Post on 01-Nov-2019
Moravian Church
Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center
مركز جبل النجمة للتأهيل –الكنيسة المورافية
starmountaincenter@gmail.comEmail: -296 27 15 –Fax 02 06 –296 27 05 -(0)2-Office: 00972 -Ramallah, POB 199, West Bank, Palestine
taincenter@gmail.comstarmounالبريد األلكتروني: 02–15 27 296فاكس : 00972-2(0)- 05 27 296– 06المكتب -فمسطين -الضفة االغربية - 911رام هللا ص. ب.
Annual Narrative Report
2015
Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center
Moravian Church
May 2015
2 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
Table of Contents Page
Contents Preface ................................................................................................................................................................ 4
I. Organizational Matters ............................................................................................................................. 6
II. Programs ...........................................................................................................................................7
II.1 Inclusive Kindergarten Program (IKG): ................................................................................................... 7
II.2 School Education & Autism Program (SEAP): ........................................................................................ 8
II.3 Vocational Training Program (VTP): ..................................................................................................... 10
II.4 Community Work Program (CWP): ....................................................................................................... 12
II.5 Specialists ............................................................................................................................................... 14
II.6 Staff Capacity Building: ......................................................................................................................... 16
III. Administrative Matters: Staff, Maintenance, Agriculture Guests, Volunteers and Trainees.…16
IV. Financial Matters…............................................................................................................................. 19
V. Future Plans ......................................................................................................................................... 20
3 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
Abbreviations
SMRC: Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center
IKG: Inclusive Kindergarten
SEAP: School Education & Autism Program
VTP: Vocational Training Program
CWP: Community Work Program
PwD: Persons with Disability
PwID: Persons with Intellectual Disability
4 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
Preface
The following report is the annual narrative report for the year 2015 for Star Mountain
Rehabilitation Center. It gives an overview of the different activities and programs conducted at the
Center throughout the year, in terms of organizational and administrative matters, rehabilitation
programs, visitors, a general overview of donors and future plans.
The strong team work spirit among staff members, the positive energy every single employee had
over the year, greatly supported every step and every success we have made.
The four rehabilitation programs ran smoothly and according to the 2015 annual plan that was put in
place in a participatory method. Quarterly monitoring sessions took place in each program to
monitor the work progress, change and re-plan according to need. This quarterly monitoring
exercise, done for the first time in 2015, was a capacity building process for staff members who
highly appreciated it and helped them in their work.
The relation with parents of persons with intellectual disability continued to grow, in the form of
mobilizing them to take action on behalf of their children, but also in seeing themselves as partners
in the rehabilitation process, side by side SMRC.
Student numbers increased significantly in 2015, compared to the previous year, due togiving space
for students living outside the direct geographical area around SMRC to join the Center and come
with private transportation to the Center rather than depend on SMRC’s limited transportation
resources. The program coordinators worked also side by side the parents in helping them secure
collective transportation methods to the Center, by linking the parents to each other.
2015 also witnessed a success in finding jobs for young persons with intellectual disability in the
community. The constant job finding-job coaching strategy that SMRC’s staff followed, allowed for
job sustainability for the persons involved.
The highlight of the year was the exchange programs between Star Mountain and other rehabilitation
institutions in Zimbabwe and South Africa, as well as, the school visit from Hernnhuter Gymnasium.
These programs opened up our horizon and established long term mutual partnerships and
cooperation.
