Our Story
In 1985, Val Jourdan, Chair and Founder Trustee spent a year working as a paediatric physiotherapist in the West Bank.
Recognising the dire needs of disabled children and young adults in the area and with no one to take her place, Val and the late Georgina Mortimer, endeavoured to improve the situation. You can read more about the incredible work that Georgina achieved here and the unique sensory rooms and gardens created in her memory.
A year later Action around Bethlehem Children with Disability (ABCD) was established as a UK registered charity, and so we began
Today ABCD supports
- The Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation through their Outreach Services and essential Music Therapy programme
- The Sheepfold in Beit shour, run by Mary Rewers, provides day care for the most vulnerable and severely disabled children and young adults
- In 2014, with the help of our Trustee Dr Firas Sarhan, we started supporting the rehabilitation centres of Nour Shams, Jalazone, followed by Al Arroub Refugee Camps. These centres have progressed and are seen by other professionals and families as regional centres of excellence
Today, we work through our brilliant partners to maintain the highest possible level of professional knowledge, equipment, and services we possible can.