Medicine, to me, means “life” and “survival” of the other. Being a doctor, to me, bring the words: humane, caring, giving, protecting, feeling the pain of the other to mind. When your mission in life is the work you choose, your profession is your hobby,
When you believe in the work that you do with passion, you don’t expect a reward or acknowledgment or anything in return!

The relation with the children and the work is itself rewarding.
The feeling which overwhelms you each time you see those special children coming back to you with improvement & achievement, you feel that, in itself is enough!
When you build up a team & work together with harmony to compliment each other, this in itself is rewarding.
When you choose to work mainly with children with special needs, to give “the bad answers” to parents so they can stop their search for an answer to their suffering and the suffering of their child, you help them accept, love, and give to their disabled child in a society that stigmatizes disability, you have become victorious in overcoming stereotyping and non-acceptance of a reality.
When you work under very difficult circumstances, under military occupation, you feel that you are challenged to do more for your people, your society and your country – a people and a country that has suffered for so long.

This is what gives life a real meaning, you have it done – you have done what you decided to accomplish.
International recognition and a valuable award from a leading organization with passionate founders and leaders, helps you to not to feel alone in this world, but to feel part of a like-minded community!
This like-minded community gives you a feeling of belonging to membership in a group that speaks the same language and shares the same feelings, the same pain, the same success, the same frustration and same hopes.
This encourages one to continue hoping and encourages one to continue along the same path.

These were my true feelings when I was invited to join such a wonderful family, the family of World of Children.
We hope the “World of Children’s Camp” will give a loud and clear message: It is the right of all children, especially children with special needs, to live a happy life with dignity.

By: Jumana Odeh MD, MPH
Ramallah – Palestine
March 2009