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November 2024 Newsletter

Medical Day

On November 9th, the Lajee Center hosted a Free Medical Day to provide essential healthcare services to the local community. The event saw the participation of both local and international doctors, who offered consultations in various medical fields, including urology, orthopedics, and internal medicine. Approximately 60 patients from the Aida and Al-Azza refugee camps, as well as surrounding areas, attended the event to receive medical care and support.

In addition to the consultations, the Free Medical Day included an important educational session on breast cancer awareness. This session aimed to raise awareness about early detection and prevention, empowering attendees with vital information about their health.

The event also provided free medications to those in need, helping to ease the healthcare burdens faced by the residents of the refugee camps, particularly during these challenging economic times. The Free Medical Day was a significant initiative by the Lajee Center, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to improving the health and well-being of the community.

Environmental Unit

In November, the Environmental Unit at the Lajee Center continued to engage in various hands-on activities that promoted environmental awareness and sustainability. One of the key highlights was the work within the greenhouse, where environmental staff focused on ensuring the health of the plants and optimizing growing conditions. They regularly checked the water quality and PH levels, ensuring that all plants had the nutrients they needed to thrive. Daily irrigation of flowers and crops took place, while staff also worked to maintain the cleanliness of the water systems. They repaired the greenhouse structures and planted new crops such as lettuce, parsley, and garlic. The environmental team also harvested produce like cucumbers and onions, which were then distributed to patients as part of their ongoing health support efforts.

Additionally, the team focused on providing environmental education through activities like the olive-picking event, organized in collaboration with Dar Youssef Nasri Jasser for Art. This event allowed community members to get involved in sustainable agricultural practices and learn more about the environmental impact of their actions. The environmental club, made up of enthusiastic participants, continued to grow various crops, including arugula and aloe vera, and worked to maintain the agricultural systems by removing old plants and preparing for new growth.

Health Unit

The Health Unit at the Lajee Center had a busy and impactful month in November, focusing on both physical and mental health support for community members, particularly those suffering from chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. In total, health workers conducted 212 visits to 134 patients in Aida and Al-Azza camps. These visits focused on monitoring vital signs, managing medication regimens, and offering emotional support in light of the ongoing challenges faced by the community.

This month also saw the addition of four new community health workers, expanding the team to eight. With this increase in staff, health workers were able to provide more thorough and personalized care to each patient, ensuring that medical needs were being met with the highest level of attention. The team performed regular checks on blood pressure and blood sugar levels, helped patients manage their medication schedules, and offered guidance on healthy eating habits. They also paid special attention to the emotional and social impacts of living under stressful conditions, providing crucial psychological support to patients facing anxiety and uncertainty.

Notable patient success stories include the case of a 70-year-old woman with poorly controlled diabetes. After receiving intensive support from the health workers, including family education on insulin administration, her blood sugar levels significantly improved. Additionally, a 54-year-old woman with chronic hypertension showed signs of stabilization after receiving new medication and ongoing mental health support during a particularly difficult period following her son’s arrest.

In addition to home visits, the health team engaged in educational sessions with the community. They continued their series of health lectures with DEFA, focusing on diabetes medication and trauma-informed care. Staff also participated in workshops on the role of community health workers and received training on blood pressure and blood sugar monitoring.

The Health Unit organized two activities for students from schools in Aida refugee camp. The first activity, part of the “Healthy Nutrition” initiative, involved seventh-grade students preparing tabbouleh, serving it in lettuce leaves, and concluding with a diverse breakfast prepared by the students themselves. 

The second activity, held at Aida Boys’ School, focused on raising awareness about dental health and proper brushing techniques. It included a detailed explanation of healthy dental care habits, emphasizing the difference between foods that promote dental health and those that can harm it. At the end of the session, the Health Unit distributed gifts to the students, such as toothpaste and toothbrushes, to encourage them to adopt daily habits that support oral and dental hygiene.

Zahrat Al-Yasmeen Kindergarten

November at Zahrat Al-Yasmeen Kindergarten was filled with exciting and engaging activities that helped the children grow in both fun and educational ways. The teachers focused on enhancing the children’s mathematical abilities by introducing them to number recognition, counting, and writing numbers. The children eagerly worked on identifying numbers from 0 to 10, linking them to corresponding quantities, and practicing the concept of counting. They also explored the idea of identifying the previous number in a sequence. By the end of the month, many children had shown remarkable progress, mastering these essential number concepts and building a solid foundation for future learning.