All the work throughout the year was only possible with the generous financial support of so many
individual international and Palestinian donors, as well as, institutions and partners. On behalf of
Star Mountain’s Board of Directors, management team, staff, students, families and the community,
I would like to extend my deepest gratefulness and thanks for every one of the following:
5 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
Moravian Church World Wide through Herrnhuter Missionshilfe (HMH)
Moravian Church Foundation (MCF)
Moravian Merchandise
Zeister Zendingsgenootschap (ZZg)
Austrian Development Agency/Diakonie Auslandshilfe – Austria in cooperation with the
Valdesian Church
Christoffel Blind Mission (CBM) – Germany
Sozialdienst der Pfarrei St.Martin – Effretikon, Switzerland
OeME – Buelach, Switzerland
Annie B. Mission – USA
OFID – Opec Fund for International Development in Austria via Arab Fund in Kuwait
Unity Women’s Desk – Moravian Church, USA
Czech Development Agency – Czech Republic
Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirchgemeinde Rapperswil-Jona – Switzerland
Karl &MaciaSchumm
Leaksville Moravian Church - USA
Tens of other individuals who gave emotional and financial support to Star Mountain.
Sincerely,
Ghada Naser
Director
6 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
I. Organizational Matters
2015 witnessed two main developments on the organizational level:
First, the organizational structure was slightly modified after a year of having three program
coordinators running the rehabilitation programs compared to previous structures where one
program coordinator was in place to do this job. Please find below a picture of the new
organizational structure adopted in November 2015:
Second, in October 2015, a three-day strategic planning workshop took place at Star Mountain titled:
Workshop on Strategic Pathways for Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center - Moravian
Church. The aim of this workshop was to review SMRC’s vision, mission and goals for the coming
3 years 2016 – 2018, noting that the last strategic planning workshop had last taken place in October
2010.
Star Mountain’s Board of Directors, management team, staff members, parents of persons with
intellectual disability, governmental and nongovernmental representatives, local community
institutions and others took part. The most important outcome of the workshop was a new vision,
mission, values and goals statement upon which SMRC can work in the coming three years. Another
important result is the great appreciation within the local community, governmental and
nongovernmental organizations to the work being done by the Moravian Church and Star Mountain,
7 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
the level of professionalism, the quality of the work and the special attention given to people with
intellectual disability upon a rights-based approach.
II. Programs
Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center offered four educational and training programs in 2015 as
follows:
The Inclusive Kindergarten Program, the School Education & Autism Program, the Vocational
Training Program, and the Community Work Program. Specialized services were also provided
ranging from speech therapy, physiotherapy, art education, drama, sports, music, psycho-social
support and counseling.
II.1 Inclusive Kindergarten Program (IKG):
Program Summary
This Program provided rehabilitation and educational
services to 14children (9 males and 5 females) with
and without intellectual disability from the age of 3
months until 6 years old. Five out of the 14 children
had intellectual disabilities.
Children without disability stay until they reach the
age of 4 years old. This program adopts the concept
of inclusion which means children with and without
disabilities can join the Kindergarten. It aims at
developing the skills of children in accordance with a fixed daily program. Such skills include self-
care, cognitive, physical, logic and language skills, as well as, art, nature and imagination.
The Program Coordinator and 2 staff members were in charge of carrying out activities during the
reporting period. Children were divided into two groups with daily activities taking place inside and
outside the KG building. Staff conducted 7 home visits during the reporting period.
This program is partially supported by Sozialdienst der Pfarrei St.Martin – Effretikon, Switzerland.
Their support is highly appreciated and extends beyond a donor recipient relationship, rather a
friendship and a partnership relationship, that both sides value very much.
8 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
Program Achievements
1. Developing a comprehensive plan for the year 2015.
2. Implementing a rehabilitation program based on individual setting.
3. Transferring students either to SMRC School Education Program or other institutions.
4. Involving the parents in the educational process.
5. Participating in an exchange program with Jairos Jiri Association in Zimbabwe.
6. Maintaining the process of staff development through participating in relevant workshops and
courses.
7. Participating in the Strategic Planning Workshop of Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center.
Future Prospects
1. Increase the number of children groups to 3.
2. Divide the groups according to age.
3. Create a preschool group of children.
4. Move the KG into a new building at SMRC.
Success Story of Qais
Qais is a 4 year old boy. He is a child with Cat Syndrome and has physical disability. He was unable
to interact with others, move or eat during the early beginning of his enrollment. A special program
was set for the child to train him on a number of basic skills. He is now able to walk, crawl, handle
objects, say some words like (I, daddy, mommy…etc.) and swallow food. He still needs intensive
training sessions to develop his skills.
