World Day of the Poor: The Poor in Syria

 The House of the Orient Association has been carrying out projects in Syria since the visit of Rev. Przemysław Szewczyk in Aleppo in July 2017. Due to the dramatic humanitarian situation and the need to revitalize workplaces which had been lost during the war, the House of the Orient has launched the project "Give Them Jobs!", aimed at supporting the reconstruction of small workshops which provide an important source of income for many Syrian families. Thanks to the financial support of the Poles, we managed to reconstruct a printing workshop previously destroyed during the war, which currently gives employment to members of four families.
In addition, we are trying to support educational and cultural initiatives aimed at combating post-war trauma. These efforts are extremely important in the context of promoting peace and stability in Syria. Therefore, we collect funds for the Franciscan center "Terre Sainte" in Aleppo where therapists, trainers, and teachers conduct training and classes in psychology, sports, theater, music, and education. It is planned to create a swimming pool for children within the premises of the Center. To support its construction, the project "We swim to Aleppo" (www.plyniemydoaleppo.pl) was launched. The aid for "Terre Sainte" is an interconfessional project, engaging employees and children from Christian and Muslim communities. Our support for the atelier for nuns from the Franciscan monastery in Aleppo has a similar character. Those brave nuns run a sewing workshop for 40 women, for whom this type of work and the possibility of meeting each other is also a way of fighting their trauma. It is worth noting that one of the sisters who help the needy, Brygida Maniurka, comes from Poland.

Our activities conducted together with the Franciscans coincide with the main goals of our association, which consist in building cross-cultural bridges and helping the needy without dividing them by religious criteria. Together with the Franciscans of "Terre Sainte" and the religious sisters, we show the true essence of Christian mercy by providing help "on the spot".

We are currently working on expanding our business by, among others, providing support for the poorest families, ensuring the education of children (including those with disabilities) and enabling medical treatment (prosthesis installation). It is important for us to provide comprehensive assistance in the reconstruction of Syria, which consists above all in the stimulation of business initiatives and combating the effects of the psychological distress which the Syrian people have undergone. Because of that, our initiative "Rosary for Brothers", whose effects will determine the scale of our further actions, is extremely important.
During the second World Day of the Poor, together with Bishop Grzegorz Ryś and the Caritas office in the Polish city of Łódź, we initiate regular prayers for our brothers in the Middle East, showing spiritual unity with them. We are convinced that, on the one hand, we are indebted to the local communities who were the first to adopt the message of the Gospel and to spread it so that faith in Jesus Christ could finally reach us. On the other hand, we know that they currently live in an extremely difficult situation which appeals to our brotherly solidarity. The "Rosary for Brothers" is an invitation to regular prayer in parishes or communities, leading to specific, fraternal support through the experience of ecclesial unity.

The diversity of projects run by the House of the Orient is a response to the ocean of needs our Syrians brothers are facing these days. Today, Syria is nearly forgotten due to an apparent stabilization in the military field. Nevertheless, warfare is still being carried out, among others near the border of Aleppo, in the Idlib region and in the west of the country, not to mention other less industrialized regions, as we have no reliable information about the situation there. In fact, the still-present problems of strictly humanitarian nature are moving to the background in face of the imminent need to rebuild the country. Any projects encouraging the return of refugees are very difficult to carry out or even unrealistic for a very simple reason: there is nothing to return to. The question of reconstruction is not only related to the economic situation of a war-ruined country but presumes the return of peace to human hearts affected by the trauma. The post-war images of social disturbances and widespread human ordeal dominate the ruined landscapes of Syria. Crime, kidnappings, prostitution (including of homeless children) are increasing, pharmaceuticals are lacking, hospitals are overcrowded, there are huge numbers of homeless in the streets, and an average Syrian family is unable to provide basic means for a decent existence.
It should be emphasized that young Syrians, in spite of their hopeless situation, first try to arrange their lives on the spot because of their genuine love for their land and a sense of responsibility for their country and family. For them, migration is the last resort resulting from a lack of perspectives or - especially in the case of young men - being a form of avoiding military service. For the migrants, the trip is also something temporary as they want to come back in better times and build up their future in their own land.

Finally, it is worth noting that our activities are also a way of promoting our country. Polish aid is more and more visible and appreciated by the Syrians, among others thanks to the previous activities carried out by Caritas. We heard from the Syrian people from Aleppo: "No one helped in Aleppo during the war as the Poles did. We know that you are not as rich as Western societies, that's why we appreciate it even more and thank you for your selfless help! "

Let's continue our efforts... Let us support a country that is so important and dear to us. The roots of our civilization, of our Christian and cultural identity, lie in the Middle East! We are aware that our actions are a drop in the ocean of needs, but, together with the Syrians, we are trying to fight for the reconstruction of peace in the country and in people's hearts!

During the Weeks of the Poor and the World Day of the Poor, we cannot forget about Syria.

Rev. Przemysław M. Szewczyk

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