Appeal for Lyceum Shaalavim school in Kharkov, Ukraine
Lyceum Shaalavim school is facing an unprecedented financial challenge so World Jewish Relief launched an appeal for funds to help secure its future.
Many of the children at the school have physical disabilities or learning difficulties, and Ukraine is a country where there is still a huge amount of social stigma associated with having a child with special needs. As a result, obtaining an adequate education for a child with special needs is simply beyond the means of the majority of families. And nowhere else would the children who attend Lyceum Shaalavim be able to get the unique combination of specialist support and traditional Jewish education it provides.
The school is seeking our support, so if you are able to donate to this important appeal you will be helping to keep Lyceum Shaalavim at the very centre of today’s Jewish community in Kharkov. You can see for yourself the extraordinary work and achievements at this school in the film below.
Children like Yan rely on the school's educational programmes. Struck down by meningitis as a baby, Yan (pictured above) received a characteristically blunt diagnosis from the hospital. The report said: ‘deafness, speech and mental retardation, childhood disability’. After hearing those terrible words, Yan and his impoverished family left the hospital feeling alone and scared for the future.
For many years they struggled with Yan’s behavioural problems, exclusion from school and increasingly desperate attempts to help Yan find a place in the world.
But all that came to an end when Yan came to Lyceum Shaalavim. Today, Yan is a very different child. As his mother told us, he is now happy healthy and learning fast. He has stability, security and love. And he goes to school in an environment where his Jewish identity is something to celebrate, not conceal in fear.
Please send a gift to help the school at this difficult time and provide essential support for Yan and many other Jewish boys and girls who rely on its wonderful teaching programme.
DONATE TO THE LYCEUM SHAALAVIM APPEAL
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© 2010 World Jewish Relief
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Charity Number: 290767 | Tel: +44 (0)20 8736 1250 | info@wjr.org.uk
