The ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestine has heavy economic consequences, one of which is limited resources for educational institutions. Many Palestinian schools lack resources for children with additional learning needs and large class sizes mean that it is difficult for these children to get the personal, individualised support that they need.

Embrace’s partner, SIRA, runs two schools in Palestine (Bethlehem and Jericho), which provide specialised education for about 140 children each year, aged 6-12, with various learning difficulties and disabilities. The SIRA schools are the only specialist education schools in Palestine.

Aya is just one of the children whose life has been transformed as a result of the SIRA school. In her old school, her behavioural problems meant she was written off as disruptive - and she was bullied by the other children.

But since her parents enrolled her at the SIRA school, Aya has flourished.

“Today, my daughter reads, writes, expresses her opinion and solves her problems!” says her dad.