As a mental health counselor working in the field helping individuals overcome their obstacles and assisting them with treatment, I want to do the same for my brothers and sisters. I have provided you with short information listed below about the programs PCRF provides and what challenges the children are facing.  Here's what your contributions will provide for the well deserving children of the Middle East. 

                   About Our Gaza Pediatric Mental Health Initiative

In 2014, the entire population of Gaza, which is 50% children, was subjected to 55 days or bombardment from land, sea and air, resulting in thousands of dead and injured civilians. The PCRF initiated a field study in which we found thousands of children suffering from high forms of stress and anxiety as a result of witnessing the violence firsthand. Working with partners from the Gaza Community Mental Health Program (GCMHP) and the Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM), we began different approaches to intervening with the children and their families. This included group therapy, one-on-one therapy, medication support, summer camps and other activities to assist in their treatment. In 2015, we were supported by Islamic Relief in the USA for this project, and in 2017, Cycling4Gaza raised funds to support our ongoing efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering of children who are enduring psychological trauma in Gaza.

“On May 24, artillery bombed the citizens' homes in the Um Al-Nasr remote village in the northern Gaza Strip, killing 5 people and wounding 25, including the 5-year-old Yazan Al-Zughaibi, who lost his left leg and uncle, and his father was also injured during those bombing. Yazan's leg was amputated in Egypt after doctors decided to do so to avoid other serious complications, and he still suffers from psychological disorders after that injury, but his beautiful smile tells us a new story of hope. The PCRF's team began to study his case to start helping him get back to walking and getting him the mental health care he needs to improve his psychological state.”

“Today, our humanitarian team in the Gaza Strip completed the second day of handing  over vouchers to families whose homes were destroyed during the recent war on Gaza, which aims to secure food and basic hygiene and sterilization supplies for these families to help them overcome this difficult stage.”

These are just a few examples of the mental health work PCRF does everyday on the ground. We are proud to be one of the most respected and active nonprofit humanitarian medical relief organizations working in the Middle East. The PCRF continues to be awarded a perfect 4-star rating with Charity Navigator, as we work to provide expert, specialized medical care for sick and injured kids in need, as well as provide urgent humanitarian aid. PCRF would like to thank you again for your generous support. We hope that you will continue to be a part of our efforts at this critical period for so many in Gaza, Syria, and throughout the Middle East, as we work to heal the wounds of war that are being felt by so many. Together, we hope that we can continue to positively impact the lives of sick and injured kids who are in great need and counting on our help.