... and happy 2014, year of hope!
One year ago, on 2 January 2013, we established our new NGO “Relief & Reconciliation for Syria”. It has been a year of struggle, a year of grief and probation. But thanks to your support, it has also been a year of grace. Today, it is time to say thank you and to look ahead.
The situation in Syria is getting worse every day. According to the UN, more than two-thirds of Syria’s population has been displaced. Lebanon alone is hosting between 1 and 2 million refugees- about a third of its own population. The stories we have heard and seen in our work in the field remind me of the worst memories of our history in Germany and Europe. Our fears to see the Syrian Revolution being pushed into sectarian war are turning into reality. The Syrian regime and other actors have chosen this path in cold blood to maintain their grasp on power. But there is hope. We are amazed by the deep sense of humanity we encounter in every conversation with Syrian refugees.
In July 2013, we started our operations in the North of Lebanon with the opening of our first Peace Centre for the youth in need. We united all major communities of the region around this common cause. At the big Peace Iftar we organised in Ramadan, Christians and Muslims of the region were united in their solidarity with Syrian refugees. Sunnis and Alawites, who are on the opposite sides of the conflict, were praying together for the first time here. Until the end of the year, 20 international volunteers stayed at our Peace Centre and joined our local staff in the teaching of languages and the development of the arts. More than 300 young refugees are receiving regular education now. We are also providing them with psychosocial support and material aid where needed.
The situation in Syria is getting worse every day. According to the UN, more than two-thirds of Syria’s population has been displaced. Lebanon alone is hosting between 1 and 2 million refugees- about a third of its own population. The stories we have heard and seen in our work in the field remind me of the worst memories of our history in Germany and Europe. Our fears to see the Syrian Revolution being pushed into sectarian war are turning into reality. The Syrian regime and other actors have chosen this path in cold blood to maintain their grasp on power. But there is hope. We are amazed by the deep sense of humanity we encounter in every conversation with Syrian refugees.
In July 2013, we started our operations in the North of Lebanon with the opening of our first Peace Centre for the youth in need. We united all major communities of the region around this common cause. At the big Peace Iftar we organised in Ramadan, Christians and Muslims of the region were united in their solidarity with Syrian refugees. Sunnis and Alawites, who are on the opposite sides of the conflict, were praying together for the first time here. Until the end of the year, 20 international volunteers stayed at our Peace Centre and joined our local staff in the teaching of languages and the development of the arts. More than 300 young refugees are receiving regular education now. We are also providing them with psychosocial support and material aid where needed.
All this would not have been possible without your support. We have made good use of your donations and could limit the administrative costs to only 4.2 % - despite the significant fees required for our legal establishment in Belgium and Lebanon. Much more is needed for continuing and expanding our work. Our plans for 2014 are to open a second and perhaps even a third Peace Centre in other border regions. We also want to deliver more direct aid inside Syria, also through other Syrian organisations we started to unite in a “Syria Peace Network”. In the coming weeks, we are going to send you our annual report, our financial report and a detailed overview of our future plans.
For now, we would like to thank you once again for your trust and support. Please stay in touch and please consider making a new donation. In particular, we would like to ask you to keep our friend Father Paolo in your prayers and thoughts. He has been kidnapped almost six months ago and we still have no certainty about his fate. We will keep you posted, also in this regard.
All the best for 2014!
For now, we would like to thank you once again for your trust and support. Please stay in touch and please consider making a new donation. In particular, we would like to ask you to keep our friend Father Paolo in your prayers and thoughts. He has been kidnapped almost six months ago and we still have no certainty about his fate. We will keep you posted, also in this regard.
All the best for 2014!
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