As I stood in Manger Square in Bethlehem amidst the sparkle of the Christmas tree being lit, there was a palpable sense of joy, yet tempered by sorrow.

For 2 years the celebrations of Christmas have been cancelled…though of course not Christmas itself. The words of Maher Canawati, the Mayor of Bethlehem, a city twinned with Glasgow, spoke clearly;

 ‘As Bethlehem lights its Christmas tree, the deep anguish endured by our people in Gaza does not leave our hearts. The wound of Gaza is our wound, the people of Gaza are our people, and the light of Christmas has no meaning unless it first touches the hearts of the afflicted and the oppressed all over Palestine….Through these celebrations, Palestinians send a message of resilience – to say we are still here, determined to live, to keep Bethlehem the capital of Christmas, and to continue telling its story. Palestinians love life.”

His words speak into the deep meaning of Christmas. A time where there is joy, hope and love shared by us all because of the birth of a Saviour in Bethlehem, who was announced with great joy and great promise. They also speak of a deep longing in the land of the first Christmas for peace, for justice, for global solidarity and support from a people who show great courage and steadfastness. The word ‘sumud’ sums up this courage.

For many of us this time of year brings so much joy yet for others it is tinged with sadness as we remember loss, experience loneliness and long for hope, love, peace and reconciliation to be seen in our families, our communities, our nations and our world.

Palliative care has at its heart humanity; the recognition of each person being precious and unique and deserving of dignity, support and access to healthcare in their time of need. Our Cairdeas gathering recently showcased humanity and dignity as partners shared their work but also the values that underpin all they do and are. If you missed this encouraging event the videos are available on our website and will be shared on our social media pages soon. We pay tribute to all our incredible colleagues and partners in Uganda, Palestine, Sudan and India who show this humanity and offer dignified care in so many places and to so many people even in the most challenging of circumstances. We thank our supporters and commit once again to use whatever resources are given to us to work together with our partners for a world where palliative care is available to all in need.

More than ever this year we welcome financial support as a generous legacy from one of our original supporters will be nearing an end in 2026. Read below about our renewed fundraising efforts for 2026, and our February global palliative care conference.

Many of us will sing the carol O Little Town of Bethlehem this year, with the poignant words ‘Yet in thy dark streets shineth an everlasting light. The hope and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight. O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel! ’

As we celebrate in our different ways this Christmas, and at the end of 2025 with all its joys and sorrows, we also look forward to 2026 with hope. This hope is not mere wishful thinking but is both a deep reassurance and a call to action. I share a beautiful poem written by a Palestinian poet, Khawla Badwan.

‘There is no hope, be the action that restores hope

There is no justice, be the voice that speaks of justice

There is no courage, be the witness that lives in courage.

There is no light, be the holder that forces light

 There is no mercy, be the heart that teaches mercy.

There is no language, be the crafter that makes language.’

Wishing you and yours the blessing of joy, love and hope from the Prince of Peace this Christmas and every blessing for 2026.

Mhoira Leng

Medical Director

Upcoming in 2026

During the gathering, we shared some ways in which your donations go to making a difference in the lives of patients and carers in vulnerable communities. To help support the work of our partners and colleagues in crisis stricken places like Gaza and Sudan, please consider starting or increasing a regular donation, which you can do via our website, or through bank transfers: Sort Code 83-15-31, Account Number 11090398.

Looking to 2026, we are excited to be part-hosting a global palliative care conference on February 7^th in partnership with Edinburgh University’s Global Health Academy and PallCHASE. Taking place in George Square, Edinburgh, the conference will explore palliative care in the midst of conflict and change and will feature talks from Rev. Rick Bauer, Dr Nahla Gafer, Dr Yasser Abu Jamieh and Dr Mhoira Leng. This will be an important time of sharing between colleagues, to register for the event and get tickets, click here.

Hello to all of our Cairdeas supporters! As you may have seen, our 2025 Cairdeas Gathering is taking place soon, on November 29^th from 3pm-5pm. It will be a hybrid meeting, so you can join us in person, at Kirkintilloch Baptist Church, or online by registering here.

In the run up to the Gathering, we wanted to share some ways that supporters can get involved and support some of the projects which will be discussed during this time. The past few years have been increasingly tough for charities and NGOs, as costs rise, donations fall and aid funding is drastically cut. Despite these challenges, we have continued to work to support our partners around the world as they deliver vital, compassionate care to patients and families, at times in the face of instability, targeted violence and displacement.

