La Salle School Furnishings

During a visit in late 2019, the Director of the La Salle College des Freres - Beit Hanina school showed us how very badly worn, dilapidated, and in many cases damaged the desk and chairs (which were an old style with the chairs attached to the desks as a single unit) for the students were. They had clearly been there for ages and were in terrible shape. We also saw that the students had no place to store their things, and that they had to carry all their books and supplies and personal items with them from class to class, which despite their youth was certainly not healthy for them.

After some research and discussion, we undertook to equip the school with new furnishings, classroom by classroom, at a cost of $2660 per room. We notified potential donors of this effort, sent photos of the existing and proposed new furnishings, and had an amazing and heartwarming response. We had individuals who donated and individuals who sponsored full classrooms. We had local Priories of SMOTJ fund classrooms, and some issued challenges with matching funds. Some classrooms were funded in memorial of those we have lost.

Over the course of two years, we forwarded over $45,000—funds sufficient for more than 17 classrooms—and learned that not only were those rooms equipped with new desks and chairs, but some interactive IT systems were able to be procured as well. We were able to see the results of this project in person in late 2022. Shortly before that, on August 31 2022, we heard from the Director, who wrote:

“Yesterday was the first day of school. You cannot imagine the happy faces of our kids. They were all amazed with the new chairs and desks. They can sit happily for long hours without feeling pain. They can move the chairs and create groups. Parents expressed their content and satisfaction. Please find a few photos showing the new desks and chairs. We are unable to thank you enough for this wonderful project.”