Rachael M. Rudolph, PhD
Regardless of whether they are family or friends, the loss of a loved one fills our senses with sadness, our hearts with emptiness, and our minds with anger. Sadness comes because we know they are no longer part of our lives; emptiness because their eyes no longer twinkle with amusement or laughter; and, anger because of the suffering and injustice that led to their death. Over time, however, we come to accept that is through our hearts and minds our loved ones remain in the present; it is through us that they continue to live in this world. We, however, are adults. What of our children? How do they come to terms with the loss of their loved one? How can they erase the images of death from their heart and minds? How can they come to understand that it is through them the memory of the loved one remains?
We can tell our children time will heal their broken hearts, but, often, they are too young to understand. Therefore, it is through our efforts and those of nongovernmental agencies such as The Global Help Initiative for Palestine that we can help. The Global Help Initiative, known as HI, was founded by a group of university students who seek to improve the lives of Palestinians living in Gaza’s refugee camps.
According to one of the founders, Amr Hassouna, the HI seeks to improve the lives of Gazans through sponsorship programs, cultural exchanges, monetary assistance for food packages and aid distribution, reinforcement of small business projects, and facilitation of employment opportunities. Since the end of the 22-day Gaza Holocaust, the HI has channeled their energies in an attempt to return some sense of semblance of normalcy to the lives of Gaza’s children.
One project recently implemented by HI was the Peace and Love Program for the Children of Gaza.
This program is geared specifically to provide activities for the children and their mothers. Activities such as the recent trip to the zoo help the children overcome the memories of war, death and destruction. They seek to replace those images with moments of happiness.
Another program implemented by the HI that focuses on children is visits to children suffering from cancer.
The programs implemented within the short six months that the HI has been in operation and those it plans for the future are all geared toward bringing a sense of normalcy in a life that is anything other than normal. They seek to bring smiles to the faces of the little ones, laughter from their mouths, and excitement for their future.
We too, the citizens of the world, concerned humanitarians, can help the Global Help Initiative with their endeavors. Assistance through donations of aid, grants or monetary contributions can go a long way in providing a smile. Individuals or families can also participate through their Sponsor-a-Child program. More information can be found on the Global Help Initiative at www.help-initiative.org or by contacting Hamza El-Taweel or Amr Hassouna.
