Amir* is in his 80s. His wife passed away years ago and their children fled the country. His pension is far below what he needs each month. He is living on the top floor of an apartment building, but the elevator stopped working as there is no electricity in Damascus to bring people up and down. Since Amir has difficulty walking, this means he can’t leave his home. But some days are made special for him when people from the church go to visit him, which they try to do frequently.
Joëlle and George are two of the students who come see Amir as often as they can. What a joy for him to talk with people, to be encouraged by their words and their presence. “I’ve only God and you,” he repeats to them when they come over.
It was Father Rami Elias who had the creative idea to involve students with the elderly. A group of 35 students visit three to four families a week. They do this as volunteers and the church provides them with scholarships for their studies.
Father Rami once said, “God will not intervene, He works through us.” In Amir’s living room, God works through students who regularly visit elderly and needy people all over the Syrian capital.
Christians are the hands, feet, ears, and voice of Jesus in a country where over 80 percent of the population now lives in deep poverty. Because of the war and the collapsed economy, many Syrians left the country, often leaving their (elderly) parents without a caretaker. But from abroad many at least support their parents financially.
Although many Syrians have left Syria since the war started in 2011, a considerable number stayed in the country. “For us as [church leaders], it’s natural to stay. We stood by those who stayed, like Jesus who incarnated. He came to us, to be with us, to feel our suffering. No, I never thought of leaving.” He stayed like other church leaders as a beacon of hope.
Many students struggle financially to continue their studies but for many years, the church has been giving educational scholarships to about 1000 students.
“But this made them dependent on the church,” says the priest. “The help became a duty for us, for the students it felt as their right. I decided that we had to change.”
He searched for students who were willing to do something in return for support. “It was a challenge. I found 35 students.” The idea was simple: the students get a monthly scholarship and in return, they visit elderly people. The so-called Watad association was born.
“They go three by three to visit the elderly. Each year we change the teams.” Of course, the elderly, like Amir, are encouraged. “The students themselves are encouraged too. They learn from the elderly, and some say that they are more motivated to stay in the country.”
When asked about the future of the church in Syria, Father Rami’s answer isn’t very optimistic. “I fear Syria will resemble Turkey, with no more than two or three percent of Christians. I see that all youth is aiming to leave the country.”
He continues sharing about the electricity outages, “The rumour is that soon we will be in full darkness, without any electricity. Yesterday we were 12 hours without power. We got electricity for an hour and then it was gone again. People say that during the time with the bombings the situation was better than now.”
George is a third-year medical student. Joelle is in her third year of economics. Both are 21 years old and are involved in the Watad project of visiting the elderly. “For all youth, it is a challenge to study,” George says. “Prices for transportation and study material rose.” The 55,000 Syrian pounds (about 16 US dollars) he needs monthly to get to university and buy the printed lectures exceeds the monthly income of his father, the breadwinner at home.
Both of these young people loved the idea of doing something in return for the scholarship. “It was a new idea, to work with the elderly, but I thought it would be positive for us and for them. We do learn from the elderly,” says George.
“They went through many things and advise us.” Joelle adds, “Those visits made me think of my parents. Will I be there for them? I doubted about staying or leaving. But now as these visits became part of my life, they improved my relationship with the people and with my family.”
“Recently one said, ‘You are the age of my children. Your visits give me the sensation that they didn’t leave. You are like my children,” says George.
Father Rami and the two students are pleased with the impact they have made. “The need is much bigger. We only reach a small number of people. There are still so many others who aren’t visited.”
Amir is visibly happy with the visit of these youth. Time flies when they are around. Too soon they have finished their tea and told their stories and listened to what Amir had to say. Elderly people like Amir can’t wait till the young visitors will visit them again.
Thanks to your help the church involves young people in His work. Please pray for the lonely elderly in Syria. Thank God for projects like Watad in Damascus. Pray that they will have the financial means to continue their important work.
Please Pray
- Please pray for the lonely elderly in Syria. Thank God for projects like Watad in Damascus.
- Pray that they will have the financial means to continue their important work.
- Pray for more students will have the desire to earn their scholarship and will take part in this ministry