My goal is to reach children in need

Linda, 38 years old, is a mother of six children (4 girls and 2 boys). A year ago, Linda began working as a social worker with the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture (TRC). Although its been only a short time, she has been able to leave a positive impact on the 60 children from East Jerusalem she has worked with so far.

“For me, Linda was like an angel sent from heaven,” said one child with whom Linda has worked. “I was feeling lonely, isolated and lost. She helped me in overcoming my fears and dark thoughts… she showed me that there are still many things to learn and explore in life.”

Before she became a social worker, Linda worked as a special education teacher in several centers in East Jerusalem. When her son was diagnosed with learning difficulties, she felt that she should continue her studies in Psychology and Sociology at Birzeit University, so she would be able to better help him. 

Her son’s condition was a life-changing experience from her perspective. She felt that other children, who are facing several difficulties in their life are in desperate need of the type of support that she was able to provide her son. As a mother and a social worker, she feels she has a humanitarian and social duty towards her society and, in particular, towards children in need.  

“Working in this field is challenging,” Linda says. “You need to build trust with the child, his or her family, and try to change the stigma of the nature of our work”. 

Through her work, Linda is helping children to cope with the obstacles they encounter in life and develop a positive outlook through embracing hope. 

Story shared by UNICEF