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Little ones from the Holy Land, these youngsters have something in common: all are orphans. -
This Palestinian refugee boy hasn’t much else to offer his little sister than the comfort of his arms. -
Learning can be fun, especially in an outdoor classroom, as these Indian children seem to feel. -
Threshing with camel and donkeys is a difficult but necessary chore for this little farm girl. (photo: Rev. Leon V. Kofod) -
Back to school in Jordan — reading, writing and listening to the teacher. -
Carrying unleavened bread which she has baked in an outdoor oven, an Eqyptian girl is on the way to her customers. -
A smiling lad from Bethlehem shares a joke with a friend. -
Love shows on this old Arab’s face, even for his pouting grandchild. (photo: UNRWA) -
This Lebanese schoolgirl finds joy in her birthday necklace, momentarily forgetting her country’s problems. -
Village girls in South Turkey enjoy being photographed in their native dress. -
Helping mother serve tea in their village home, an Iranian girl learns to operate the samavar. -
Three Ethiopian boys enjoy posing for the camera.
Sprinkled throughout the Middle and Near East, and united by a charming bond that transcends all political conflict, religious dissension, and racial hatred, are those marvelous creatures we call CHILDREN…
Because of the accident of birth – over which none of us has control – some of these young ones are children of poverty, others children of wealth. Some are Jordanian, Iranian, Turkish, others Greek, Lebanese, Syrian. Yet, all are children, and so share what is universal to children: the ability to laugh, to play, to see the world with innate wisdom, simplicity and wonder.
They are not yet architects of their own destiny. They are dependent. The future for a few is bright, but for many others – bleak. Their cultures, intelligence, talents and personalities vary. Some suffer much. Others little. They are a delight and a burden at once. They are our responsibility.
And, they are the future.