Every October, Serve Globally’s Middle East/North Africa (MENA) team seeks to highlight and raise support for a particular ministry or ministries that are active in the MENA region. This year MENA Monday funds will provide parcels to a Syrian Refugee Settlement Communities in Lebanon and Jordan and provide training to for volunteers, preparing them to welcome and host Syrian refugees in the US.
THE PROJECT
The stream of Syrian refugees into nearby countries (and beyond) started over a decade ago. Some have found a new life in other countries; many have not. MENA Monday 2022 seeks to elevate the story of many who have become forgotten people. It also will raise funds to provide food parcels that will make a real difference to refugee families living in Lebanon and Jordan who are trapped in a system that does not allow people to improve their situation through employment. It will also provide training to US residents wanting to provide genuine, sensitive hospitality to refugees in the Chicago area.
Syrian Refugee Settlement Community
Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
In Lebanon, most refugees continue to live in “tarp and frame” homes. They are not allowed to work officially, and the government is desperate for these people to leave. Sadly, males up to the mid 40’s could be taken immediately upon reentry to Syria and conscripted into the army. This cost is too high for most families. Many children do not have the benefit of schooling because of the cost and those who do often have sub-standard teaching.
In Jordan, the situation is somewhat better in that there are some types of employment allowed for refugees, but they are low-wage jobs such as day-laborers. Refugees live in permanent housing, but affordable housing is often substandard and contribute to health issues.
In the United States, refugees who have received visas enter a vastly different culture and society. They are often not understood or readily accepted.
MENA Monday will provide parcels that will feed many families for a month in Lebanon and Jordan. This “relief” may seem short lived but for many it will be hope given at just the right time. In the United States, an organization that has been welcoming refugees for years will be updating their training materials and training volunteers to provide welcome and hospitality to over 500 people in early 2023.
Three Partner Organizations will be implementing these services to refugees:
Exodus World Service - Park Ridge, Illinois
New Vision NGO - Lebanon
Bible Society of Jordan - Amman, Jordan
Additional funding will be provided by: Covenant World Relief and Development (CWRD) – Chicago, Illinois. Once $15,000 is raised CWRD will contribute $5000 to MENA Monday through their “challenge” donation.
More information on MENA Monday and the ongoing refugee crisis can be found at: facebook.comMENASGNews
You can also contact menarc@covchurch.org
TO GIVE
To make a donation to support the MENA Monday 2022 Project, please follow the correct link for your country.
To mail a donation in Canada, make cheque out to ECCC, write MENA Monday in the memo line and mail to…
ECCC
PO Box 2247
Strathmore, AB T1P 1K2
To mail a donation in the USA, make check out to The Evangelical Covenant Church, write MENA Monday in the memo line and mail to…
The Evangelical Covenant Church
Mission Advancement
PO Box 773420
Chicago, IL 60677-3420
