Boarding School Project
Americans for Palestinian Orphans
Boarding School (K-8th grade): Purpose, Goals and Cost
The Most Critical Crisis: A Large Number of Orphans in Gaza Tens of thousands of children in Gaza have lost everything — their parents, their homes, and, in many cases, entire generations of their families. These young orphans face a life of unimaginable hardship. Many of them are unaccompanied, with no family to turn to for support. Countless others bear the scars of violence, having lost limbs, or suffered severe and consecutive emotional traumas. These children are among the most vulnerable in the world.
About Americans for Palestinian Orphans
Americans for Palestinian Orphans (APO) is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization. APO is committed to meeting the educational, physical, and emotional needs of Gaza’s youngest orphans. We focus specifically on children under 13 years old, providing critical support, during the most difficult phase in their development. Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, APO has operated multiple educational and therapeutic programs, directly serving about 300 displaced orphans.
In addition to providing education, our programs offer wrap-around services such as medical care, mental health counseling, food and clean water, vitamins, and essential supplies like baby formula, diapers, winter clothing, and shoes.
Why a Boarding School in Northern Gaza?
The northern part of Gaza has been one of the hardest-hit areas throughout the ongoing conflict. Our work on the ground has revealed that about 10% of the orphans we serve are unaccompanied — meaning they have no one left to care for them.
These children are particularly vulnerable, and they need a safe, stable environment where they can heal, receive an education, and regain a sense of normalcy. This is why we have decided to establish a boarding school in the North of Gaza — a place where these children can grow up in safety and stability year-round, despite the chaos surrounding them.
The Boarding School Project
Americans for Palestinian Orphans is launching a special project to create a boarding school for Gaza’s most vulnerable orphans. This school will provide holistic care for 100 children, ages 5 to 13, with a focus on their educational, emotional, and physical well-being. The school will offer a stable, nurturing environment where children can begin to recover from the trauma of war and the loss of loved ones.
The proposed school will be built on a two-dunum (2000 square meter) campus, designed to meet the specific needs of young orphans. It will feature classrooms, therapy rooms, dormitories, recreational spaces, and outdoor areas. The total cost of building the school is $200,000, and we have already raised $60,500. We hope to raise the remaining $135,500 by the end of Ramadan to ensure the project can move forward as planned.
School Design: Tailored for Safety & Wellness
The boarding school will be a two-story building designed with the safety, privacy, and well-being of young orphans in mind. The first floor will house classrooms, therapy spaces, and essential facilities like a kitchen and cafeteria. The second floor will provide dormitories, where children will live under the care of trained staff. Each child will have a bed, closet, and access to private bathrooms, ensuring both physical and emotional comfort.
Key features of the school will include:
- Classrooms with smart boards, individual desks, and iPads,
- Handicapped ramps for accessibility,
- Large bathrooms to accommodate children with special needs,
- Science lab, library, art, and music rooms,
- Two recreation rooms with age-appropriate educational games and toys,
- Living rooms for reading, relaxing, and socializing,
- An indoor court that can also be used as a theater space,
- Playgrounds and an outdoor soccer and basketball court,
- School garden to grow fresh vegetables and fruits, and
- Nurse’s room, counseling staff room, and staff housing for married couples serving as caretakers.
In addition, recognizing Gaza’s unreliable electricity and water supply, the school will be supported by solar panels, a water well, and generators, ensuring that the children’s daily needs are met without disruption.
Responsible Caregivers for Vulnerable Children
Each dormitory will be staffed by married couples, who will serve as caretakers for a group of 10 to 12 children of the same age and gender. This structure will help create a stable, family-like atmosphere for the children. The boys’ and girls’ dorms will be kept separate to ensure privacy and comfort, with each child receiving individual care and attention.
Each dorm will also include private bedrooms for the caregivers and separate adult bathrooms for staff, ensuring a balance of care and privacy for the children.
How Much Have We Raised and How Much Do We Still Need?
Our estimated cost for completing the construction of this vital boarding school is a little more than $200,000. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we have already raised $60,000. Now, with Ramadan approaching, we urgently need to raise the remaining $140,000 to ensure that we can begin construction and provide a haven for these children.
Your support is crucial in helping us achieve this goal. Every donation brings us closer to giving these young orphans the stability, safety, and future they deserve.
Please consider contributing today — no amount is too small to make a lasting impact.
Heartfelt Thank you!
On behalf of everyone at Americans for Palestinian Orphans, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to you for your compassion, your generosity, and your unwavering support. The children we serve in Gaza are facing unimaginable challenges, but because of you, they have hope. Your kindness provides not only the physical necessities they need to survive but also the emotional strength to heal and rebuild their lives.
The journey ahead is long, but with your help, we are confident that these children can find safety, stability, and a brighter future. Every donation, every word of encouragement, every act of kindness makes a world of difference.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us and with Gaza’s youngest and most vulnerable. Together, we create a safe space where healing and hope can thrive.
With deep appreciation,
Our Team at APO