II.2 School Education & Autism Program (SEAP):
Program Summary
This program provided rehabilitation and
educational services to 29 children (17 males
and 12 females) with intellectual disability
and autism from the age of 6 until 14 divided
into four groups of 6-9 children with mild,
moderate and severe intellectual disability.
The Program Coordinator and 4 staff
members were in charge of carrying out
activities during the reporting period. It is
considered complementary to the
Kindergarten and the Community Work
Program for rehabilitating and training children with intellectual disabilities on academic, cognitive,
behavioral, language, independence, physical, social, economic, and rehabilitation skills, as well as,
general safety and supportive skills (drawing and music). It aims at developing skills and abilities of
9 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
students to be more independent, self-reliant and confident. Staff conducted 27 home visits during
the reporting period.
This program is supported by the Moravian Church and the Herrnhuter Missionshilfe. There is no
specific donor, despite the constant search and need for a long term donor to guarantee
sustainability. We thank the Moravian Church World Wide and Herrnhuter Missionshilfe for their
constant support to cover the uncovered programs at Star Mountain.
Program Achievements
1. Implementing a rehabilitation program based on individual setting.
2. Involving the parents in goal-setting.
3. Integrating some students in regular schools.
4. 29 educational plans signed by the parents.
5. Initiating a class exchange program. It is based on the rotation of rehabilitation workers in
different classrooms to offer sport, counseling, drama or music sessions.
6. Participating in the Strategic Planning Workshop of Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center.
7. Participating in summer camps in Tiberias and SMRC, as well as, a sports camp in Far’a, near
Nablus.
8. Maintaining the process of staff development through participating in relevant workshops and
courses i.e. Course in Special Education.
9. Participating in an exchange program in Germany with Herrnhuter Diakonie.
10. Participating in art exhibitions.
Future Prospects
1. Develop the internal rotation of teachers among classes in accordance with set goals.
2. Create a class for children with profound intellectual disability.
3. Include a greater number of children with intellectual disability in regular schools.
4. Develop the independent skills of children to become more self-reliant.
5. Train a program staff member on TEACCH Autism Program. It is an interactive program which
prepares children with autism to live or work more effectively at home, at school and in the
community.
6. Offer children with moderate intellectual disability intensive cognitive sessions.
7. Introduce the academic approach to children with mild intellectual disability.
8. Develop the capacity of circus participants (children with intellectual disability) to provide a
simple performance.
Success Story of Nora
Nora was born on 03.06.2008 to a family of 3 members including her parents and 1 brother. The
economic condition of the family is very good and her father works as a merchant and her mother is
an employee. Nora is a child with mild intellectual disability and has a physical disability in her right
part of her body. Nora was unable to speak Arabic during her early enrollment at SMRC since she
has been living in Germany since her birth. She used to speak and communicate in German with
10 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
others. So the School decided to teach her Arabic and develop her cognitive skills through sessions
in accordance with set academic goals. She is now able to communicate with her classmates and
express herself in Arabic. The School is looking forward to include Nora in regular schools in
Ramallah, follow an educational program based on individual settings and refer her to an
occupational therapist.
II.3 Vocational Training Program (VTP):
Program Summary
This Program provided rehabilitation, training and
employment services to 41 persons with intellectual
disability (25 males and 16 females) from the age of
14years until 40 years old divided into four groups
of 8-10 persons with mild, moderate and severe
intellectual disability. They were trained on several
different vocational skills including farming, olive
soap and candle production, paper-recycling,
assembly of electric outlets, embroidery stitches,
sewing and housekeeping. The Program
Coordinator and 6 staff members were in charge of carrying out activities during the reporting
period. VTP staff members carried out 37 home visits to parents of persons with intellectual
disability.
