In 2023, the Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN) together with theASCS – Scalabrini Agency for Development Cooperation, kicked off Rebuilding Hope, a Fundraising Campaign to support local churches in Turkey and Syria to support the many people and families affected by the earthquakes that struck the two countries and devastated the lives of millions.
Although Scalabrinian Missionaries do not have a presence in the region, in 2019, a group of young ASCS volunteers set out from Gaziantep, to travel along the Balkan Route(Unbroken Humanity Project), where hundreds of migrants travel in hopes of reaching the borders of Europe. During that journey, ASCS met many refugee families from the affected area, whom we also supported during the Covid19 pandemic.
After the February 2023 earthquakes, we stayed in touch with those families. After a dialogue held with local churches in Turkey and Syria, we tried to figure out how we could concretely support the many refugee families and local people affected and sent initial support.
Although two years have passed since the earthquake, the situation continues to be very difficult. In Syria, the war has destroyed entire towns and villages, separated families and forced millions of people to flee. Ninety percent of the population lives below the poverty line, and daily life has become a struggle against hunger and despair.
In this bleak scenario, the Church continues to be a beacon of hope, supporting those who have lost everything. As ASCS, we still want to support local churches so that we can respond to the many needs and continue to ignite sparks of hope.