“Then we had the war. Without any warning, suddenly. Some people were trapped, some people were outside their homes and because of the war they stayed outside their homes for weeks.” Dr Nahla Gafer

One of the projects we support is the Sunshine in War project, working in Sudan to support patients and families displaced by the awful violence which has gripped the country during recent years. Targeted attacks on hospitals, skyrocketing costs of medical treatment and the difficulty and danger of travelling have all contributed to a difficult financial situation for the team. In the face of these enormous challenges, they have found innovative ways to continue caring for their patients, moving consultations online and visiting patients in spite of the danger to their safety.

“With the help of Cairdeas we managed to have an office in a city in the North…the team is working from the office there and connecting with other members and patients.” Dr Nahla Gafer

Cairdeas was recently able to facilitate a donation of around £4000 to the Sunshine in War team by PallCHASE, a close partner who focus on palliative care in areas of humanitarian crisis. Through this, the team have been able to continue using their office for administrative work, and their ledgers in Damar and Khartoum, providing a facility for patients to receive the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual care they so desperately need. We are delighted that the team received this money, but with high costs and so many patients in need of care, we know that they need more.

“With these organisations supporting the team…we reached more than 800 of our patients and we are receiving new cases. They [the team] became known in the new places they re-located to.” Dr Nahla Gafer

We want to increase the support we give to the Sunshine in War team, and we can only do that through donations from our supporters. If you are able, we would like to ask that you consider setting up a regular donation, to allow us to support this amazing team doing such critical work for some of the world’s most vulnerable people.

If you are already a regular donor, we thank you for your support, and ask if you would consider increasing your donation amount, to allow us to increase the support we can give to Sunshine in War, during a time when the violence in Sudan is at a frightening level, and people with life-limiting illnesses are extremely vulnerable.

How your support makes a difference:

• £10 funds 5 patients’ virtual care for a month
• £20 funds 4 in-person patient visits by the team

How to Give:

• Click here to go to our donations page – choose Sunshine in War in the dropdown menu

Thank you, from all the team at Cairdeas.

Cairdeas is pleased to be welcoming two new scholars into our scholarship program this year. The scholarship program has been a key part of our mission to improve the skills of ‘in-country’ health workers, allowing our partners to lead the way in improving access to palliative care in their home countries.

One of these new scholars is Vicky Jemimah, a long-standing volunteer with PcERC, our partner organisation in Uganda. Vicky will be undertaking a Degree in Social Work at Victoria University, Kampala.

Vicky wrote to the Cairdeas, expressing her appreciation for the scholarship, telling us about her plans to improve the lives of her patients through this degree, and introducing herself to our supporters.

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the scholarship you've provided me to pursue my degree in Social Work and Social Administration. Your generosity has made a significant impact on my life, and I'm deeply thankful for your investment in my future.

I'm Vicky Jemimah, a dedicated social worker currently working as a volunteer social worker with the Palliative Care Education and Research Consortium unit in Mulago hospital since 2018. I got to join this wonderful team through my mum, who was a link nurse working under Mulago hospital, and I can gladly say it’s one of the most beautiful journeys I have experienced.

I am passionate about empowering vulnerable populations and advocating for those in need. I care for patients and their carers/families by providing physical and spiritual support and counselling them during difficult times.  My aim with this degree is to enhance my skills and knowledge in social work, ultimately improving the lives of patients and families I serve. I'm committed to applying the knowledge and skills gained from this program to provide more effective support and services to my patients, particularly in areas such as patient advocacy, counselling, and community resource coordination.

Vicky’s words are backed by her recommendation from Elizabeth Nabirye, the clinical lead of PcERC, who described Vicky as holding “an unwavering commitment to social justice and community development” and praised her work in research, advocacy and counselling, which “reflects a genuine dedication to improving lives and strengthening communities.”

Vicky continues, speaking on the impact of the scholarship to her, 

This scholarship comes at a pivotal moment in my life, bringing hope and renewed purpose after a challenging period of separation from my husband and marriage with our 2 lovely boys. The support of Cairdeas has not only alleviated financial burdens but also restored my faith in my abilities and future prospects. I'm grateful for the opportunity to focus on my studies, develop expertise in healthcare social work, and advance my career.

To the members and supporters of Cairdeas, thank you for believing in me and supporting my education. Your kindness and generosity will empower me to create a brighter future for myself and those I care about. Your contribution will have a direct impact on the lives of those I serve, and I'm grateful for your trust in me.

We would like to reiterate Vicky’s thanks to the Cairdeas supporters. Your donations allow us to run projects like the scholarship programme, making a difference to lives on the ground and further advancing the development of palliative care leadership in our partner countries. We wish Vicky the very best as she begins her studies and can’t wait to see her development as she progresses through the course.