The program was divided into sub-programs as follows:
1) Training and rehabilitation program: is a vocational training program which took place in the
morning on a daily basis. The students were trained on farming, assembly of electric outlets,
olive soap, paper-recycling, embroidery stitches, sewing, raising animals, car wash,
housekeeping, identifying and recognizing symbols and signs, economic skills, social skills, and
self-defense and protection skills.
2) Protected Workshop Program: is a preparatory program, which is based on training and
rehabilitating students for different employment opportunities. The students were also trained on
time-settings, transportation, communication, cash usage and wages.
3) Small Projects Program: it is based on offering women with intellectual disability the
opportunity to invest in small embroidery projects. It seeks to target a greater number of women
with intellectual disability.
4) Employment Program: it is based on conducting field surveys to map any internal and external
employment opportunities. The students were trained on personal hygiene, general appearance
and different communication means including Telephone and Mobile. They were also trained on
how to write their names, put their signatures, access banks, private and public facilities and how
to work in different work settings i.e. companies, factories…etc.
11 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
This program is supported by the Austrian Development Agency through Diakonie Austria and the
Valdesian Church. The relationship with Diakonie Austria is a very unique relationship extending to
partnership and mutual support.
Program Achievements
1. VTP staff members completed a field survey covering 75 employers in the district of Ramallah
and Al-Bireh. A database in in place including detailed information about each employer.
2. Seven persons with intellectual disability were internally appointed within SMRC programs as
assistants to staff, and three persons with intellectual disabilities were hired in different jobs in
the district of Ramallah and Al-Bireh.
3. VTP managed to update employment forms to protect persons with intellectual disabilities.
4. VTP coordinated with the Ministry of Labor to inquire on all aspects regarding work conditions
and general safety measures and the degree of compliance.
Future Prospects
1. Increase the number of students in the Protected Workshop.
2. Maintain the process of accepting students in training and rehabilitation processes.
3. Focus on training students on agricultural aspects.
4. Introduce new handmade crafts as part of training students with intellectual disabilities.
5. Maintain the process of conducting field surveys to map any external employment opportunities.
6. Issue a vocational training manual to be used as a reference which covers all aspects of training,
rehabilitation and employment processes.
7. Coordinate and cooperate with stakeholders to advocate for the rights of persons with intellectual
disability.
8. Include persons with intellectual disability in the community through securing them with
employment opportunities.
9. Develop the capacity of VTP staff members.
10. Maintain internal and external coordination.
11. Create a logo for SMRC products.
12. Participate in exhibitions and fair trades in an attempt to introduce the capacities of persons with
intellectual disability to the local and international audiences.
13. Assign parents a greater role and bear responsibility in the process of goal implementation.
Success Story of Mohammad
Mohammad was born on 05.11.1999 to a family of 7 members including the parents, one brother and
3 sisters. Mohammad comes to Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center from a village located in the
north of Ramallah. He is a person with mild intellectual disability and he also has a physical
disability in his right leg. Mohammad studied in public schools until ninth grade and he is able to
read. Mohammad joined Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center in 2014 and he trained on different
vocational skills including soap making, farming, animal raising and thyme harvest. Subsequently he
joined the Sewing Workshop in coordination with Caritas Jerusalem at SMRC. He is now able to
12 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
sew bed sheets and pillows. Mohammad is known for his quiet, nice and shy personality. He assists
his cousins in their small shop in town and he enjoys playing computer games.
II.4 Community Work Program (CWP):
Program
This Program provided services to 103 persons with
intellectual disability in 11 villages and one refugee
camp. It cooperated and coordinated with 69 local
institutions in 12 locations and 30 institutions in the
district of Ramallah to raise their awareness on the
rights of persons with disability and provide
rehabilitation services. The aim of this Program is to
train persons with intellectual disability on daily life
skills to become self-reliant and independent, as well
as, communication, language and employment skills.
It also aims at finding a coach within the family to
monitor the training process during weekly or monthly visits in accordance with set plans for each
person with intellectual disability. There were 4 staff members in this program including the
Program Coordinator.
