https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news Education and peacebuilding in Lebanon and Syria en https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/education-for-social-justicehttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/education-for-social-justiceFri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTIn this video, Friedrich Bokern, Director of Relief & Reconciliation, discusses the organisation’s approach to education and crisis response in Lebanon and Syria. He explores how education can address social inequalities, strengthen communities, and promote mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence in contexts affected by conflict and instability. https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/liberty-of-the-arts-summer-at-relief-and-reconciliationhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/liberty-of-the-arts-summer-at-relief-and-reconciliationSun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTThis summer at Relief & Reconciliation, creative energy grew alongside our educational programmes. After beginning with summer classes, the Summer Camp opened the door to a series of creative workshops that continued throughout the season. https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/father-paolos-path-to-jerusalemhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/father-paolos-path-to-jerusalemWed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTOn 29 July, we remember Father Paolo Dall’Oglio, whose disappearance in Raqqa in 2013 remains a deeply significant moment in the recent history of the Middle East. More than a decade later, his vision continues to inspire our work and our commitment to peace, dialogue, and solidarity. https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/education-by-discovery-for-the-sake-of-self-empowermenthttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/education-by-discovery-for-the-sake-of-self-empowermentSun, 26 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTIn this video, our Chairman, Friedrich Bokern, shares the educational philosophy that shapes the work of Relief & Reconciliation’s educational Centres in Lebanon and Syria. At the heart of our approach is a simple conviction: children learn best when they are encouraged to discover, question, create, and participate actively in their own learning. https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/summer-of-spiritual-solidarityhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/summer-of-spiritual-solidarityMon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat does it mean to stand in solidarity with others across differences of culture, religion, and nationality? https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/volunteering-means-facing-realityhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/volunteering-means-facing-realityMon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTIn this video, our Country Director, Friedrich Bokern, shares his perspective on volunteering, as a commitment to face reality, understand people’s struggles, and become part of meaningful change. https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/winning-the-peacehttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/winning-the-peaceMon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTThe foundations are laid. Our new Peace Centre Kadesh opened its gates in January in the small village of Tell Nabi Mendo, next to Qusayr, in the Homs Governorate of Syria. More than 100 children have been enrolled in our daily classes, supplementary to the 400 students we are serving every day in the north of Lebanon. Seven teachers, two craftsmen and three local staff members are taking care of… https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/resistance-as-a-moral-obligationhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/resistance-as-a-moral-obligationTue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTIn this video, the director of Relief & Reconciliation Friedrich Bokern reflects on the ongoing situation in Lebanon and the wider Middle East through the lens of ethics, solidarity, and human dignity. https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/our-compass-for-education-is-faithhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/our-compass-for-education-is-faithMon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/education-in-times-of-changehttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/education-in-times-of-changeWed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTThe school year 2024/25 was marked by a historic turning point: the liberation of Syria from the Assad regime in December 2024. For many Syrian families living in exile, this event reopened the possibility of returning home after more than a decade of forced displacement. Yet while hope has grown, the reality remains difficult. Thousands of families continue to face severe economic obstacles that… https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/a-burning-country-war-and-sectarianismhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/a-burning-country-war-and-sectarianismSat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTIn the midst of war, on the eve of our annual peace march and a couple of days after Israeli aggression reached its peak in Beirut, the Director of Relief and Reconciliation Friedrich Bokern sheds light on the stark reality in the region. In this video we reflect on our experience in the midst of it, the rise of sectarian strife, and the cycle of grief that continues to be perpetuated without… https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/metanoia-peace-is-possiblehttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/metanoia-peace-is-possibleThu, 19 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTThis week’s topic: “Metanoia - Peace is Possible”, in this video we are invited to look beyond the surface of fasting and into its deeper moral and spiritual purpose. https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/standing-for-unity-the-ibrahimic-youth-movementhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/standing-for-unity-the-ibrahimic-youth-movementWed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTIn this video, we introduce the vision and values of the Ibrahimic Youth Movement and its commitment to relief and reconciliation in Lebanon and Syria. https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/ramadan-of-reconciliation-a-time-for-healing-and-unityhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/ramadan-of-reconciliation-a-time-for-healing-and-unityThu, 19 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTThis year, Ramadan started at a special and symbolic time, alongside the Christian season of Lent. https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/planting-a-seed-in-winterhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/planting-a-seed-in-winterFri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTWinter exposes vulnerability. For many families, it means cold homes, rising needs, and difficult choices. In the past week, we have carried out fuel distributions to help households endure the season with warmth and dignity. In times like these, immediate support is not optional,it is essential. https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/across-the-border-return-to-syriahttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/across-the-border-return-to-syriaWed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMTReflections from the R&R Peace Centres in the border region between Lebanon and Syria: Friedrich Bokern, founder and chairman of Relief & Reconciliation International (R&R), is sharing stories of hope and spiritual solidarity that we encounter in the work of our association. https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/rebuilding-syriahttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/rebuilding-syriaWed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMTTell