Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) Delivers Digital Sponsorship to Hundreds of Orphans in the West Bank

Across the West Bank, thousands of children grow up without one or both parents, facing the compound challenges of loss, poverty, and limited access to essential services. Children make up about 41 percent of the West Bank’s population, and many live in households headed by widowed mothers struggling to meet basic needs. Orphaned children are particularly vulnerable to emotional distress, food insecurity, and disrupted education, especially in communities affected by conflict and displacement. 

Between May 14 and June 5, 2025, Life for Relief and Development’s Palestine Office carried out its second-quarter Orphan Sponsorship Distribution, reaching 956 orphaned children through a system designed to protect dignity and autonomy. Rather than distributing cash or material aid, LIFE provided each family with e-wallet cards that allowed guardians to securely purchase their own essentials. This approach gave families the freedom to prioritize their needs, whether food, clothing, or medical care, while avoiding stigma or dependency. 

The project, implemented directly by LIFE in coordination with the Ministry of Social Development, ensured transparency, safety, and accessibility across all governorates of the West Bank. Guardians reported improvements in household stability, children’s emotional well-being, and school performance. Widowed mothers expressed that the regular sponsorship payments gave them breathing room to focus on parenting and family stability. “Receiving sponsorship through the e-wallet allows me to buy what my children truly need. Now I go to the shop with my card like anyone else. I feel respected and independent,” said Um Yazan, a mother from Tubas. 

LIFE teams distributed and provided direct support to families. Sixty-two new guardians were trained on how to use the e-wallet system, ensuring that even elderly or illiterate caregivers could manage their funds independently. Post-distribution calls confirmed that all 956 orphans received their sponsorships successfully, and feedback showed high satisfaction with the dignity-based model. 

The initiative also fostered a strong sense of community responsibility. Two guardians voluntarily withdrew their children from the program after their financial conditions improved, requesting that the support be redirected to other orphans in need. This gesture of solidarity reflected the long-term impact of empowering families rather than simply assisting them. 

Children across the West Bank expressed renewed hope and belonging. Yassin, an orphan from Jerusalem, said, “Now I can buy the clothes, toys, and food like other children.”  

Stories like that of five-year-old Majdoulin from Yatta, who suffers from epilepsy and developmental delays, capture the true depth of LIFE’s impact. Her grandmother shared, “Every seizure terrifies me. But now I can afford her medicine on time, and that makes all the difference. I’m not just caring for her, I’m fighting for her life every day. This sponsorship is my backup, my safety net.” 

Through the Q2 2025 Orphan Sponsorship Program, Life for Relief and Development has demonstrated that humanitarian support can uphold dignity, trust, and hope while meeting essential needs. By combining compassion with digital innovation, LIFE continues to transform how aid is delivered - restoring choice, security, and humanity for orphaned families across the West Bank.