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Will We Have Enough?

July 25, 2018

“Will we have enough to make it through the month?” Ruth Barazani* ponders this question every month when the bills pile up and two teenagers look to her to meet their needs. Ruth is a medical photographer, a single mom and just barely scraping by. On top of the financial worries, she also bears the emotional scars of a husband and father that abandoned his family when the children were very young. Ruth works incredibly hard to give her children everything they need, but it’s just not enough. Inevitably, the stress of financial insecurity was carried over to Ruth’s children, especially her daughter, Sigal.*

When Sigal started attending the Tehilla-Evelina de Rothschild Secondary School she was struggling. There were discipline problems and learning issues. Sigal was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder and needed a special learning program with additional after-school tutoring. All this weighed heavily on Ruth. While her heart desired for her daughter to succeed, the finances were simply not available to make it happen. That is, until Sigal was enrolled in the Feed a Child program. With the help of Christian donors, Bridges for Peace came alongside the Barazani family to support them in their time of need. Step-by-step—and with the safety net of the program underneath her—Sigal became increasingly more devoted to her studies.

Now entering her final year at Tehilla-Evelina, Sigal is like a different person. Despite the many setbacks she had to face, her focus has shifted from worry over circumstances at home to hope for the future. What’s more, over the past few years the Tehilla-Evelina school has achieved excellent results in their yearly high school matriculation exam. Principal Beverly Gribetz attributes the students’ performance in large part to the success of the Feed a Child program, putting girls like Sigal on equal footing with students from more financially secure homes.

Finding Success

The success of the Feed a Child program lies in that it not only helps the children reach their educational goals, but also empowers parents. The realization that their children’s schooling needs are provided for lifts a huge burden off parents’ shoulders and relieves the constant pressure of financial insecurity. “Being part of Feed a Child changed something inside of me,” says Sigal. “It made me appreciate things more. It made me see the good in the world. I began to look at my mom with new eyes and to understand and value the sacrifices she’s made for me and my brother. It made me want to be better and to do better. Thank you Bridges for Peace. You have truly changed my life for the better.”

Another student, Hannah*, who graduated from high school and the Feed a Child program, sent us this letter of thanks.

Six years has [have] passed in a flash since the first time you helped and embraced me with warmth and love. I am now finishing my 12 years of education. I am so proud of myself and my accomplishment, and I am more proud that you have been and still are a significant part of my life. Thank you. I had everything I needed and I reached high marks and succeeded in everything. You deserve all the credit in this world; you are the best! It is difficult, but it is time to say goodbye. After every ending, there is a new beginning. I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for being an unforgettable part of my life. Thank you for the love, support and hugs from afar. Thank you for everything. I hope God will reward you ten times. Wish you the best!

With love and appreciation,

Hannah

For the children and their families, the Feed a Child program is more than a hot, nutritious meal every day. It’s a spark of hope on days when things seem dark. It means that Ruth doesn’t have to worry about sending sandwiches for lunch or paying for the other things the program covers, like schoolbooks, a backpack, day and overnight trips, extracurricular activities and a tablet computer.

More than Enough

At Bridges for Peace our vision for the Feed a Child program is that it would grow exponentially so we can help even more Israeli children succeed. We currently assist 400 children in 10 schools, but there is a greater need for more assistance. As the school year is about to begin this September, numerous requests reach our office to help additional students whose families are struggling to make ends meet.

If you are already sponsoring a child on the program, thank you. But would you please consider sponsoring another? Would you encourage your friends, family, church or Bible study group to make the year-long commitment necessary to sponsor a child of their own? Or perhaps they could give a one-time gift? Let us join hands with the families and children of Israel to practically show them our earnest desire to help them succeed and reach their full potential.

Would you join us to help make sure Israeli children have enough to succeed?

Blessings from Israel,

Rebecca J. Brimmer, International President and CEO

(*Names changed to protect identity)

Photo Credit: bridgesforpeace.com