first established in the year

1966. This call in itself

was a uniquely historic

moment in the life of the

Center and the Jordanian

Royal family.

In the enthusiastic con-

gratulations and the tone

of warm affection, her

Royal Highness an-

nounced a generous gift

towards the school. Both

Bishop Suheil Dawani,

chairman of the Board of

directors, and Betty Majaj,

CEO, responded gratefully

by phone to the gracious

gift and kind thoughts.

The graduation ceremony

took place within the spa-

cious terrace at the Center

where attendants enjoyed

a panoramic view to the

West overlooking the Jor-

dan River valley as it en-

folds into its western

heights. It is a pleasure to

Introduction

The Jerusalem Princess

Basma Center for Dis-

abled Children (JCDC)

has been on the forefront

of advocacy for medical,

social and educational

support for children with

disabilities and their

families bringing life,

opportunity and hope to

children who would oth-

erwise be left to sit at

home. The Princess

Basma Center has

trained and hired adults

with disabilities to work

in the Center and serve

as inspiring role models

for the young. It is worth

noting that 20% of our

staff themselves have

special needs.

School Report

The highlight of this

year’s achievements was

the first graduation cere-

mony at the Princess

Basma School when the

graduates completed the

12-year elementary and

secondary education

level (Tawjihi). Thir-

teen students, boys and

girls out of sixteen have

successfully passed the

government exam with

very good averages.

The school, which was

established in 1987

with 17 students, had

only elementary

level at the time.

Over the years we

have been blessed

with financial sup-

port from the Wel-

fare Association, the

European Fund and

the Jerusalem Fund

in Morocco to up-

grade our education

system to the secon-

dary level. At the

school the physically

challenged, the hear-

ing impaired and the

visually challenged

children sit side by

side with the able

bodied children pur-

suing the same cur-

riculum.

During the gradua-

tion ceremony, the

graduates, their

families and guests

were warmly greeted

with another mile-

stone, a live tele-

phone call from Am-

man, Jordan by her

Royal Highness

Princess Basma Bint

Talal Ben Abdullah

Ben Hussein, the sis-

ter of the late King

Hussein of Jordan.

Princess Basma had

inaugurated the

building when it was

December 2010

Annual Report 2010

The Jerusalem Princess Basma Center for Disabled Children (JCDC)

share with you with pride

the picture of our first

graduates on May 30, 2010.

All 13 students out of 16

who have successfully

passed their secondary ex-

ams have been accepted in

various universities to pur-

sue their academic educa-

tion. One of them has

joined a university in Cairo

for medical studies.

The new school year has

begun this year later than

usual on September 14 in

order to enable the students

and teachers to terminate

their fast of the Holy month

of Ramadan on September

9 and return after the feast.

(continued on page 3)

First School Graduation May 2010

2

with all applicable stan-

dards and achieve a

minimal numerical score

on these standards.

Should we receive our

accreditation within

three years the Center

will receive a final ac-

creditation report and

award certificate. The

report indicates the level

of compliance with the

JCI standards achieved

rusalem in addition to

the Jerusalem Princess

Basma Center for Dis-

abled Children. Their

mission is to improve

the quality of care and

services in the commu-

nity through the provi-

sion of accreditation and

consultation services.

To gain accreditation,

we must demonstrate

acceptable compliance

A selected committee

composed of Mrs. Kathy

English, MBA, MSN,

RN, Dr. Helen Hoesing,

Phd, RN-Team leader,

and Dr. Tracy Gordy,

MD, representing the

Joint Commission Inter-

national (JCI) U.S.A.

visited East Jerusalem to

evaluate the healthcare

standards in the five ma-

jor hospitals in East Je-

Joint Commission International Visit to the Princess Basma Center

Summer Camp

sharing with their children

had a positive impact by

raising the problems that

their children suffer

from. The main focus

and goals of service were

raising awareness of

mothers regarding their

children’s problems, de-

veloping cognitive, mo-

tor, social, psychological

Twenty children from

the hearing impaired

class attended from 14

June 2010 to 31 July

2010. Fifteen children

and their mothers from

the in-patient depart-

ment attended during the

period 27 June 2010 to

15 July 2010. The pres-

ence of the mothers

and emotional skills of

children, motivating and

encouraging children to

blend in society and in-

crease their self confi-

dence. Those goals

were achieved through

various programs by im-

plementing internal ac-

tivities such as art, mu-

sic, sports & cooking;

Page 2

Annual Report 2010

by the organization and

standards for which contin-

ued improvement is war-

ranted.

recruited by Highway Pro-

jects under the leadership of

Ian White. We owe Ian in

particular and his team our

appreciation and gratitude in

contributing richly to the

camp’s programs for many

years. In addition the reha-

bilitation team at the Center

supervised and implemented

activities with the participa-

tion of the mothers.

