In a small and simple house in Bethlehem lives the mother, Etimad, who is 39 years old, with her five children. Hanan, 14 years old; Mahmoud, 11 years old; the twins Saed and Karam, 10 years old; and Layla, 3 years old). 
In that small house, this family faced many financial challenges and significant psychological pressure, especially since the father was not able to work due to suffering from a severe illness, which limited his movement and activity. This affected the stability of the family, specifically Eatmd, who made sure to face these challenges and provide for her family. 
"It is not easy to express my emotions, and I did not expect to speak this freely about them"
These are Etimad's words after participating in the guidance sessions organized by the SOS Children's Villages in Bethlehem, which included gaining more insight into feelings, their types, and how to express them safely. Her excitement and goal for a positive change were evident through her consistent participation during all sessions, reaching a point in which she was able to voice her repressed feelings of fear and worry, mainly for the future of her children, on the other hand, happiness, love, and hope were driving her towards her children's success.  
Etimad started to see life from a new perspective after she became more capable of handling stress, which increased her confidence and self-esteem. She realized the effect of positive thinking on her life, which improved her relationship with her husband and children and their involvement in decision-making, leading to a great bond between them. Her three children participated in a series of guidance and awareness sessions inside the Children’s Village, aimed at providing psychological and social support. The sessions addressed important topics such as safe emotional expression, self-esteem enhancement, and the concept of a safe space. Additionally, workshops were held focusing on children’s rights, various forms of violence, protection, bullying, and harassment. 
The activities utilized interactive and creative methods such as play, drawing, and music, helping the children develop the skills needed for self-expression and increasing their awareness of their rights and protection mechanisms. “Our lives have changed for the better after these workshops, and we now enjoy going to school because the village provides us with clothes and food. Most importantly, these workshops have improved my mother’s mood and her treatment of us has become better. I thank SOS village and hope for more meetings with you.” This is a quote from Mahmoud, one of Etimad’s children, reflecting on his participation in the workshops.
Continuing our plan to work with Etimad and help her make a positive change in her life, we supported her decision to register for intensive professional training in photography and montage, which she had always dreamt of but did not have the chance to pursue due to her harsh circumstances. Through this opportunity, Etimad is more confident that she will further support her family and help them achieve what they dream of. 
The social worker Dima Adawi, who is closely following the developments of Etimad’s story, commented on her progress, saying:
“In every meeting with her, the mother says, “I am optimistic about the future, and I see my success ahead of me, and I see my children excelling in universities as I hope.” 
To achieve Etimad’s dream, SOS Children’s Villages will provide her with the needed help in launching her own project and creating a small photography studio that includes all the equipment she needs. This will help provide a sustainable source of income that will support a family in need for many years.

*In line with SOS Children’s Villages’ commitment to privacy, participants’ names and photos are withheld.