We love sharing our activities and programs in Jericho with the wider Seeds of Hope community. As you know, we often highlight what’s going on in our school, a recent camp or event in the Cultural Center, or a project team serving in the community.
This week, we wanted to take a moment to highlight a lesser-known—but just as important—part of the Seeds of Hope team. If you’ve visited Jericho, you may have had the opportunity to meet Yara and Fuad. Together, they lead the Seeds of Hope office and ensure the organization’s day-to-day operations run smoothly.
Yara and Fuad both learned about Seeds of Hope over a decade ago when they separately served as translators for some of our visiting project teams. Over the years, they’ve become vital members of the Seeds of Hope team.
Yara Abderabbo
“I volunteered as a translator for Seeds of Hope Summer Camp in 2015,” said Yara. “I enjoyed the environment, and the leaders made it feel like home.” At the time, Yara was just graduating from university and felt God was leading her to work more closely with Seeds of Hope.
In 2016, she joined our team, and eight years later, Yara is now our Chief Accountant. She oversees the finances for our six different departments in Jericho, manages all our donations and expenses, and coordinates with our accounting team in the United States—a job that has become increasingly complex as Seeds of Hope has grown.
“Yara has been instrumental in helping us with finances in every aspect,” said Seeds of Hope Board Chair Mark Crosslin. “Since she became our Chief Accountant, we have ended each year in the black, and she helps Seeds of Hope stay fiscally responsible. On top of all that, she is a very pleasant and kind person and a joy to be around.”
“I love what I do,” said Yara. “It has touched my heart tremendously to know that we make a difference in other people’s lives and can change their situations for the better.”
From our perspective, we couldn’t do what we do without Yara.
Fuad Jaddou
In early 2015, Fuad found himself at a career crossroads. With a background in law, he struggled to find a job in the area and considered moving to a bigger city. At the time, Seeds of Hope was less known and accepted in the community, so he was skeptical.
“I spent time as a translator with Seeds of Hope medical teams,” shared Fuad. “I knew they worked with values and morals, and I was comfortable in the medical clinics, but I didn’t know if those were only temporary good feelings.”
After almost two years of struggling with unemployment, Fuad had the opportunity to take a job with the Ministry of Justice, but it felt like settling. He wanted to work somewhere he could really believe in. A friend suggested Seeds of Hope, and Fuad decided to give it a try.
Over the last nine years, Fuad has served our team in many capacities. He’s the Director of Community Outreach, managing most of our project teams, home visits, and humanitarian aid operations. He’s also a leader on our staff and a champion of the Seeds of Hope mission and vision in Jericho. And thanks to his background, he is a valuable source of legal advice for our local office.
“Fuad has so many traits that have contributed to the success of Seeds of Hope,” said Khader Ghanim, Seeds of Hope CEO. “His intelligence, creativity, and charisma are very much valued by myself and the entire Seeds of Hope staff.”
“I love my job,” said Fuad. “After I joined Seeds of Hope, I saw that it was a faithful ministry that does what it says. The leadership is unique and helps us accomplish things in creative ways. We think outside the box and find ways to say ‘yes’ to helping people and not give up. I believe in them so much.”
Fuad and Yara both represent part of the Christian community in Jericho that, for many years, was dwindling. Seeds of Hope has provided a foothold for this community to grow.
“The sense of belonging and mutual support and collaboration has helped me grow personally,” Yara reflected on the Seeds of Hope community. “We’re one big family that works hand in hand.”
“Seeds of Hope helped me be who I wanted to be as a Christian,” Fuad shared. “I’ve noticed that many Christians in our country are Christian in name only. They follow traditions without knowledge or compassion. I don’t see the love and mercy that we are supposed to have as Christians. It’s so sad.”
But at Seeds of Hope, Fuad found something different—something we work to cultivate in all our programs and projects—a true sense of hope and compassion centered on the Gospel.
“At Seeds of Hope, we stand for each other and lean on each other. We work as one body,” said Fuad. “I love who I am now, and I love everything about my home at Seeds of Hope!”
We’re so grateful for Yara, Fuad, and the entire Seeds of Hope team, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring real, lasting change to the lives of countless men, women, and children in Jericho and beyond!