Nabi Mendo, the ancient city of Kadesh in the Homs Governorate: a place of history and of resistance against the Assad regime, today the location of our first Peace Centre inside Syria https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/a-new-chapter-in-qantara-lebanonhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/a-new-chapter-in-qantara-lebanonThu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMTAfter thirteen years in Bkarzla, moving our main Peace Centre was not going to be a simple decision. The possibility of relocating the R&R Peace Centre to Qantara had been gestating for some time – indeed, Qantara had been our founders first choice when R&R was founded in 2013, but an appropriate site proved difficult to find. And then, we were very happy in Bkarzla – one of the few Maronite… https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/summer-mountain-camp-2025https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/summer-mountain-camp-2025Thu, 25 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMTR&R Summer Camp 2025 - What a crowd! More than 350 kids at once. https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/interview-with-abuna-jihad-at-deir-mar-musahttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/interview-with-abuna-jihad-at-deir-mar-musaTue, 13 May 2025 00:00:00 GMTVolunteers and members of Relief & Reconciliation (R&R) spent this Easter holiday in Deir Mar Musa al-Habashi in Syria, the monastery our co-founder, Father Paolo Dall'Oglio, rebuilt and re-invested. We interviewed the successor of Paolo as head of the monastery, Father Jihad Youssef, who shares his reflections on celebrating the first Easter after the fall of the Assad regime. https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/ramadan-lent-of-unityhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/ramadan-lent-of-unityWed, 05 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMTThis year is different. Muslims and Christians are fasting together. For Muslims, the holy month of Ramadan started last Saturday. Oriental Christians started Lent last Monday. Western Christians are starting today. Furthermore, Catholic and Orthodox Easter will fall on the same day. What a wonderful moment of unity in a divided world! The liberation of Syria from more than 54 years of… https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/kinan-azmeh-live-in-brusselshttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/kinan-azmeh-live-in-brusselsSun, 02 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMTKinan Azmeh and CityBand will be coming to Brussels for a charity concert for Syria and Lebanon in the splendid Salle des Caryatides of the Cercle Royal Gaulois, presenting their new album “Live in Berlin” released on Feb 28 2025. Join us for this unforgettable evening in solidarity with the Syrian people! https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/the-liberation-of-syriahttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/the-liberation-of-syriaSat, 08 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMTWhat a night! We are looking back on 8 December 2024, the Day of Liberation of Syria from more than 54 years of dictatorship under the Assad regime. In Akkar, the region of our Peace Centre in the far north of Lebanon, thousands poured into the streets and unfurled the Free Syrian banners that had been hidden for so many years. Our Syrian youth leaders shared their joy on social media and… https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/building-bridges-through-educationhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/building-bridges-through-educationMon, 02 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMTFor over a decade, Relief & Reconciliation (R&R) has been working at the intersection of peacebuilding and humanitarian aid, offering hope to Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese communities in the Akkar Governorate of Lebanon. Our mission remains steadfast: to provide continuous education as a means of fostering social cohesion and empowering the next generation. https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/childrens-rights-in-jeopardyhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/childrens-rights-in-jeopardyMon, 11 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMTOur team in the northern border region of Lebanon is raising red flags with regard to the protection of minors during this time of war. We have been witnessing a sharp increase in different forms of abuse, both in the private and public space. Our biggest reason of concern: the total neglect for the fate of Syrian refugee children who seem too often to be considered as "dispensable" during the… https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/lebanon-emergencyhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/lebanon-emergencyWed, 23 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMTWar has returned to Lebanon. We are living today with the constant sound of drones and planes in the sky that can strike at any moment. From the first day of the war, we have opened the doors of our Peace Centre and our other educational centres to those who had to flee the fighting in the South. Today, we need your help to provide emergency aid and continue the care for the children we serve. https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/watch-this-inspiring-interview-with-abby-sewellhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/watch-this-inspiring-interview-with-abby-sewellWed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMTAbby Sewell is the Bureau Chief of Associated Press (AP) in Beirut, covering Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. Her time in Lebanon started in 2016 with a 3-months service as volunteer at the R&R Peace Centre. Before coming here, she was already an accomplished journalist at the Los Angeles Times, but the Syrian war didn't leave her indifferent. "I just felt that I needed to be here," she shares, reflecting… https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/education-in-the-shadow-of-warhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/education-in-the-shadow-of-warMon, 26 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMTDuring the school year 2023/24, R&R extended its educational services to more than 500 children in Akkar, benefiting both Lebanese and Syrian students across the villages of Bkarzla, Kousha, Michmich, and Rahbe. As always, we began by working closely with the local community, listening to their needs and challenges, and tailored our programs to ensure that we address the diverse educational gaps… https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/a-ramadan-of-solidarityhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/a-ramadan-of-solidarityWed, 06 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTThe Holy Month of Ramadan is approaching and millions of Muslims around the world will be fasting during daylight before the welcome of family, friends and strangers to break the fast together at sunset. It is a special time of purification and hospitality, reducing consumption and giving the zakat of charity to the poor. This year, however, the breaking of the fast has a bitter aftertaste. How… https://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/now-more-than-everhttps://www.reliefandreconciliation.org/news/now-more-than-everWed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMTTwelve years have passed since the beginning of the Syrian Revolution and the brutal suppression that followed. For the last ten years, we have done our utmost to cope with the consequences of the war Assad has been waging against his own people. At least 600,000 have been killed, about 200,000 of them civilians. More than 13 million had to flee their home. That is more than half of the country!