Hope rising from the ashes

“I dream of a peaceful future for my children,” Youseff

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“Without the scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to continue my education or pursue my dreams,” Elissa Please give securely online at: www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/lent

Friends of the Holy Land is a UK Registered Charity (Charity Number 1202568).

Registered Office Farmer Ward Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2DH T 01926 512980 E office@friendsoftheholyland.org.uk *Names have been changed to protect the students.

HOPE

is Rising from the Ashes This Lent, will you help us rebuild lives, businesses and opportunity in the Holy Land?

20-year-old Elissa is training to become a midwife at Bethlehem University, supported by a scholarship from Friends of the Holy Land.

Her eyes light up as she shares her vision: “My dream is to be a midwife who supports mothers at every stage of their journey.” It’s a dream that reaches far beyond personal ambition – it’s about securing the future of the community she loves and playing a vital role in Bethlehem’s future healthcare system.

When war broke out in 2023, the impact was immediate and devastating. Her father’s work as a taxi driver disappeared overnight, and with it, her hopes for completing her education seemed to slip away. “Without the scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to continue my education or pursue my dreams,” she explains with gratitude.

Yet she remains clear-eyed about the challenges ahead. “I see parents struggling to afford school fees for their children or buy the medicine they need,” she observes. “It’s hard to feel safe or hopeful when every day feels like we’re on edge.”

Your donation will help us to expand and accelerate this critical work at pace.

“I truly believe this scholarship is a gift from God” Elissa

ELISSA’S* STORY

“Without Salesian, securing a job would have been impossible,” Youseff

Despite these obstacles, Elissa’s determination never wavers. Against a backdrop of uncertainty, her scholarship gives her purpose and her faith gives her hope.

Drawing strength from this, she reflects, “I truly believe this scholarship is a gift from God, allowing me to continue my education and prepare for my future.”

Give a gift of HOPE this Lent

Train a Young Person

MEET YOUSEFF*

Our Vocational Training Programme is equipping young people with vital skills they need to gain work and rebuild their communities.

£80

could help a young person learn a skill

At just 16 years old, Youseff is training to become an electrician at the Salesian Vocational Training Centre in Bethlehem, supported by Friends of the Holy Land.

Behind his quiet determination lies a story of resilience in the face of mounting challenges. Like many children in the region, Youseff has been forced to shoulder adult responsibilities far too soon.

His father’s loss of work has left the family struggling to meet basic needs, and he has seen many of his friends leave the country in search of stability elsewhere. “A lot of my friends have already left, hoping to build a life elsewhere with their families,” he shares. “It forces us to face challenges and responsibilities no child should have to.”

Yet as a Christian in Bethlehem, Youseff feels a profound connection to his homeland that strengthens his resolve to stay. “Walking through the streets where Jesus lived and taught fills me with a deep sense of connection to His life and message,” he explains. “I dream of a peaceful future for my children, where they can grow up feeling safe and loved.”

Through his electrical training, Youseff is working to turn that dream into reality – not just for himself, but for his entire community. “Without Salesian, securing a job would have been impossible,” he reflects. In his skilled hands lies not just the promise of employment, but the hope of helping to rebuild and sustain the community he holds dear.

Please give securely online at: www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/lent

Support a New Business We’re helping young people to start new businesses with grants and coaching. This provides an income for them, work for others and boosts the overall local economy.

Provide Trauma Support Through summer camps, professional counsellors will work with young people to help them process their experiences.

£2,500 could provide a business grant

£35

could help a young person access trauma therapy