At the SOS Children's Village in Amman these days, you encounter happy, carefree children, but also teenagers and adult companions whose faces bear witness to the traumatic experiences they have endured in the Gaza Strip. However, they all have one thing in common: their new freedom of movement now gives them hope for a brighter future.

In mid-October, Oliver Jakobi, in his capacity as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ottobock Global Foundation (OBGF), traveled to Amman to seal the partnership with the SOS Children's Village and the orthopedic specialist MaFaZ. This marks the start of a joint initiative to provide initial prosthetic treatment in Jordan to many more children from Gaza who have lost limbs. Colleagues from Ottobock who are responsible for activities in the EEMEA region were also involved. “We are delighted that we were able to support this special mission with our expertise and our local network. This is precisely where the deeper meaning of our work lies,” explains Area Manager Waleed Lahham.

This emergency aid project is the result of the “Help for the Children of Gaza” donation campaign, through which OBGF, in close cooperation with a global network, has already provided medical treatments for around 50 children from Gaza in Egypt, Turkey, and Jordan since 2023. Providing a child with a complete prosthesis, orthosis, or wheelchair costs around €5,000. The OBGF uses the donations to finance both the prosthetic components and the costs of treatments provided by the orthopedic specialists at MaFaZ. As part of the partnership, SOS Children's Villages provides psychosocial support and accommodation for the children.

“Together, we look to the future with great confidence,” says Oliver Jakobi on behalf of everyone involved.

A long journey

By the time they arrive in Jordan, the children have already traveled a long way. After receiving emergency medical care in the crisis zone, the biggest challenge is to evacuate the children and their accompanying persons from Gaza. Once in a safe environment, they often require follow-up medical care before receiving their prosthetic treatment.

This initiative is supported by the Jordanian Royal Family in close cooperation with the Royal Medical Service, the Gaza Health Initiative, Restore Hope, Doctors Without Borders, and the Private Hospital Association.

Mohammad Akram Abu Aql

Alongside seven other children from Gaza who are already receiving treatment from MaFaZ in Jordan, eight-year-old Mohammad also took this path. He lost more than just his siblings in the war. When he tried to help the injured after a bomb attack at a water distribution point, he was hit by another rocket. Due to the severe injury to his right leg, it had to be amputated immediately in Gaza.

In July, Mohammad arrived in Amman with his father, severely traumatized. He received medical care at the Specialty Hospital and prosthetic treatment at the MaFaZ patient care center in Amman. He currently lives there with his father in an apartment provided by SOS Children's Villages. Thanks to his prosthesis, Mohammad has regained his courage. His big dream is to become a doctor so he can help other people - just as he was helped.

During his visit to Jordan, Oliver Jakobi met little Mohammad in Amman and covered the cost of his initial prosthetic treatment with a private emergency donation. “I have been seeing the images from Gaza for two years now and have a strong desire to help here. I hope that this donation will inspire others to help and donate,” explains Oliver Jakobi.

• Click here to access a video about our joint project with the SOS Children's Village and the orthopedic company MaFaZ in Amman.

If you would like to support the relief campaign “People in Need – Help for the Children of Gaza”, please send your donation to the following special account:

Ottobock Global Foundation

Deutsche Bank

IBAN: DE55 1007 0000 0937 0370 00

BIC: DEUTDEBBXXX

Keyword: "People in Need – Help for the Children of Gaza"

On our Subpage, we regularly provide information on the current development of the Ottobock Global Foundation's relief campaign for People in need – Help for the children of Gaza. You can also follow our social media activities on Facebook and LinkedIn. Or visit us on the Ottobock Global Foundation website. We are looking forward to a Like!