The Middle East Council of Churches Peruses Its “Environmental Days” in the Middle East
A New Afforestation Campaign in the Lebanese Bekaa Valley
Within the series of the “Environmental Days” that the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) had previously launched, the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department continues to implement various environmental, educational and agricultural activities in many countries of the Middle East, in order to promote environmental culture and work for the creation care. Noting that this program is being executed with the support of “Danmission” organization, and the participation of young people from youth, Apostolic and scout movements and groups.
In this context, the Middle East Council of Churches organized an environmental day in the Lebanese Bekaa Valley, specifically in the villages of Terbol and Ablah, on Saturday 2 March 2024. It was implemented in cooperation with Youth For Christ and Manara Youth Center students, and in collaboration with the Order of Saint Basil the Great, the Congregation of the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family, the Association for Forests, Development and Conservation (AFDC), the Think Environmental Initiative, and the Engineer Georges Hanna. Participants were young people from the Manara Youth Center, the National Education Scouts, the Environmental Youth of Our Lady of Ablah, and the Saint Takla School in Terbol.
In Terbol, the environmental day was attended by the President of Michel Daher Foundation Mrs. Marleine Daher, and the Head of the Ecumenical Committee for Youth in Egypt Mr. Medhat Fayez Obaid, where the Head of the Coordinator of the MECC environmental programs Archdeacon Garen Yosolkanian, welcomed them and the participants. He also taught the youth how to plant the “Gharse” tree. As well as, the attendees named the garden of Saint Takla School “The Garden of the Fruits of Hope,” in preparation for the “Season of Creation” 2024, which carries the theme "To hope and act with Creation".
It is worth mentioning that this garden includes 181 different fruit trees, such as apples, peaches, pears, walnuts, almonds, apricots, and olive trees, where additional trees were planted such as peach “Jawhara” variety, cherries “Pharaonic” variety, pears “California Red” variety, apples “Granny Smith” variety, and olives “Picholine” variety.
In Ablah, the Priest of the Church of the Mother of God Father Fadi Al Fahel welcomed the participants, as they all celebrated in the Church the “Season of Creation” Prayer, thanking God the Creator for all His gifts, asking Him to grant them the wisdom to understand the value of life and preserve creation. Following the Prayer, Mr. Moussa Al Kabbouchi presented an environmental awareness session, after which the participants moved to the Chrism Orchard, where the Lebanese national anthem was sung and trees were planted.
At the end of the activity, Archdeacon Garen Yosolkanian thanked the “Danmission” organization, all the participants and the people and parties who supported this environmental day, as the youth bid farewell, hoping to meet soon in similar environmental activities.
