New Cooperation Towards the Support of the Most Vulnerable People

In response to the call of God the Creator to stand next to the most vulnerable and neediest, the Middle East Council of Churches has always sought, since its establishment, to accompany the most marginalized and affected people due to the difficult living conditions. MECC aims to preserve their rights and dignity, in various countries of the Middle East. Within this context, the MECC Jordan office is implementing many programs to support Syrian and Iraqi refugees as well as vulnerable people from Jordanian host communities.

In this framework, the MECC Jordan’s Office, represented by its Director Mrs. Wafaa El Ghousous, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) – Amman, represented by the Associations’ President Mrs. Hania Kakish. The MoU aimed at strengthening the cooperation towards the implementation of various training courses. It was signed on Wednesday 14 September 2022, at the headquarters of the Association.

Miles y miles de refugiados huyeron de sus países debido a los graves impactos de las guerras y los conflictos, buscando un refugio seguro en un país que protegiera a sus familias con dignidad. Sin embargo, los refugiados del Líbano sufren hoy, como todos los libaneses, unas condiciones de vida difíciles. También fueron privados de sus derechos básicos y se enfrentan a un futuro desconocido. De ahí que las mujeres se hayan convertido en los grupos más afectados y vulnerables, ya que se enfrentan a muchas dificultades, sobre todo a nivel económico, para hacerse cargo de sus hijos y familias.

En medio de todo el estrés de la vida diaria, las mujeres refugiadas se enfrentan a muchas presiones psicológicas que les afectan desde todos los ámbitos de la vida. Por lo tanto, el Departamento de Servicio y Ayuda - Diakonia, Oficina de Beirut, en el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio, busca durante todo el año, acompañarlas y apoyarlas para superar sus desafíos, a través de diversos programas.

Thousands and thousands of refugees fled their countries due to the serious impacts of wars and conflicts, searching for a safe shelter in a country that would protect their families with dignity. However, the refugees in Lebanon are suffering today, as all Lebanese, from difficult living conditions. They were also deprived of their basic rights and are facing an unknown future. Hence, women have become the most affected and vulnerable groups, as they face a lot of difficulties, especially on the financial level, in taking caring of their children and families.

Amidst all the stress of daily life, refugee women are facing many psychological pressures that impacted them from all walks of life. Therefore, the Service and Relief Department - Diakonia, Beirut’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches, is seeking throughout the year, to accompany and support them in order to overcome their challenges, through various programs.

The MECC General Secretariat Prays for Creation

Teach us, O Lord, to contemplate your creation, and listen for the voice of each creature declaring your glory!

The international “Season of Creation” 2022 has started in the Middle East and its theme for this year is “Listen to the Voice of Creation”. The Season begins on September 1 and ends on October 4 of each year. Hence, the Season invites us this year to listen to the voice of creation, which is suffering due to many factors. So we unite in prayer, thanking God for all His blessings and glorifying His Holy Name, “faith comes from hearing.” We also unite and share a common call to care for our Lord’s creation. We are co-creatures, and part of all that God has made. Our wellbeing is interwoven with the wellbeing of the Earth.

On the occasion, members of the MECC General Secretariat’s family who were present in Beirut, gathered and prayed for God the Creator, on Thursday 1st of September 2022, at the MECC headquarters in Beirut. MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs and a delegation of Directors were absent due to their participation in the WCC 11th General Assembly taking place in Karlsruhe, Germany, as well as others were busy due to many conferences.

In order to help children spend their time during the summer vacation positively in a safe environment and to discover and develop their talents, The Service and Relief Department –Diakonia, at the Middle East Council of Churches, Syria’s Office, organized a summer club for 200 students aged between 6 and 13 years old, in Al Asieh School in Jaramana in Rural Damascus.

The atmosphere was interactive, fun, joyous and full of enthusiasm including many interactive recreational and educational activities and sessions such as Arabic and English languages, mathematics, mental math, sports, handmade crafts, drawing, theatre, music, mental and competitive games that were also accompanied by two psychosocial sessions per week entitled “Self – Journey”.

The summer club targeted vulnerable children that were affected by the Syrian crisis in order to help them release their stress resulting from social and academic pressures.

The summer club helped children to better manage their time, learn new various skills, and make new friendships.

Some women struggle with mental health issues due to loneliness, violence, and cultural isolation. Luckily, the MECC Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, was able to inspire positive change, with the help of international partners. As such, Psychosocial sessions were given to these women as an attempt to mend wounds. They were divided into two categories: those that can attend art technique sessions, and those that need greater mental health intervention.

MECC Gives Life Back to the Damaged Small Businesses

Beirut is a “stricken” city. This is what the Lebanon Defense Council declared the day after the Beirut Port disaster which occurred on August 4, 2020. Indeed, Beirut was crying out for help on various humanitarian, material and psychological levels… Emergency was declared in the country, and many associations and organizations have directly started work for the rescue of the Beirut wounded people. In fact, they lost their loved ones and everything they have in a moment.

The Middle East Council of Churches have rapidly launched two relief appeals and began field work in the capital’s neighborhoods, in order to heal the wounds of the Beirutis. The mission of the MECC Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, included many types of aids such as distributing food, hygiene, and dignity kits, mattresses, diaper packs, unconditional vouchers, hygiene vouchers, and cash assistance…

In addition, the Diakonia Department launched a program for the rehabilitation of small businesses in Beirut, which witnessed significant damage.

