Who we are
For us, Syria is more than a country. Syria is the home of our tortured humanity. Syria is the place where the fate of the twenty-first century will be carved: as a century of freedom and welfare for all humankind or as a century of oppression and war.
We are a group of men and women, based in Europe and the Middle East, who could not stand by and watch while the cradle of our civilisation is bombed into ruins. We could not look the other way when millions of Syrians were killed or had to flee their homes. We could not remain silent when the aspirations of peaceful protestors were answered with crimes against humanity. We could not remain indifferent when religious communities were driven against each other so that a few could stay in power. We are a group of simple citizens from Syria, Europe and from a range of Arab countries who felt compelled to take action. As a genuine expression of the emerging civil society from both shores of the Mediterranean, we unite Muslims, Christians, Jews and others around a common cause: to stand up in solidarity with the Syrian people and to send a message of hope to the world. United in diversity, we are committed to the principle of spiritual solidarity that transcends borders in the search for the common good. Relief & Reconciliation International AISBL is an independent non-profit organisation under Belgian law that is based upon the individual membership of dedicated men and women who serve as unpaid volunteers for our cause. We count today more than 550 members from around the world who are working for peace and justice in Syria and the wider region. We are following a specific methodology, combining conflict transformation with humanitarian aid under the co-deciding authority of local communities. Please click here to learn more about our internal governance and please click here to read about our methodology and our work at the humanitarian front. Our Board of Directors
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Cover photo: local and international volunteers with some of the kids at the R&R Peace Centre (Lebanon)
Honorary Patrons
Jerzy Buzek
Former President of the European Parliament 
Isabelle Durant
Acting Secretary General of UNCTAD |
Our work is controlled by an international Board of Directors, elected amongst our governing members for a term of two years. Today, our Board of Directors is composed by Muslims and Christians from both shores of the Mediterranean. We count Syrians, Lebanese, Belgians, French, Germans, Italians, Slovaks and Swiss amongst our board members and we are combining a rich expertise in the fields of conflict transformation and humanitarian aid.
Our team in Lebanon
Headed by our founder and secretary general, Friedrich Bokern, the team at the R&R Peace Centre in the North of Lebanon is composed by a few permanent staff members and many volunteers from Lebanon, Syria and around the world. Most of our staff members are working as teachers for Syrian and Lebanese children in need.
Our international volunteers present at the Peace Centre are joining forces with them for serving the youth of all communities present. Please apply here if you want to become a volunteer at our Peace Centre!
Our international volunteers present at the Peace Centre are joining forces with them for serving the youth of all communities present. Please apply here if you want to become a volunteer at our Peace Centre!