BibleLands - Christian Love in Action
Supporting Health, Education and Community Development in the Lands of the Bible
Areas of Our Work

Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory

Egypt

Lebanon

BibleLands' People and Vacancies

Annual Report

Princess Basma Centre

Where are they?

What do they do?

Who benefits? 

Mount of Olives, Jerusalem

Create individual rehabilitation programmes for children that can continue when they return home.

Around 30 children.

More Infomation:
Founded: 1965

Director:  Mrs Betty Majaj

Beginnings:
The Princess Basma Centre for Disabled Children began as a home for physically disabled children, primarily those suffering with polio and paralysis. It was founded under the patronage of Princess Basma, the sister of King Hussein of Jordan, at a time when few organisations offered this care. The Centre has become the National Resource and Referral Centre for disabled children all over the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Activities

  • The Centre’s comprehensive services include all aspects of rehabilitation, from physiotherapy, play therapy and occupational therapy, to hydrotherapy and special education. An orthopaedic doctor holds a weekly clinic at the Centre. A mobile dental unit and St John Eye Hospital (another of BibleLands Overseas Partners) provide free dental checks and eye tests.

  • The Centre’s focus is Community Based Rehabilitation (CRB), to integrate each child into their community. Children come to the Centre to be professionally assessed and receive a planned programme of rehabilitation, the majority of which is carried out at home. Most children receive free treatment, although a few families pay nominal fees.

  • The Centre has its own school for children up to the age of 16, which teaches physically disabled and deaf children alongside mainstream children. This was the first school if its kind in the Palestinian Territories and has been extremely successful.

  • Older children are taught crafts such as basket making, knitting, embroidery and weaving in the Vocational Training Department.

  • Each summer, the Centre runs a summer camp on the same basis as its school, integrating physically disabled children with mainstream children. BibleLands volunteers help with this camp.

  • The Centre has a very well equipped workshop where technicians make braces, artificial limbs, crutches and special boots for the children staying at the Centre, as well as for outpatients across the country. 


Downloadable documents:

 

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