Rawdat El-Zuhur

Rawdat El-Zuhur (Arabic for "Garden of Flowers") is a primary school for Palestinian children, both Christian and Muslim, in East Jerusalem.  Established in 1952, it aims at bringing up a new generation that is aware of the principles of good citizenship, and concerned for the environment; capable of thinking creatively, and analyzing logically and critically, offering and accepting positive criticism, and excelling in performance; and equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to assume leadership in a democratic society which they would develop and preserve. 

Palestinian institutions in Jerusalem continue to face profound political and financial challenges.  Rawdat El Zuhur school provides 233 low income and marginalized Palestinian children in kindergarten through grade six with a safe and nurturing environment to develop a strong sense of their cultural identity and a solid basis for good citizenship.  Sponsorship of children through Global Ministries Child Sponsorship program is important to Rawdat El Zuhur, covering about 25 percent of the actual cost of education that is provided to students. 

One of the current and most needed projects at Rawdat El Zuhur is to build a separate entrance for the nursery and kindergarten in order to meet code requirements from the Ministry of Education.  If a separate entrance is not built, the nursery and kindergarten facility will be forced to close.  The estimated cost of the building entrance is $3,000 (US).