The Domari Children of Jerusalem

 

 

 

Greetings from Jerusalem! During this semester my fellow students and I have volunteered at two places in Jerusalem. One of these places is the Domari center. The Domari are a gypsy people who have lived in Jerusalem for over 500 years. However, they are discriminated against in every level of Arab society. Because of this, the Domari community is very poor. The children are allowed to attend the free Palestinian school system, but because of constant harassment by teachers and fellow students, most Domari children drop out of school before they are 12 years old. Religiously, most Domari are either Muslim or follow the traditional Gypsy beliefs. We volunteer there once a week and try to teach the children some of the basics of English and to just bring some joy and happiness to the children.

Another group of us volunteer at the East Jerusalem School, a private school in East Jerusalem, giving a Christian, English-based education to Palestinian children. The Palestinian Authority strictly prohibits missionary work, but the school hopes that through the A Beka curriculum, as well as through the quiet witness of the teachers, they may lead some to Jesus. They have already had great success in this goal.

It is the hope of the Domari that they can send their children to the East Jerusalem School. There they will receive an excellent education and will be accepted and supported. However, the school has a tuition cost of $2000 a year, which is completely unaffordable for the Domari community. The East Jerusalem School is willing to give the Domari a discounted rate, but the Domari do not have any money to pay for schooling.

And so I ask, will you be willing to give so that the Domari children can receive an education and learn more about God? Every little gift is much appreciated. For more information on the Domari of Jerusalem go to http://www.geocities.com/domarisociety/ or write to Ms. Amoun Sleem at domarisociety@yahoo.com .

                                                                                   

 

In Christ,

Sarah Wagner

Jerusalem, Israel sarah_a_wagner@hotmail.com