The husband of Helana Abdel Rahim Abu Leymoon from Al-Fara’h village – Tobas governorate passed away 10 years ago lefting her with five children. Three of her children are suffering from a rare disease (deficiency of Protein S). This disease caused the death of one of her children and amputation of the leg of her daughter Rasha who is now 14 years old. 

With this difficult situation, Helana had to face this reality by working and depending on herself to earn a decent living for her children and herself. In addition to the living costs that she had to ensure for her children, she had to ensure annually 180,000 shekels to cover the costs of her daughter’s treatment and installing an artificial leg.

At the beginning, Helana utilized her home garden for planting certain vegetables such as Mulukhia and other crops and selling them for neighbors and the village people. This work has become the family’s livelihood. Moreover, Helana obtained assistance for Rasha’s treatment from the Orphans’ Foster Care Program sponsored by Qatar Charity.

Through the Deprived families Economic Empowerment Program (DEEP) implemented by ACAD in partnership with the UNDP, and funded by Qatar Charity in partnership with the Islamic Bank for Development, Helana obtained a grant of $7,900 to establish a greenhouse on an area of one dunum.

Helana developed her work and her small home garden became a one dunum greenhouse. After receiving a number training courses on agriculture and cultivation of vegetables, Helana applied the information and experience she got from these trainings on her new farm. With the assistance of her family, Helana was able to cover the costs of her daughter’s treatment who is currently receiving treatment in Germany.

With this change in Helana’s and her family’s life, she asked the Palestinian Social Affairs Directorate to stop the assistance she was receiving and to give it to a family that is more in need to such assistance.

Currently, Helana aspires and seeks to buy a car to use it in commuting her daughter to school because their home is located at a far distance from school and road between home and school is difficult for its being an agricultural road.

Helana says, “Assist other families having similar circumstances which my family experienced. Today, thanks to all your assistance and support, my family and I are in a better situation and I am now capable to cover the costs of my daughter’s treatment.”