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.
- The Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation through their Outreach Services and essential Music Therapy programme
- The Sheepfold in Beit Sahour, 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 Refugee Camps, followed by Al Arroub Refugee Camp in 2019.
- Having supported our existing partners during the Covid-19 pandemic, we partnered with Ein Beit al Mar in 2022.
These centres have progressed and are seen by other professionals and families as regional centres of excellence. You can read more about what we do and our partners here.