CWP staff members have carried out 1449 home visits (906 work visits and 547 follow-up visits) to
103 persons with intellectual disability to train them in accordance with individual plans to develop
their capacity in daily life skills, physiotherapy, psycho-social counseling and vocational skills as
well as develop their self-confidence.
Apart from its direct work with persons with intellectual disability within the home context, the
CWP played a great role in community mobilization through the self-help groups, family groups,
family committee and the advocacy committee, among other mobilization structures. Following is a
brief summary of the work done by each during 2015:
Self-help groups are groups of persons with intellectual disability which are subject to training on
different daily life skills and they are included in the local community. CWP workers worked with 4
self-help groups on different art and training skills to include them in the local community.
CWP workers worked with 7 groups of family members (6-12 members per group) (6-8 meetings
during the reporting period) in addition to group meetings on the rights of Persons with Disability
and violations and economic empowerment.
CWP workers empowered the Family Committee to take its responsibility through offering different
training workshops on leadership, group formation and plan setting. New members joined the
Family Committee to mobilize it. CWP organized visits for committee members to involve them in
13 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
governmental programs and services. The committee played a major role in organizing the
International Day of PwD.
The Advocacy Committee is a committee of 6 institutions and 2 family members which plays a role
in exercising pressure on the government in an attempt to realize the rights of persons with
intellectual disability. It held regular meetings to influence health, Labor and Statistics policies
relevant to PwID through submitting a petition of demands, setting their goals and plans. It exercised
pressure on Ramallah Municipality to organize an activity to commemorate the International Day of
PwD at Ramallah Cultural Palace.
This program is supported by Christoffel Blind Mission (CBM) – Germany.
Program Achievements
1. CWP staff members conducted awareness workshops and activities in schools and kindergartens
to raise awareness on the rights of persons with intellectual disability.
2. CWP staff members managed to include 14 children with intellectual disabilities in kindergartens
and schools.
3. CWP staff members visited employers to raise their awareness on the rights of persons with
intellectual disability.
4. CWP staff members coordinated with UNRWA and conducted 4 awareness workshops on the
rights of persons with intellectual disability and sexual abuse.
5. CWP staff members coordinated with Ramallah Municipality to highlight 5 rights of persons
with intellectual disability on street screen shows.
Future Prospects
1. Activate the role of the family committee and family groups.
2. Raise awareness of school students and parents on the rights of persons with intellectual
disability, especially in the right to inclusive education.
3. Exercise pressure on the Palestinian Ministry of Social Affairs to provide social protection to
persons with intellectual disability.
4. Exercise pressure on the Palestinian Ministry of Health to improve health services to persons
with intellectual disability in terms of medications, medical referrals and health insurance.
Success Story: Exhibition on the Sidewalk “Ala Araseef”
The Community Work Program organized an art exhibition for persons with intellectual disability
called Ala Araseef, which took place on 22 and 23 April 2015 in Birzeit. The exhibition included 40
drawings and painting made by persons with intellectual disability. Many official and representatives
attended the event and admired the work of children and adults with intellectual disability. This
event conveyed a message to the public that persons with intellectual disability can be creative and
productive.
14 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
II.5 Specialists
Program
This Program provided specialized services including art education, physiotherapy, speech and
language therapy, psycho-social support: individual
and group counseling sessions, drama and music
education sessions to 112 persons with intellectual
disability including 83 inside SMRC and 29 in the
local community.
Art Education
Around 98 SMRC students with intellectual
disabilities have received Art Education including 83
students from different rehabilitation programs and
15 students from the field via the Community Work
Program.
Physiotherapy
The physiotherapy program managed to train and
empower 44 children with disabilities to improve the
performance of their gross muscles, stretch their
tendons and ligaments as well as reduce any forms of
deformities to use their physical abilities in mastering
daily life skills in an attempt to enable them to
become more independent and self-reliant.
