“Eli,” a sweet-natured 13-year-old Boys Town Jerusalem student, has a very severe learning disability. Once he was placed in a small Special Education class at the start of the school year, he began to make slow but steady progress. Yet, to the frustration of the caring BTJ staff, Eli could not ever open up to share his emotions.
Breaking through Eli’s barriers
“Eli was closed up,” notes BTJ Social Worker Ronit Asbag. “We tried every way possible to help him talk about his feelings, with no success at all.” Then came the day when Eli poured his heart out to Ronit. It was one of the saddest days she can remember… “He came into my office sobbing uncontrollably, but wouldn’t speak to me,” she recalls.
A heartbreaking loss
“I tried to comfort him gently, until his words began to pour out in a rush. His wonderful young uncle, serving in the IDF, had been killed in battle the day before. Eli told me in detail how his mother had screamed when she heard the news, and how horrified he was. This poor young boy was heartbroken and severely traumatized.”
Supporting Eli through trauma
As she makes tireless efforts to help ease Eli’s pain, Ronit notes that his family is poverty-stricken. “Fortunately, we’re able to give him hearty, nutritious meals at school each day. Generous donors have enabled us to grant Eli a full scholarship, as well as supplying his books, school supplies and after-school activities.
Thanks to the ORAH Fund in Australia and a UK donor, we can soon provide the expensive, desperately needed diagnostic testing to help us remedy Eli’s learning disabilities. We are grateful to all our donors for the lifesaving help they give our students. So very many more boys are in dire need of help.”
To continue helping Eli and other boys like him, click here.
*Details and name altered to protect identity
*Image for illustrative purposes only