I am Viola Nouhi, and for several months, I have been working at the Giovanni Paolo II Foundation, after completing a year of Universal Civil Service in Bethlehem at the Effetà Paolo VI Institute.

 

Exactly at this time last year, I was there, uplifted by the joy of the children and captivated by the Christmas spirit that only the Holy Land can convey. Often, these days, I find myself reflecting on that period when the war seemed so distant.

 

Christmas is just around the corner, and my heart aches as I read the news of the conflict devastating that land once again. The Dorotean Sisters, who have always managed the Institute, update me every week on what is happening in Bethlehem. Unfortunately, fewer and fewer students can reach the school. Most of them live far away and cannot travel because it is risky to navigate the streets and cross checkpoints. Classes continue online, but for a deaf child, progress cannot be the same.

 

If the challenges were already significant a year ago, the situation has changed in recent months. Families are struggling and can no longer afford to pay school fees. Many businesses in cities have already closed, workers' permits have been revoked, and crossing the wall is now impossible.

 

I wonder what will happen to Effetà and all the children who welcomed me with a smile. I fear that activities may come to a halt, extinguishing their only hope for an inclusive future. In Palestine, this is one of the very few schools allowing deaf children to learn to speak.

 

During my year in Bethlehem, I witnessed the impact of donations, transforming into food for the girls in the boarding school, speech therapy sessions, and pencils that bring some color to a place where the wall, just a few steps away, paints everything gray.

 

For this reason, we have decided to dedicate the Christmas fundraiser to the Effetà Institute. In such a dramatic moment for Bethlehem and Palestine, it is crucial that this school withstands and continues to be a place of hope and a space for peace. We need everyone's support.

 

Viola Nouhi