Part of the physiotherapy program comes the sports
program, in which a group of students take part
within SMRC, as well as, outside SMRC, on a
national and international level. SMRC participated in Special Olympics games in Palestine and in
Los Angeles during 2015, and earned golden and silver medals.
Speech Therapy
This program developed speech capacity of 20 children with intellectual disabilities (14 males and 6
females)in order to comprehend and communicate expressively. The speech therapist is a part timer and
therefore unable to offer more sessions to the students. However, despite the shortage in time, the students
who take sessions have been developing very well. The program has been fully supported by the Annie B.
Mission in USA.
Psycho-Social Support: Individual and Group Counseling Sessions
This program gave space for 50 persons with intellectual disability including children, youth and
adults and 50 parents, especially mothers, to speak out about their challenges and feelings in a
confidential setting. The sessions aimed at raising their awareness towards their strengths and
15 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
guiding them on how to problem solve, raise issues and concerns and protect themselves from
potential harm.
Drama
Around 40 SMRC students with intellectual disabilities have received drama sessions during the
reporting period.
A selected group of SMRC students have been part of circus training in cooperation with the
Palestine Circus School during 2015. Their participation in this program was a very unique activity
that students enjoyed very much and helped in developing the capacity of Circus staff and SMRC
staff in this field.
Program Achievements
1. Develop all specialized services and secure persons with intellectual disability with optimal
utilization of services.
2. Develop the expressive skills of children and adults with intellectual disability to speak out about
sensitive issues in a confidential setting.
3. Raise awareness of parents of children and adults with intellectual disability on sexual and
reproductive health.
4. Increase the number of beneficiaries of speech therapy sessions.
5. Provide Dabkeh training sessions to children and adults with intellectual disability by
professionals.
6. Organize art exhibitions for children and adults with intellectual disability.
7. Participate in local and international competitions.
Success Story of Jane and Halimeh
Two students with intellectual disability from Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center have participated
in the Special Olympics World Games which took place in the historic Los Angeles Memorial
Coliseum in the United State of America from 25/07/2015 to 02/08/2015. Jane won the Silver Medal
(3kg) in the Shot Put competition for women and Halimeh won the Golden Medal in the Long Jump
for women.
Success Story of Yara
Yara is a 6 year old girl. She has been suffering from Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) since
birth. As a result of this disease, she has now intellectual and physical disability. She joined the
Physiotherapy Program of SMRC to receive physiotherapy services in terms of strengthening her
gross muscles. At the beginning she was unable to stand on the standing frame due to muscle cramps
in her lower limbs. However, SMRC physiotherapist managed to ease the process of positioning her
to a standing frame and endure for half an hour. She is now able to move in footsteps with
assistance.
16 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
Success Story of Omar
Omar is a 13 years old child with moderate intellectual disability and has speech delay. He lives in a
family of 6 members including his parents and siblings. He managed to develop his expressive and
comprehensive skills with approximately 80% speech clarity. He became more interactive with his
classmates, teachers, relatives and friends.
II.6 Staff Capacity Building:
Staff members of Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center participated in different workshops,
conferences, courses and exchange programs. They participated in workshops on violations against
people with disability, child protection and safeguarding, psychological health of PwD, leadership,
mechanisms of work development and documentation, budget analysis on the national level, SMRC
Code of Conduct, Human Rights Principles, Citizenship and Creative Thinking. They took courses
in Special Education, Communication Skills, Marketing of Small Projects, Sensory awakening and
German Language. They participated in conferences on CBR/CBID in Japan and1 worker awarded a
Diploma degree in Professional Supervision. Additionally, they took part in exchange programs with
Jairos Jiri Association in Zimbabwe and Herrnhuter Diakonie in Germany.
The high point in this reporting period was the visit of the Management Team and the VTP Program
Coordinator of Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center in Palestine to Jairos Jiri Association in Zimbabwe during
the beginning of 2015 to carry out different field visits and attend workshops on reproductive and sexual
health and public relations.