As part of an enriching environmental unit, the children participated in activities centered around recycling and gardening. These hands-on experiences taught the children the importance of taking care of the planet, understanding the role of recycling in reducing waste, and how it contributes to a cleaner world. The children eagerly took part in gardening, planting seasonal plants, and discovering the fascinating world of plants and their role in the ecosystem. Recycling activities were held twice a week, where the children sorted materials and grasped the concept of reusing and recycling, making it a meaningful and fun learning experience.

Creativity and physical development also took center stage throughout the month. The children dove into autumn-themed art projects, where they used a variety of materials such as colored paper, paints, and natural items to create beautiful images of leaves, trees, and fall scenes. This activity not only sparked their creativity but also helped enhance their fine motor skills. Additionally, the children enjoyed learning about seasonal fruits and working together to create a colorful fruit salad, promoting teamwork and healthy eating habits. 

To further develop their fine motor skills, the children engaged in fun activities like coloring, playdough modeling, and cutting exercises. These activities helped improve their hand-eye coordination, muscle control, and creativity. Meanwhile, the physical education sessions, led by Teacher Samah Al-Izza, provided the children with opportunities to focus on balance, coordination, and strength through playful movement games and exercises. The children enjoyed these physical activities, which also helped them stay active and fit in a fun and engaging way.

Music and songs played a key role in the daily routine, adding an extra layer of excitement to the children’s learning. The teachers led the children in singing a variety of songs, including “Good Morning,” “The Fast Train Song,” “The Autumn Song,” and songs about the body and seasons. These songs not only captured the children’s attention but also helped them develop language skills, memory, and rhythm while having lots of fun.

Lajee Library

In November, the Library Unit at Lajee Center continued to foster creativity and learning among students through various engaging activities. The creative writing sessions, held with two groups of students, focused on crafting children’s stories and youth narratives. The children worked on drafting their stories, with some parts requiring review and editing before moving on to the next steps, including illustrating the stories. This activity encouraged students to express their ideas and develop their writing skills in a supportive environment.  

Every Friday, the Library continued its vibrant activities with storytelling, drawing, coloring, and educational games. These activities provided students with a platform for imaginative exploration and critical thinking, all while enhancing their literacy and artistic abilities. 

One notable event was the “Children’s Rights in Palestinian Society” workshop, where the Protection Team hosted a session for the Bethlehem community, focusing on the rights of children in the context of Palestinian society. The discussions aimed at raising awareness about children’s rights.

Media Unit

The Media Unit at the Lajee Center concluded its general training for sixth-grade students from Aida Girls’ Basic School as part of a series of photography workshops. The training focused on the fundamentals of photography.

Following the completion of the training, the unit coordinator selected a group of students who demonstrated passion and enthusiasm for photography to join the Media Club. These students will continue with more advanced training at the center, aiming to refine their skills and develop them professionally.

Lajee Music Institute

Lajee Music Institute had an exciting and productive month. One of the most impactful initiatives was the psychological relief sessions through music, held in collaboration with the Aida Girls’ School. These sessions involved students from first, second and third grades participating in music and singing activities led by Wa’d and Yasmeen. These sessions aimed to provide emotional support to the children through the therapeutic power of music, offering them an outlet for self-expression and healing. 

Throughout the month, students also continued their regular music training sessions. These included evaluations with music theory teacher Zaid Hilal, where students were divided into two groups for focused lessons. These training sessions allowed students to refine their musical skills and deepen their understanding of music theory, helping them grow as performers.

Musical Performance

The Lajee Music Institute recently celebrated its second musical performance, an event that captivated both participants and their families. Showcasing the hard work and dedication of 35 young musicians, the performance was a resounding success, reflecting the institute’s commitment to nurturing artistic expression within the community.  

A total of 22 students played a variety of musical instruments, including the qanun, tabla, violin, and oud, demonstrating their growing mastery and passion for music. In addition, 13 choir students performed two stirring musical pieces: “Palestine My Homeland” and “Peace for Gaza.” The choir’s heartfelt renditions resonated deeply with the audience, emphasizing themes of identity, hope, and resilience.  

The event was a testament to the transformative power of music, offering students not only a platform to showcase their talents but also a means to connect with their cultural heritage and express themselves creatively. Families and attendees were visibly moved by the students’ growth and the unity fostered through their musical journey.  

The Lajee Music Institute continues to inspire and empower the younger generation, underscoring the importance of music as a bridge to shared understanding and a vibrant tool for community connection.

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