Lighting up Bethlehem's Christmas

With a big number of Palestinians unemployed in Bethlehem and surrounding towns, the U.K. based charity, “Friends of the Holy Land” is helping to make this Christmas a joyful one for some 450 children under 12 years of age there. The Vice Chairman of Friends of the Holy Land, Peter Rand, says the charity aims to give the gift of hope to these children in Bethlehem, many of whom are orphans, disabled or come from very disadvantaged Christian families.

Rand explains that families benefitting from the Christmas initiative will receive coupons to purchase food, toys, clothes and necessities from local Christian vendors, thereby stimulating the local economy, and encouraging native Christians whose presence has dwindled to less than 2%, to remain in the Holy Land.

Depending on their needs, some families will also receive vouchers to pay their utility bills or economic assistance to make urgent home repairs. Special attention will be given by the charity to some 90 elderly people from the Bethlehem area this Christmas too.

Listen to Tracey McClure’s interview with Peter Rand.
to find out more: www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk