The city of Bethlehem is experiencing a particularly fragile economic and social situation, leaving the most vulnerable segments of the population in dire need of assistance.
Among those most at risk of loneliness and neglect are the elderly: they are often left alone, abandoned by families unable to care for them, and thus live in poor and dilapidated conditions. Pro Terra Sancta has decided to establish a listening service dedicated to those in economic difficulty, with the primary goal of ensuring adequate and consistent healthcare. The Association consults with doctors to assess the urgency of care needs and listens to families to evaluate their financial capacity. It then connects patients and their families with healthcare facilities in the area and strives to procure medications and treatments unavailable in Palestinian territories.
Additionally, Pro Terra Sancta has reached out to other local social assistance organizations to support individuals with chronic and degenerative conditions, especially the elderly, who are the most isolated. Among these local organizations, one of the most significant is the Antonian Society.
A local Palestinian association that has been helping the most vulnerable people in Bethlehem since 1913, it opened a true shelter for the elderly from disadvantaged and abandoned backgrounds in 1942. In recent years, it has also established a cafeteria and a Day Center, engaging 60 more elderly people from the city in recreational and physical activities three times a week.
The collaboration between the Society and Pro Terra Sancta aims to renovate and improve the buildings and spaces for guests, support the staff, provide adequate equipment and necessary medicines, and contribute to ongoing expenses. The goal is to sustain a center that cares for the lonely and sick elderly of the city, who find an invaluable point of reference in the Antonian Society.
