The Holy Child Program was founded in 1995 by the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist at the request of local parents whose children were suffering from psychological distress resulting from the first Intifada, or military incursion into the West Bank by Israeli forces. The Program began with four children, and within two years had increased to eleven children. Currently, the Program serves 35 children and their families, and is involved with additional outreach programs in the West Bank. It operates in coordination with the local government, individuals and organizations from Israel, various local and foreign NGOs, and serves as a training center for local and international universities as well as other agencies serving children and families in the region. The Holy Child Program is certified by the Palestinian Ministry of Education as an alternative educational program.
