Annual Narrative Report -...

Moravian Church

Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center

مركز جبل النجمة للتأهيل –الكنيسة المورافية

[email protected]: -296 27 15 –Fax 02 06 –296 27 05 -(0)2-Office: 00972 -Ramallah, POB 199, West Bank, Palestine

[email protected]البريد 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


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


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:


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


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,


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.


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


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.


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


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.


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.


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


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


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.


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.


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


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.


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.


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


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.


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.


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


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.

Annual Narrative Report -...

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