vital to help them build a secure and sustainable future. FHL fund a number of employment projects, many of which complement our work in education. To make an immediate donation please click here.
Employment projects range from sponsoring work placements for young people, providing seed corn funding to assist Christian business ventures, supporting the traditional Christian industry of Olive Wood carving, and recommending Christian hotels and ground handlers to pilgrims visiting the Holy Land.
Case Studies
Gaza - Youth Employment Project
Housing
With so many challenges to face in the land of their birth, it is not surprising many Christians emigrate if they can. The Christian population in the Holy Land is already less than 2%; a further population decline would be tragic. FHL recognise that the provision of adequate housing is vital in our work to encourage a sustainable Christian presence in the West Bank, Gaza, Israel and Jordan.
Project work in housing is varied and includes projects such house renovations to eradicate damp, the division of family homes into two units, refurbishments to suit mobility needs and water supply projects, such as installing water butts, to help counter the impact of water shortages. To help support our work in housing please click here.
Case Studies
West Bank House Refurbishment to suit mobility needs
Family Support
There are many individuals and families who are unable to find the money to buy the essentials of life. These are brought to our attention by local clergy and the FHL Local Committee.
They are each visited on a regular basis and receive 500 shekels a month (around £90) to help them with their daily living costs.
FHL currently supports 43 families in this way and we are aware of many other cases when funds become available. There are opportunities to support individual families for £5 per day.
Health
With no NHS or social care provision Christians in the Holy Land have extremely limited access to medical care. Medicines can cost the equivalent of 25% of one years income, and operations as much as five years income. In the last three years FHL have helped hundreds of Christians to access medicines, investigations, and surgery that in the UK we would get through the NHS
As well has helping individual Christians with medical needs FHL also supports institutions such St Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in Nablus and the Arab Episcopal Medical Centre in Ramallah through targeted appeals. Since its foundation in 2009 FHL has also supported St Martha’s House, the first day-care Centre for elderly women in Bethlehem.
Could your parish, deanery of diocese support our medical work? In 2015, the diocese of Norwich Lent appeal chose to fund a 3-year programme and helped 200 Christians a year at the Arab Episcopal Medical Centre in Ramallah. They raised an impressive £29,000 to support this work.
To donate immediately please click here
Alternatively, contact the office so we can identify a specific medical project to support. Tel 01926 512980 or email office@friendsoftheholyland.org.uk
To see a list of all of our projects, please click here