Those experiences were

very informative and the

mothers urged us to include

them in these projects in

future programs.

Children in summer camp

Community breakfast at KG

3

instruments, forming a

choir and a band etc.

We had to undergo ex-

tensive renovations at

the school by adding

classes and upon the re-

quest of the Security and

Safety consultants in-

stalling additional

ramps.

proach for educating

children with disabili-

ties. The goal of inclu-

sion is for all children

with disabilities to at-

tend regular schools

and classrooms and to

receive the support

they need. We are cur-

rently fundraising to-

wards introducing mu-

sic to the school, buying

School Report (continued from page 1)

directors were in Am-

man, Jordan, to learn

from the Jordanian

model and other hospital

experiences. In this new

phase the MRQs will

continue to lead the

Quality improvement

process at the six hospi-

tals, thus making an im-

portant contribution of

the effectiveness of the

East Jerusalem Hospitals

as teaching institutions.

pitals to improve their

service delivery capacity

as well as the quality of

their services through

expanding quality stan-

dards and initializing the

process for international

accreditation. Quality

standards introduced by

the ISO accreditation

process in 2003 will be

consolidated and ex-

panded. The program

will engage in the proc-

ess of international ac-

creditation for hospitals

JCI (Joint Commission

International). Cur-

rently a team of the

MRQ (Management

Representatives for

Quality) and hospital

Page 3

Annual Report 2010

disabilities. The success of

the Princess Basma

School, the first of its kind

in Palestine has prompted

other schools to do the

same, providing a chance

for those underprivileged

children to pursue an edu-

cation that allows them to

become independent fi-

nancially. Inclusion is be-

coming a popular ap-

The number of children

with special needs has

increased. We currently

have a total of 700 stu-

dents, 129 of them have

special needs out of

which 38 have physical

disabilities, 67 have

hearing impairments, 5

are visually challenged,

7 have health problems

and 12 have learning

East Jerusalem Hospital Network

Currently the six East Jeru-

salem Hospitals, including

the Jerusalem Princess

Basma Center, are under-

going a new project

“Network for Quality”.

This project is directed by

WHO and funded by the

European Union, which

renewed its commitment to

support the East Jerusalem

Hospitals (EJH) through a

new three year project that

started in April of this year.

Their aim is to lead all six

hospitals in East Jerusalem,

Princess Basma Center in-

cluded, to international ac-

creditation. This role is cru-

cial for the development of

the health sector in Pales-

tine, in supporting the hos-

Orthopedic workshop

(above)

KG Children on Computers

4

rough areas during

walking and help im-

prove his/her balance.

The second was held in

East Jerusalem at the St.

George’s Cathedral

close in March 2010. A

joint meeting was held

in Jordan attended by

researchers from USA,

UCPF, United Cerebral

Palsy Foundation and

the above mentioned

lem, Morocco, Italy,

Egypt and Jordan. It

consisted of two differ-

ent methods of study

between treadmill train-

ing combined with dif-

ferent kinds of exercises

and stretching and be-

tween the Active and

Dummy Re-Step Shoe.

It is a shoe invented by a

local Israeli company to

help the patient adjust to

Research Project

The Van

Sustainability

by the Ministry of Health

and the Ministry of Edu-

cation. In addition we are

also developing a referral

system with the Ministry

of Health in Palestine to

work towards covering

the full cost of their chil-

dren referred to our Cen-

ter. We continue to sub-

mit needed projects to

different funders on a

continual basis.

Page 4

Annual Report 2010

delegates. The third meet-

ing will be held in 2011 in

Morocco.

Our second phase of re-

search is being con-

ducted on 21 teen agers

this time suffering from

Cerebral Palsy (CP) and

Cerebral Vascular Acci-

dent (CVA). The pro-

ject is funded by the

European Union. A first

workshop was held in

Turkey in 2009 repre-

sented by the Princess

Basma Center, Jerusa-

Research meeting held in

March

To insure the future

sustainability of our

programs, we are con-

tinually working on

increasing our locally

generated income

through developing

different programs in

East Jerusalem, funded

Donations towards the

cost of a new Van have

been gratefully received

from friends. Special

thanks and appreciation

to all and in particular to

Mr. Nicola and Mrs.

Mona Ghawi whose vi-

tal donation exceeds our

expectations.

Those donations will be

used towards the running

cost of the Van, its insur-

ance and the driver’s sal-

ary since purchasing a

new Van has been funded

by the Welfare Associa-

tion and the Arab Fund in

Kuwait for Development.

