Solidarity Olive Harvest 2016

R&R Syria volunteers and friends from Lebanon and abroad joined in the second annual Solidarity Olive Harvest in Akkar, 11-13 November. The purpose of the yearly event is to help the Syrian families who have found shelter and work in the olive orchards and support our peacebuilding efforts while giving guests a chance to enjoy the hospitality of our volunteers and the natural beauty of the area.

The R&R Peace Center, now in its fourth year, is an open house for local Syrian and Lebanese children and families. It serves as a site for classes and recreation and as a home to our international volunteers. The center is in Bqarzla, a small Maronite Christian village in a religiously mixed area, surrounded by olive orchards where many of the refugees we serve work long and hard every day.

Participants in the solidarity harvest weekend helped Syrian families with their work in the orchards over the weekend, while the families received their regular daily wages.

Watch our video to see scenes from this year’s event and to hear more about our work.