Donation from St Andrew's helps children near Bethlehem

Since 1999, people from Cobham have had a connection with the small peaceful agricultural village of Wadi Fuqeen, 12 miles southwest of Bethlehem. It is located directly on the Green Line thus some of its land is part of the state of Israel and to the east is the growing settlement of Beitar Illit.

Confiscation and demolition notices have been served by the Israeli authorities on residents' properties in preparation for the construction of the Separation Wall thus it is threatened with further loss of land, livelihood and basic human rights. Land confiscations are expected to be massive and access to and from the village will be severely restricted, affording no safe, guaranteed or straightforward access route to and from friends and family, food and supplies, hospital and medical services, places of work, education and worship.

Through St Andrew's, a donation was made to the kindergarten to help pay the teachers' salaries. The kindergarten provides nursery education for 46 children aged between 4 and 6-years-old. The children attend the nursery mornings, six days a week. They are taught a wide variety of different subjects under the constant supervision of the headmistress and two trained teaching assistants. They also play games - just like other nursery-aged children.

The kindergarten building was funded by World Vision which continues to play a part in this Muslim village.