Celebrating al Adha Feast at KG

Class for the hearing im-

paired

5

communities. The Cen-

ter’s role is now expand-

ing to become the advo-

cate for those children

and their families. In

addition the Center con-

ducts workshops and

professional training

programs within the

Center and the interme-

diate and community

levels in Palestinian ter-

ritories.

Our community services

including rehabilitation

and empowering those

with special needs con-

tinues within their own

inclusive environments,

thus empowering profes-

sionals working with

them.

One hundred and eighty

to two hundred children

per year are referred to

the Center from the Cen-

tral and Northern parts

of Palestine.

Since its establishment

until the present date the

Princess Basma Center

played a unique role in

developing the services

provided to the children

with special needs and

their families in order to

meet their rights to in-

clusion within their

munity level. Our

specialized occupational

therapists, speech thera-

pists, physical therapists

and rehabilitation doctor

go on weekly visits to

evaluate and assess the

capabilities of the chil-

dren. The team transfers

the knowledge and ex-

pertise acquired in the

field of rehabilitation

and integration to staff

empowering them with

knowledge and under-

standing of the needs of

disabled children in an

inclusive setting.

Our achievements:

Hundreds of children

were assessed; Hundreds

of mothers are now

more capable of manag-

ing their children at

home. Around 25 pro-

fessionals received tech-

nical therapy assistance.

ticipants are trained in

the work of straw, bam-

boo and wood work,

producing chairs, tables,

different sizes of bas-

kets, that are marketed

locally as a locally gen-

erated income. Cur-

rently we are applying

for funding towards up-

grading our machines in

the purchase of new

ones and raw material

for their use.

Outreach Program

Sheltered Workshop

Page 5

Annual Report 2010

Our community services in-

clude coaching, rehabilitating

and empowering those with

special needs. Our overall

vision is establishing inclusive

communities, aiming at a fun-

damental modification of the

attitude of the Palestinian so-

ciety towards persons with

special needs.

The Outreach Program was

launched in 2009 with the aim

of identifying, assessing,

treating and rehabilitating

children with special needs in

their own inclusive environ-

ment and empowering profes-

sionals working with them.

Our Outreach Program shares

a common goal with many of

the organizations that serve

our communities and that is to

create healthy communica-

tion. We are in partnership

with many organizations thus

creating a chain on the com-

A total of 23 young

adults, females and

males ages 18 and above

participate as trainees at

the vocational training

sheltered workshop.

They are referred by the

Social Welfare office

with the aim of making

them active members in

their communities. Par-Working with straw

Outreach program

6

Page 6

Annual Report 2010

In-Patient Children

The mother remains a key per-

son in the admission of her

child. She is sharing and learn-

ing by accompanying her child

from one department to another

in the Rehab program thus be-

coming a partner in the therapy

of her child. This facility pro-

vides 2-3 weeks treatment for

children with cerebral palsy,

congenital deformities etc. dur-

ing their stay at the Center.

The mother is always identified

by the community as the cause

of the child’s imperfection.

During her stay at the Center

she receives counseling to cope

with the societal stigma. After

their discharge, the mother and

child are seen periodically in

their intermediate level clinics

in their areas to update the

child’s therapy.

The Art Reach Foundation is a

non-profit organization in At-

lanta, Georgia, USA, established

in the year 2000. Currently the

Foundation is partnered with the

King Abdullah Fund for Develop-

ment in Jordan.

The Art Reach Foundation con-

ducted a four day program in Am-

man for teachers to enable them

to introduce Art Reach experi-

mental models of training atten-

dees to use the creative arts with

children to the benefit of their

communities. They target mainly

those children who suffer the con-

sequences of war, violence, dis-

placement and psychological

trauma.

Two of our senior staff at the

school were fortunate to attend

this workshops in Amman, Jor-

dan, and were very impressed by

its programs. They enjoyed meet-

ing participants from the different

schools for students with learning

disabilities and physically chal-

lenged. They appreciated the use

of drama and music with art and

will be seeking opportunities to

implement them in their programs

with children and mothers as

well. Special thanks and appre-

ciation to Ms. Anne Lynn , Ex-

ecutive Director, AFEDJ

(American Friends of the Episco-

pal Diocese of Jerusalem) for ena-

bling our teachers to benefit from

this workshop.

