Activities

The Holy Child Program was founded in 1995 by the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist at the request of local parents whose children were suffering from psychological distress resulting from various conflicts.

_{Image: courtesy of the Holy Child Program}

The Program provides an intense therapeutic day treatment program and alternative education for children in the Bethlehem region in the Holy Land who suffer from untreated complex mental health issues and exposure to intergenerational trauma. The Holy Child Program provides a range of services at multiple levels, including:

Individual & Family Counselling
Parent Education Group
Certified Alternative Education program
Mothers Group
Milieu Therapy
Adjunct Therapeutic Activities: Music, Animal, Dance and Art
Home visits, crisis counselling and medical and social services referrals as needed
Summer Therapy Program.

The Program is the only therapeutic day treatment program in the West Bank that serves children with severe behavioural and emotional problems who are unable to attend “regular” mainstream schools because of their issues. These children are some of the most vulnerable and often alienated among the general population in Palestine. Additionally, lack of success and mental health issues place them at risk of engaging in problematic behaviour if left untreated.

While at the Holy Child Program, these children are able to experience success not only in the classroom but at home and in the community.

_{Image: courtesy of the Holy Child Program}