The "Restoration Fund for Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria" Program

Reaps the Fruits of its First Phase

A Field Tour in the Restored Projects

This report is also available in Arabic and Spanish.

A year has passed since the Middle East Council of Churches launched the "Restoration Fund for Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria" with the support of the international organization Kerk in Actie. The first phase of the program ended and the Churches and their affiliated institutions got back to life after the restoration and rehabilitation works have been finished.

As a field follow-up of the finished projects, a delegation from the Middle East Council of Churches conducted, between September 21 and 23, 2021, a series of visits to the sites, from Damascus to Homs, Aleppo, and Mehardeh near Hama. The delegation was accompanied by members of the Ecumenical Steering Committee for the restoration program and the technical team.

This tour came as a closure to a phase that may mark the beginning of new and future projects which spread hope among citizens who have suffered from violent conflicts for several years. It also aimed at observing the finished projects technically and programmatically and whether the projects are fulfilling the overall objectives of the program and its impact on direct and indirect beneficiaries. In addition to observing if finished projects are under investment and serving the surrounding communities. The tour also aimed at observing projects that are in its final stages of finishing works and the way to be put under investment.

Moreover, the Ecumenical Steering Committee held its eighth meeting in Aleppo to discuss the lesson learned and the new proposed projects for the second year.

In this investigation, you can find the Churches and centers that MECC contributed in rehabilitating in cooperation with Kerk in Actie, ensuring the completion and quality of restoration work.

So, what were the visits conducted by the MECC delegation? and what were the impressions of the beneficiaries?

St. Paul Church in Daria related to the Greek Catholic Church of Antioch

The MECC delegation started its tour with a visit to St. Paul Church in Daria. The Church was restored after being severely damaged by the conflict that took place in the region for several years. The project aims at encouraging the community to return to their homes after the area became safe. Noting that about 60000 inhabitants have returned, after years of displacement to other areas, in order to settle in Daria.

The visit was led by Father George Jbeil, the representative of the beneficiary Church in the steering committee, who explained to the members of the committee the situation of the Church before and after the restoration. Many Christian inhabitants in the area from the Catholic and Orthodox communities attended the visit and expressed their thanks and gratitude to have the Church restored in order to protect the Church’s properties and the symbol of Christianity’s presence.

The community expressed their dire need to have their homes restored to be able to get back to settle in Daria because paying expensive monthly rent in the surrounding towns has already exhausted their budgets. Additionally, many households requested to have their business recovered to be able to reopen their small shops or factories so that their return be feasible.

After visiting the Church, the delegation visited the nearby affected Orthodox school affiliated to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, that have served the entire community in Daria. The school needs restoration and it will help a lot to encourage the community members to return to their homes.

The primarily school related to the Armenian Orthodox Church (Echmiadzine Seat) in Homs

The second visit was for the rehabilitated primarily school affiliated to the Armenian Orthodox Archdiocese which was badly affected during militarily conflict in Homs. The project included the rehabilitation of the Church, which represents part of the school building. The school and the Church was fully rehabilitated with good quality. Classrooms were painted to make the education space a Friendly one. The Church committee is working to furnish the classrooms with related equipment.

The school missed the current academic year and it will register students for the academic year 2021-2022. Therefore, and in order to put the school under educational investment, MECC proposed to use the school for remedial classes for students in grade 9 & 12. MECC will help the Church through its education program to register students and to hire qualified local teachers.

HE Greek Orthodox Bishop George Abou Zakhem received MECC delegation in the school on behalf of the Armenian Orthodox Bishop HG Armash Nalbidian. Bishop Abou Zakhem has two well-known schools related to his diocese in Homs and ready to cooperate with the Armenian committee in education sector.

The school visit was followed with a visit to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese where Bishop George Abou Zakhem shared many challenges facing the Christian communities in Homs.

The Private Syrian Secondary school related to the Armenian Orthodox Church (Cilicia Seat)

The delegation continued its tour by visiting the Syrian Secondary school in Aleppo, which witnessed many restoration works. HE Bishop Massis Zoboyan, Armenian Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo welcomed the delegation which have inaugurated the project by removing the curtain from the special plate prepared by the Church. The school will host the students in the coming months after installing student desks.

Although many Armenians left Aleppo, only 350 families live now in this city. The school represents a sign of preserving the Armenian presence and contribution in Aleppo.

The Community center related to the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon

On the second day, the delegation visited the building that are situated in the old city of Aleppo. It is a huge building and the basement which partly supported by the program is too big and still in skeleton. Construction of the first floor is taking place and the Church was going to pour the main columns with reinforced concrete that will hold the ceiling of the first floor.

St. Elias Elderly center affiliated to the Syrian Catholic Church

The next visit was for the renovated Elderly center. The building is located in the heart of old city of Aleppo which was badly affected during the conflicts. Many nearby old buildings were badly damaged and needs years to be fully renovated.

The center will be used as a shelter for people who do not have any place to stay in or for aged people whose physical situations are good and do not require special services. Noting that the church is planning to build the second floor and to redesign the rooms to serve elderly people with specific needs. The present restored building cannot serve people with special needs such as wheelchair persons or those who use walkers.

During the visit HE Bishop Antoine Chahda, Syriac Catholic Metropolitan of Aleppo, affirmed that many people will be moved soon to settle in the building.

The community center affiliated to the Annunciation Latin Church in Al Midan area

From St. Elias center, the MECC delegation moved to the community center affiliated to the Annunciation Latin Church in Al Midan neighborhood – Aleppo that have been newly renovated. The center witnessed sever clashes during the war.

It will also be used for several youth and children activities run by the one of the Latin Order called “Incarnate word”. The center hired more than 50 youth to work in different activities and from different Church denominations. As well as, it provides many activities for women and represent a living center in the area.

Al Rahma elderly center affiliated to the Syrian Orthodox Church in Aleppo

The next visit was to Al Rahma elderly center. The church built a hospital in a new area of Aleppo called Sheikh Maksoud. The upper two floors of the hospital building were dedicated to be as elderly center and host aged people.

As many youths left Aleppo, aged parents were left alone and are in need to have a safe center to live the rest of their lives safely and in peace. The center will be fully used by aged people once the renovation works finished till end of march 2022.

During the visit, the Patriarchal Vicar HE Bishop Boutros Kassis, head of the steering committee, affirmed that the center will serve all people in need, but the hospital building needs a lot of funds to be fully renovated.

St. Georges Monastery in Mehardeh affiliated to the Greek Orthodox Church

On the last day, the MECC delegation concluded its field tour by visiting the renovated section in St. Georges Monastery which will be used for different community activities either to those who are belonging to the Greek orthodox diocese in Hama or from other dioceses.

The Project was 95% finished under the supervision of engineers who will continue following the finishing works.