Jairos Jiri Association (JJA) in Zimbabwe has also hosted two staff members from Star Mountain
Rehabilitation Center in Palestine to work at JJA as interns for a week starting from 15.11.2015 until
22.11.2015 as a part of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) Project. Also in 2015, two JJA staff
members came to SMRC for a week of internship completing a process of visits from JJA that has already
begun in 2014. This exchange program was funded by the Austrian Development Agency via Diakonie
Austria.
In May 2015, three staff members from SMRC visited Herrnhuter Diakonie as inters for 3 weeks, in an
exchange program that started a few years ago between the two institutions. The impressions SMRC’s staff
gained as a result of this exchange was tremendous, and manifested itself in actual implementation of
acquired skills in the daily program of SMRC. In 2016, three members from Herrnhuter Diakonie will spend
three weeks at SMRC, as well.
III. Administrative Matters…Staff, Maintenance, Agriculture, Guests, Volunteers and
Trainees…
Staff
In 2015, Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center had a total of 36 employees including the Management
Team, program staff as well as technical and administrative staff.
No of
Employees
Gender Religion Geographical Area
Male Female Christian Muslim City Village Refugee Camp
14 22 16 20 13 22 1
17 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
Maintenance
Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center renovated the
old kitchen including the dining room with a modern
one fully equipped with the most recent machines
and equipment funded by the Czech Development
Agency and SMRC’s own resources. The new
kitchen has been functioning as a cafeteria for
persons with intellectual disabilities and a catering
service provider to guests and visitors since
February 2015.
Subsequently, Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center
sought to renovate the school building in May 2015 to make it more accessible to children with
intellectual disability with a larger area allowing its staff to organize more activities. It consists of 4
classrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1 room for individual sessions, a sport room and an office. The renovation
was supported by OPEC Fund for International Development via the Arab Fund in Kuwait.
General maintenance was secured and covered in all SMRC’s programs and offices including
painting and polishing, toilet and manhole maintenance, water networks, and other matters as
needed.
Agriculture
Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center cultivated and restored all agricultural lands to be used for
planting different types of organic herbs, plants and trees (i.e. olive,thyme, salvia, green tee, green
onion, rucola, parsley, orange, almonds...etc.).
According to the approval of the German Board of
Directors of the Moravian Church on the
establishment of a beekeeping project, Star
Mountain Rehabilitation Center coordinated with
the Beekeeper’s Association in Jericho to provide
training for the staff and students of the Vocational
Training Program on how to handle the bees,
monitor the operation and extract the honey. The
first extraction of honey took place at Star
Mountain Rehabilitation Center on 16.08.2015 in
the presence of the personnel of the Beekeeper’s
Association in cooperation and participation of the
staff of the Vocational Training Program, the
Farmer and the Administrator. SMRC produced a new product of pure mountain honey with a
volume of about 100 Kg.
18 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
The Management Team of Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center signed an agreement with Adel Fair
Trade Market in Ramallah to market and sell SMRC products including herbs and vegetables to
generate local income in an attempt to cover SMRC operational expenses. Additionally, SMRC
responds to purchase orders from individual customers.
Guests, Visitors, Volunteers and University Interns…
A number of guests and visitors have visited
Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center in 2015
including school and university students, in
addition to, German groups to know more
about SMRC’s different programs and
activities as well as learn about disability
issues and the rights of persons with
intellectual disability. Some local guests
approached SMRC to rent a hall for organizing
different workshops, seminars or events. Other
guests came to SMRC to have lunch and or log
in SMRC’s guesthouse. Starting May until end of August, SMRC’s guest rooms tend to be in full
use.
According to SMRC’s Volunteer and Intern Policy, Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center is allowed
to accept no more than 2 foreign volunteers during the year and 8 interns per semester. However,
due to scarcity of human resources, SMRC reconsidered to accept 6 volunteers as shown in the
below table. SMRC accepted 5 interns from different Palestinian universities in 2015 as shown
below.
