Sisters of Mercy in Jerusalem

Since 1989, the Sisters of Mercy of St. Charles Borromeo in Jerusalem have run a kindergarten where children from Muslim and Christian families learn and play together.

Children from East Jerusalem

For nearly forty years, the sisters have cared for 140 Palestinian children aged 3 to 6, mostly from East Jerusalem and the Old City who practice Islam.

Mixed religious children

Roughly one-fifth of the children are Christians of various denominations, learning cultural traditions through interreligious dialogue.

War impacts kindergarten

The Middle East conflict in 2023 disrupted the kindergarten, forcing sisters to provide safe spaces for children to heal and rebuild hope.

Sisters' response to war

Sisters reopened kindergarten two weeks after armed conflict began, facing fear but seeing positive parent reactions and children returning quickly.

Children's perspective

A little boy said, 'I am so happy to go to kindergarten again! You know, we have a war at home!'

“I am so happy to go to kindergarten again! You know, we have a war at home!”