written by Maria Held, German volunteer, SOS Children’s Village Bethlehem
The last minutes of waiting
When a convoy of black cars with blacked-out windows finally raced up the hill towards the gates of the SOS Children’s Village Bethlehem suspense was at its height. For the last three days you could feel how the excitement was growing while everyone had been preparing for the coming visit. Now at this very instance the village and all the people in it were shining. A sea of Palestinian flags had been put up between the buildings of the village. House number one was almost completely covered by one giant flag. Special Police Forces were providing the required security for the guest of honour. The children and young people, mothers, aunts and the staff of the SOS Village were all waiting on the yard in front of the main building. Even the media, three retired SOS mothers and ten former, now grown-up SOS children were present. Everyone was wearing their best clothes.
A moment that no one will forget.
Excited faces were everywhere and many pairs of eyes were glancing curiously at the approaching car. Then the car stopped and the long awaited moment came: At 1.52pm the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas set his feet on the ground of the SOS Children’s Village Bethlehem. For the first time in the history of the SOS Bethlehem a president himself had come to see the village with his own eyes.
The National Director Mohammed Shalaledeh welcomes President Mahmoud Abbas. 10-yaer-old Rania even tries to find out the president's favourite football club.
The visit of President Mahmoud Abbas, who is often just called ‘Abu Mazen’, did not come out of the blue. In Spring 2008 SOS President Helmut Kutin and the National Director of the SOS Children’s Villages Palestine, Mohammed Shalaldeh, had met the Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas was invited by them to visit the SOS Bethlehem and he promised to do so one day. One and a half years later he finally announced his visit for the occasion of Christmas Eve 2009. Welcomed by hundreds of clapping hands, Mohammed Shalaldeh and the two SOS children Sarah and Moustafa Mahmoud Abbas started to shake hands with everyone. Then he made his way up to house number 9 of SOS mother Enshirah. There he was guided through a typical SOS house. 5-year-old Hamoude even asked him if he would stay in the SOS and sleep in his house the coming night. Afterwards Abbas went, always surrounded by bodyguards, back to the main building where he watched the film about one day in the SOS Children’s Villages all around the world.
Abu Mazen in the middle of the SOS Children's Village Bethlehem.
In front of the flags of the SOS and Palestine Mohammed Shalaledeh expressed his pleasure to have Abu Mazen in the SOS and welcomed him in the SOS family. Rania and Qusai delivered a short speech on behalf of all of the SOS children and gave Abbas the presents from the village. Outside of the main building Abbas took a seat on the stairs and everyone gathered around him for a group picture. Additionally to a black van Abu Mazen presented a 30000 USD cheque for the SOS and distributed Christmas gifts among the SOS children and youth. Rania had even the courage to ask him the question that divides the SOS children in two ‘opposed’ groups: ‘FC Barcelona or Real Madrid?’ ‘With who are you?’, the president wanted to know. ‘Barca.’ ‘Then I’m also with Barca’, answered the president laughingly. After 44 minutes of visiting Abbas had to leave again. His schedule was too full to fulfill little Hamoude’s wish to stay over night. Nevertheless his visit left behind smiling faces and was definitely a success. Beside the generous donation and the Christmas gifts it was important for the self-esteem of the children and the youth. Shoukran – Thank you – Abu Mazen!
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