A delegation from the Middle East Council of Churches headed by Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs visited His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and president of the Council for the Eastern Orthodox Family, on Wednesday 29 December 2021 at the Patriarchal Headquarters in Atchane, Lebanon.

MECC Distributed Summer Seeds to Farmers in Dara’a

In order to continue supporting poor and affected families through enabling them to participate in the economic life; the Service and Relief Department - Diakonia, at the Middle East Council of Churches, Syria’s office, provided summer seeds to farmers in Samej and Um Al Mayathen villages in Daraa Governorate.

With the aim of restoring livestock- hens breeding which was depleted during war in Syria, and in order to help rural families improve their income; the team of the Service and Relief Department- Diakonia at the Middle East Council of Churches, Syria office distributed 30 laying to each of 180 families in Um El Mayathen town in Dara’a Governorate. Some families included female-headed households and others persons with disabilities.

Miedo, ansiedad, desesperación, pobreza severa, futuro incierto (...) todas estas expresiones describen las circunstancias del Líbano actual. Los refugiados, al igual que los libaneses, están pasando por unas condiciones de vida duras y deterioradas. De hecho, los refugiados salieron de sus países en busca de una vida mejor y más segura, pero hoy se enfrentan a muchas dificultades a diversos niveles económicos, sociales y sanitarios (...).

El Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio impartió un curso de «Cuidador a domicilio» en Damasco, Siria, en cooperación con el IECD - Instituto Europeo de Cooperación y Desarrollo.

El curso duró 32 días en la sede del IECD e incluyó la formación práctica de 19 alumnos en «Dar Al Saada», que es una residencia de ancianos, en Damasco.

Fear, anxiety, despair, severe poverty, uncertain future... all these expressions describe the circumstances in Lebanon today. Refugees, as Lebanese, are all passing through hard and deteriorating living conditions. In fact, refugees left their countries in search of a better and safer life, but today they are facing many difficulties at various economic, social and health levels...

Since its establishment, the Middle East Council of Churches is keen to help the refugees, taking care of them and preserving their dignity.

The Middle East Council of Churches conducted “Home Caretaker” course in Damascus, Syria, in cooperation with IECD - European Institute for Cooperation and Development.

The course lasted for 32 days at the IECD headquarters and included practical training for 19 trainees in “Dar Al Saada”, which is an elderly care home, in Damascus.

Rehabilitation work at Al Rahma Home for Elderly in Aleppo has ended and life has been back to it once again. This process came within the “Restoration of Faith –Based Social Services and Religious Infrastructure that were affected by the Syrian crisis” program, which is implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches and Kerk in Actie in Netherlands, in various Syrian governorates.

Es cierto que la agudización de las crisis económicas, sociales y sanitarias que afligen a Oriente Medio está agobiando a los ciudadanos. Pero, ¿saben lo difícil que es el impacto psicológico de estas crisis en los grupos más afectados? ¿Se da cuenta de la ansiedad que sienten los adolescentes en esta delicada etapa de sus vidas?

De hecho, los adolescentes de hoy en día, especialmente en las sociedades orientales, están sufriendo varios trastornos vitales, que se manifiestan con el desplazamiento, el aislamiento social y el retraso en la educación entre ellos, lo que les empuja a vivir en una severa depresión y desesperación.

It is true that the deepening economic, social and health crises that are afflicting the Middle East are overwhelming the citizens. But do you know how difficult is the psychological impact of these crises on the most affected groups? Do you realize how anxious teenagers are becoming at this delicate stage of their lives?

In fact, teenagers today, especially in Eastern societies, are suffering from several life upheavals, manifested with the displacement, social isolation and delay in education among them, which push them live in severe depression and despair.

La guerra siria ha ensombrecido todos los aspectos de la vida. Así, con el objetivo de devolver la vida a las iglesias, se han completado las obras de restauración de la Parroquia de San Pablo en la ciudad de Darayya, en la zona rural de Damasco.

The Syrian war cast its shadow over all the aspects of life. Thus aiming at bringing life back to Churches, restoration work at St. Paul's Church in the city of Darayya, in Rural Damascus has been completed.

Refugee families in Lebanon are suffering today, as all Lebanese citizens, from severe economic, social, health and security crises that are escalating daily. As for the children of these families, they became victims of the deteriorating living conditions in the country. Their childhood has been stolen and even their right to go to school, but what about their mental health?

En el marco del programa «Restauración de los servicios sociales basados en la fe y de las infraestructuras religiosas afectadas por la crisis siria», puesto en marcha por el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio en cooperación con Kerk in Actie de los Países Bajos, en varias provincias sirias, se han completado las obras de rehabilitación del Monasterio de San Jorge.

Durante décadas y a través de generaciones, las sociedades de todo el mundo han sufrido la violencia doméstica, especialmente contra las mujeres, ya sean esposas, madres o hijas. A pesar de todos los esfuerzos oficiales y voluntarios que realizan las ONG, la violencia sigue siendo un problema social y humanitario a nivel mundial.

Within the “Restoration of Faith Based Social Services and Religious Infrastructure that were affected by the Syrian crisis” program that is launched by the Middle East Council of Churches in cooperation with Kerk in Actie in Netherlands, in various Syrian governorates, the rehabilitation work is now completed in St. George Monastery.

For decades and through generations, societies around the world have suffered from domestic violence, especially against women, whether they are wives, mothers or daughters. Despite all official and voluntary efforts that NGOs are doing, violence is still a worldwide social and humanitarian problem.

Training to Improve the Capabilities of the MECC Team

Developing the working group performance in any institution or organization contributes the most in enhancing the work mechanisms and improving the productivity. The Middle East Council of Churches is keen to organize periodic training courses for its department’s teams aiming at developing their skills in various fields in order to achieve the desired Ecumenical and humanitarian goals.

Children today are growing up in an environment that may negatively affect their daily life and behavior. What is the reason? Rather, the reasons are many, and cannot be limited to a specific field or level that could be related to security, social environment, economy or health sector... But most important is to accompany and support them in overcoming everything that could hinder their growth and rob them of their childhood.

The restoration of St. Elias center for elderly was completed. The Care Home was rehabilitated by MECC in cooperation with Kerk in Actie organization in Netherlands within the rehabilitation program that works on the restoration of social and religious establishments affected by Syrian crisis.