Brigham Young University (BYU) volun-

teers in pool

Celebrating Christmas

ArtReach Foundation

7

Page 7

December 2010

The American Friends of the Episcopal Dio-

cese of Jerusalem

25-13 Old King’s Highway No., Suite 13

North Darien, CT 06820

USA

Contact person: Anne Lynn,

Email: aklynn@afedj.org

Our tax EIN is under the name of Evangeli-

cal Homes for Children and is 59-6155008 Donation through our bank in London: Account Name: The Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre for Dis-

abled Children Name of Bank: HSBC Private Bank (UK) Limited

Address: 78 James’s Street, London SW1 1JB

Multi-currency Account #: 303289 0001 Swift/BIC Code: SMCOGB2P

IBAN: GB29 SMCO 4093 4130 3289 01

Donation through our bank in Jerusalem: Account Name: The Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre for Disabled Children

Name of Bank: Mercantile-Discount Bank Ltd. Address: Salah Eddin Street– East Jerusalem

Bank #: (17) - Branch # (638)

USD Account # 402052 Swift code: BARDILIT

Please make checks payable to “The Jerusalem Princess Basma Center”

The Orthopedic Workshop With the support and guidance by

our Canadian Friends at Mont-

morency International College

new arrangements for all the

workshop area were done. Ma-

chines were re-arranged for safety

and new fitting room was created.

New methods and techniques

were introduced to upgrade the

standards. The cost of various

devices is un-affordable by

many clients. Those referred by

the Palestinian Ministry of

Health or by UNRWA (United

Nations Relief and Works

Agency) are covered partially

and the remaining cost is cov-

ered by the clients except

for those social cases that

are helped by the Center.

Statistics show that the fol-

lowing devices were done:

orthotics 225, prosthetics

67, surgical boots 203,

straps 89, technical aides 23.

A newly– established

Department

In view of the need for treating and

rehabilitating Autistic children, the

EU has approved a grant for three

consecutive years towards that pro-

ject. The agreement was made be-

tween Diakonia/NAD and the Jeru-

salem Princess Basma Center

(Enjoy Improved Living Condi-

tions).

The professional team at the Cen-

ter are knowledgeable, enthusias-

tic and keen to learn and adopt

new ideas by understanding the

culture of Autism.

A team of certified experts from

Nazareth, SAWA Center, will be

employed to train our staff and

help set up the department on our

premises.

Parents play an integral role in

this program by generalizing

the children’s achievements at

the Center to the home and

elsewhere. Mothers will be

involved in order to make

them equal partners in the re-

habilitation progress of their

children.

United Methodist Church, USA

UMCOR Advance number 14238 A

www.gbgm-UMC.org

We kindly invite you to send your contributions through one of the following:

8

Email:

info@basma-centre.org

The Jerusalem Princess Basma Center for Disabled Children

Thanks and Acknowledgements

For further assistance,

please use the contact in-

formation shown below ...

We thank all our donors, partners

and friends. We want you to

know that your participation and

support have enabled us to con-

tinue rendering our greatly

needed services to Palestinians in

Jerusalem and the West Bank.

We express our appreciation to

all our staff for their great efforts

in achieving their objectives for

this year. A special thanks goes

to our academic staff in pursuing

a dream come true, as we have

celebrated our first graduating

class.

To our Board members we con-

vey our many thanks and appre-

ciation for their guidance and

support.

www.basma-centre.org

On-Going Projects

1. Flagship/USAID Project

The Project supports the pro-

vision of outreach services.

The team from JCDC attends

at four clinics in the commu-

nity of children with special

needs with the aim of:

a. assessing, diagnosing and

treating children within their

communities

b. training professionals at the

community centers

c. establishing an excellent

referral/follow up system be-

tween the national and com-

munity levels.

2. EU Project The project supports the es-

tablishing of a unit at JCDC

which provides treatment/

rehabilitation/education for

children with autism by:

a. constructing the unit

b. training staff

c. establishing a snoezelen/

sensory room

3. Welfare Association Pro-

ject

The Project supports the inclu-

sion/education of children

with special needs at the Prin-

cess Basma School by:

a. purchasing of a Van

b. providing treatments for

included children with special

needs

c. re-structuring of two play-

grounds

d. purchasing of furniture to

facilitate inclusion

With thanks and gratitude,

Betty Majaj, CEO

Visit to India The Medical Director, Dr. Waddah

Malhis, and the Administrative Di-

rector, Mrs. Maha Yasmineh, par-

ticipated in a professional tour with

People To People Ambassador Pro-

gram to India. Thanks goes to Dr.

Joanna Pierson who led the visit.

The tour was funded gratefully by

Mr. August de Jong and Mr. Robert

Muhlig from the Netherlands at the

Stichting Gehandicaptenzorg.

The tour lasted for ten days during

which the delegates visited different

schools and organizations

that provide services to chil-

dren with special needs in

Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. The

aim of the program was to

share knowledge and ex-

perience between the Indian

institutions and the dele-

gates who came from the

USA, Canada and Palestine.

In addition, amazing tradi-

tional and cultural places

were visited.

Tel: +972-2-6283058

+972-2-6264536

Fax: +972-2-6274449