Due to the socioeconomic situation in Lebanon coupled with the prolonged crisis in the region, unemployment has hit a record high in the country, affecting women specifically. As a result, many were left jobless and without any sources of livelihood to consider nor any source of income. This is why the MECC Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s office, under the support of the international humanitarian organization Embrace the Middle East (EME), was compelled to launch Women Empowerment initiatives so that to mitigate economic burdens. Vocational training, a key element in this regard, would provide opportunities for the improvement of livelihood and therefore community resilience.

The Lebanese Health Sector Is Suffering

The Middle East Council of Churches continued, during the month of July, to vaccinate children and distribute medication which prices have skyrocketed in Lebanon. Thus, the Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, is keen to accompany the neediest on the health side, at Our Lady Dispensary, affiliated to MECC and located in Sabtieh region. Beneficiaries visited the Dispensary and were tended to by dedicated doctors as per regular basis. In some cases, in which the beneficiaries are old and cannot leave the house, medications were distributed directly to their homes.

In fact, the health work of the Middle East Council of Churches is implemented at a time when the health sector in Lebanon is paralyzed due to the tighten financial conditions and the economic and health crises that have cast a shadow over all the state institutions. Therefore, the citizens were negatively affected and are not able to have access to health services.

The following report video, which was broadcasted on Sama TV, sheds light on the WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) campaign launched by the Diakonia and Social Service Department, at the Middle East Council of Churches, Syria’s Office, within the Cash for Work Program, aiming at supporting the local community and preserving the beauty and cleanliness of the city. The campaign included roads sweeping, removal and transportation of waste from the city entrances and squares, as well as removing the dry grass from the roads.

The Service and Relief Department- Diakonia, at the Middle East Council of Churches, Syria’s office, launched a WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) campaign in Dara’a city to support the local community. This activity was implemented within the Cash for Work Program.

The two-month campaign contributes to providing temporary job opportunities for 100 workers including women and persons with disabilities.

During the month of May 2022, the MECC, as part of its effort to provide Humanitarian relief to victims of protracted crises, held several activities at Our Lady Dispensary in Sabtieh, Sad El Bouchrieh. Activities took on themes related to: soft skills, psycho social support, Gender Based Violence, and health awareness. The objective of such endeavors is to allow people to get back on their feet, after several traumas had shaped their lives.

Department of Diakonia and Ecumenical Relief

Since its establishment, the Middle East Council of Churches has sought to protect the neediest and most vulnerable groups, preserving their rights and dignity through its various humanitarian programs that include relief and development, justice, peace, human rights and advocacy, migrants and refugees. The following video, entitled “A Story of Success”, emphasizes the MECC relief work through the Diakonia Department and the Ecumenical Relief Program, and the most prominent humanitarian programs and activities which are being implemented by the Department in various countries of the Middle East, which is suffering under the weight of social, economic, health and security crises...

The General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches issues its annual report for the year 2021 under the title of "Against Wind and Waves: Challenging the Challenges". The report presents the MECC activities and the achievements it has accomplished at various ecumenical, theological and humanitarian levels.

Noting that international challenges and fluctuations occurred during 2021 and cast their shadows on the wounded Middle East, which was affected by the repercussions of these global and regional developments.

MECC Sorrows Hope in Their Homes

“I cannot express how happy I am with this aid! will share it with my brother’s family”, “You’ve restored my faith in humanity! I haven’t received any aid for a long time”, “Hygienic and cleaning products are expensive, so we can’t afford it”… As such, elderly women in Lebanon expressed their urgent need for a glimmer of hope and support amidst the social collapse that made them drown in despair due to the economic, social and health crises... they are witnessing as all the Lebanese people.

A Follow Up to the MECC Training Courses and Programs in Amman

The Regional Director of the Service and Relief Department - Diakonia at the Middle East Council of Churches visited the MECC office in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where the office’s Director Mrs. Wafaa Al Qusous welcomed him. The visit aimed at following up the ongoing projects and looking forward to organize future programs in order to achieve the desired ecumenical and humanitarian goals.

El Departamento de Servicio y Ayuda – Diakonia, de la oficina del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio en Siria, puso en marcha un programa de formación profesional para ayudar a los jóvenes a entrar en el mercado laboral en Damasco y en la zona rural de Damasco. En la formación participaron 50 jóvenes de entre 18 y 45 años.

Las profesiones que se impartieron fueron peluquería masculina, formación de chef y sastrería y tuvieron una duración de más de dos meses.

The Service and Relief Department - Diakonia, at the Middle East Council of Churches, Syria office, implemented a vocational training program aiming at supporting youth to enter the labor market in Damascus and Rural Damascus. 50 young trainees aged 18 to 45 participated in the trainings.

The professions taught were men hairdressing, chef training and tailoring and lasted for more than two months.

Bajo el patrocinio del Reverendo Dr. Haroutian Souleiman, jefe de la Iglesia Armenia en Siria, la Iglesia Protestante Armenia, y en cooperación con el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio, se celebró una ceremonia de graduación para los participantes en los cursos profesionales organizados en la gobernación de Alepo, con la presencia del Presidente de la Cámara de Comercio de Alepo Amer Hamwi.

Durante la ceremonia, se distribuyeron kits de herramientas profesionales a 87 beneficiarios destacados de los cursos profesionales para ayudarles a iniciar sus propios negocios.

The Service and Relief Department - Diakonia, Beirut office, at the Middle East Council of Churches, implemented a Women Empowerment program in cooperation with the municipality of Kfartebnite, South Lebanon. The program aimed at supporting women and developing their capabilities through their participation in training courses during which they learned new skills.

The video gives more details about the program and presents the expectations of the participants.