Relief & Reconciliation for Syria

Info

Support the work in our first Peace Centre for refugees from Syria: http://www.reliefandreconciliation.org

Geschiedenis

More than three years after Syrians started demonstrating for freedom and democracy, the violent repression of the movement has set the country in flames. Every new day of bloodshed makes hatred grow. Syria has tumbled into sectarian war. Whenever fighting will stop: huge efforts in terms of reconstruction and reconciliation are needed to build the new and united Syria as a free and inclusive country, based on democracy and human rights.

We, a group of people based both in Europe and the Middle East, feel compelled to take action. We have all worked in Syria or neighbouring countries and we share a rich expertise in peacebuilding, humanitarian aid and interfaith dialogue. With the direct involvement of local communities, we want to combine practical help with reconciliation and peacebuilding. Our immediate goal is to offer a space for the youth from Syria of all faiths and affiliations, women and men. We are going to unite moral authorities of different confessions around this common cause.

With your help, we are working in Lebanon, where thousands of Syrians have stranded as refugees. In July 2013, we established our first Peace Centre in the border region to Syria: a house that serves as safe place for young people from all confessions, where experienced psychologists are treating war traumas and where educational staff helps to develop skills and arts. We also provide for material help and advocacy where needed. Our dedicated staff in the field has brought back more than 500 Syrian children into regular education by now.

Our first Peace Centre is located in the small town of Bkarzla, in the Akkar district of Northern Lebanon, only 12 km from the Syrian border. We united moral authorities of all confessions and groups present in Akkar in a local Steering Committee: Sunni muftis and sheikhs, Christian bishops and priests, Alawi sheikhs and representatives of local civil society. All our work is conducted in consensus with this local Steering Committee, fostering hence cooperation between groups that are on opposing sides in the Syrian conflict.

Please visit our website on www.reliefandreconciliation.org for a detailed account of our activities and please make a small donation for our cause! We are relying on crowd-funding. Every help counts- as small as it might be! You can also help us by spreading the word.