Home » Projects » EMERGENCY » SYRIA: “Together we can put a smile on the children’s faces”

SYRIA: “Together we can put a smile on the children’s faces”

ACN will be donating 25,000 anoraks for Syrian children this Christmas

For centuries Christians have been celebrating the greatest of all gifts to mankind, the coming of God into the world, with gifts and presents, especially for the youngest ones. Moreover, in doing so they are following the tradition of Bethlehem, when shepherds and wise men came to adore the Child, giving Him the most precious treasures they were able to. God himself became a Child, and for this reason even the littlest children are also very much a part of Christmas. And yet, in countries like Syria, after nine years of war, it is the children who are the great losers, victims of trauma, illness and malnutrition.

Such is the case with little Sandra who, at two and half years old, still weighs no more than 6 ½ kg. Her father was a pharmacist in Aleppo and died of a brain tumour two years ago. Her older brother Mjad is four years old and autistic. Their mother Laura can scarcely manage to earn enough to feed them. Quite apart from the pandemic, the economic sanctions are asphyxiating the population. Electricity and heating fuel are in short supply, a critical issue in view of the imminent arrival of the harsh winter, which in many Syrian towns brings with it snow and freezing temperatures.

Sister Annie Demerjian.
Sister Annie Demerjian.

Ever since the beginning of the war in Syria, through a range of different projects, the international Catholic pastoral charity and pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has been helping families like Laura’s to get by with such basic necessities. This year, at Christmas time, the charity also wants to bring a little seasonal ray of hope for Sandra, her brother Mjad and thousands of other poor Syrian children, not only in Aleppo but also in Damascus, Homs, Kameshli, Hassakeh, Swidaa and Horan. And so it is sponsoring an initiative, with the support of Sister Annie Demerjian and her Congregation of Jesus and Mary, whereby 25,000 warm anoraks are now being cut and stitched together in the dressmaking and tailoring workshops of local craftsmen and craftswomen in Aleppo.

“We want to give them anoraks in this cold winter that is approaching, not only to keep our children warm but at the same time to give a boost to the local economy by helping our small local factories through the production of these garments”, Sister Annie explains.

Imad is working in his little office, printing the patterns for the anoraks. He explains how grateful he is “for this new job”, since now “God willing, we will have a little economic security for the next few months.” A couple of kilometres away, Rami is operating a machine cutting out the patterns in one of the many small workshops in Aleppo that have been entrusted with this work. Piled up in the workshop are rolls of fabric and padding material for insulation against the cold. “We are very grateful for this work. The order arrived at a very critical time when we were desperate for work. You know how bad the present economic situation is in the country.

So it is a great joy for us to be able to support ourselves over the next few months, thanks to this project of ACN. May God reward you!”, adds the Syrian workman. These are just a few of the 30 or so workshops in which around 180 Syrians, both Christians and Muslims, are benefiting from this work to help support their families during the coming months.

Sister Annie is also happy because she was able to take advantage of an excellent opportunity to reserve the material some months ago, before the inevitable winter shortage of material, and also to choose many different colours. She adds, “Together we can put a smile on the faces of the children.”

Don't miss the latest updates!

Rome to host official launch of Religious Freedom Report 2025

Religious and public leaders will be gathering on October 21…

Papal envoy carries solidarity to the Christians of war-torn Sudan

Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan, Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan, has…

In the east of Burkina Faso, still many problems as term starts

While the security situation in Burkina Faso has improved slightly,…

From Angola to Vietnam, enthusiasm with “One million children praying the Rosary” campaign

ACN’s yearly campaign, added to the Holy Father’s appeal to…

Church clings to life amid chaos in Gaza

Aid to the Church in Need echoes Pope Leo XIV’s…

Children prepare to send “tidal wave of prayer” around the world

Responds to the ever-pressing yearning for peace and unity in…

Iraq: Ecumenical festival points to future for persecuted Church

Today, the very same communities will raise the Cross high…

List of News

Rome to host official launch of Religious Freedom Report 2025

Religious and public leaders will be gathering on October 21 at the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome for the worldwide presentation of the latest edition of the Report on...

Papal envoy carries solidarity to the Christians of war-torn Sudan

Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan, Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan, has just completed a diplomatic mission through the region’s most badly affected by the current civil war in Sudan. Over several...

In the east of Burkina Faso, still many problems as term starts

While the security situation in Burkina Faso has improved slightly, some regions are still suffering from terrorism and misery. On the eve of the new school term, young people are...