Palestinian Volunteers in 2015
Number of volunteers Professional / Educational Background Organization / Entity
2 Sociology and Farming Birzeit University, Friends
from Al-‘Ezariyeh
Foreign Volunteers in 2015
Number of volunteers Professional / Educational Background Country
6 Theology, Psychology, Computer Science
and High School Graduates
Germany, Switzerland,
Denmark and Japan
Total number of volunteers 8
Interns in 2015
Number of Interns Professional / Educational Background Organization / Entity
5 Physiotherapy, Social Service, Special
Education
Al-Quds University and
Al-Quds Open University
Total number of interns 5
SMRC’s management team has taken the opportunity after its trip to Zimbabwe and networked with Elim
Home, a Moravian owned and functioned project for personas with disability in South Africa. The two day
visit was inspiring, eye opening and a return visit from Elim Home to SMRC’s is expected in spring 2016,
with a potential to develop a long term partnership.
19 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
Last but not least, a very important visit from the Hernnhuter Gymnasium School in Herrnhut took place in
February 2015, accompanied by Rev. Raimund Hertzsch, Star Mountain’s Chair President of the Board of
Directors. Students and teachers from Hernnhut interacted with Star Mountain’s students and teachers,
learning about each other and the work they both do.
IV. Financial Matters…
Auditor
Deloitte Corporation has carried out the auditing process for the year ended 2015. It is among the
region’s leading professional services firms, providing audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory
services. Please refer to the audited financial statement for more details.
Donors
Following is a short overview of the programs/project supported by different donors during the year
2015. For more details, please refer to the audited financial statement.
Program/Project Name of Donor
General Budget:
All un-covered program costs,
running costs, maintenance
Moravian Church World Wide through Herrnhuter
Missionshilfe (HMH)
Moravian Church Foundation (MCF)
Zeister Zendingsgenootschap (ZZg)
OeME – Buelach, Switzerland
Kindergarten Program Sozialdienst der Pfarrei St.Martin – Effretikon, Switzerland
Vocational Training Program Austrian Development Agency/Diakonie Auslandshilfe –
Austria in cooperation with the Valdesian Church
Community Work Program Christoffel Blind Mission (CBM) - Germany
Speech Therapy Annie B. Mission – USA
Material and Capacity Building
for KG, School and Autism
Programs
OFID – OPEC Fund for International Development in Austria
via Arab Fund in Kuwait
Scholarships for 3 Young
Women with Intellectual
Disability
Unity Women’s Desk – Moravian Church, USA
Scholarships for 1 young
woman and 1 school-aged boy
with Intellectual Disability
Karl &MaciaSchumm
Scholarships for 5 students
with Intellectual Disability
Leaksville Moravian Church - USA
Kitchen machines and tools
Kitchen Dining Room
Czech Development Agency – Czech Republic
Karl &Macia Schumm
Moravian Merchandise
SMRC’s own resources
Support for Vocational
Equipment at SMRC
Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirchgemeinde Rapperswil-Jona –
Switzerland
Many individual donors
supporting students through
Palestine and all over the world
20 Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center – Annual Narrative Report 2015
tuition fees and material as
well as the running costs of the
center.
V. Future Plans
In 2016, we look forward to settle in a renovated building funded by the UNDP construction project
which shall change the structure of the administration/specialists building in terms of design and new
offices and class rooms. The Management Team is also planning to relocate the building of the
Inclusive Kindergarten instead of one of SMRC’s cottages.
We strive to generate more local income from SMRC existing guesthouses, seminar halls, kitchen
and other facilities to help in covering the high running and operational costs of the center.
We also look forward to apply for development projects to cover SMRC’s operating expenses and
finance different rehabilitation programs as well as introduce more vocational training skills to
persons with intellectual disability.
We shall change the attitude of people towards persons with disabilities in general and persons with
intellectual disability in particular through intensifying awareness campaigns in schools, universities,
and local institutions.
The End.