A Different Kind of Ramadan
During the two days after Ramadan, our SWI team distributed dinners to 68 Syrian families, letting them know that even though we are not visiting them in their homes or holding any of our programs, that we are remembering them. More details of this effort and a video can be found on our blog page.
English Friends Program Launch
Over the past several weeks our team has been processing how to best support our Syrian newcomer neighbors. As a result, we have launched a new program that we are calling “English Friends”. Through the program, American and Syrian newcomers connect through a mutually agreed upon social media platform (WhatsApp, Facebook or Zoom) and have conversations through text, phone call or video. More information can be found on our webpage here.
Resources for Syrian Families
We are discovering Syrian families that need food and delivering it to them. We are looking for businesses who can donate staples for these families, for donations to pay for the things we need to purchase for these families, and supporting our delivery costs.
And, we are considering launching a CONTINUING EDUCATION ONLINE PORTAL to support interactive personal connections and educational resources for kids and adults. If you are interested in helping us with this, please write us at info@bridgebuildersnetwork.org.
Program Updates
We have set up a page dedicated to facilitate communication with our Syrian neighbors. It is found here.
There are multiple things going on with our Syrian adult neighbors now:
not understanding English well, if at all
not understanding our culture & ways we communicate and share information real time, resulting in getting misinformation or mixed messages within their own community,
living in cramped apartments with many kids, and many not having well established relationships with local native born Americans who are more in the know.
being subjected to being re-traumatized from not feeling they have any power or control in their lives.
Please pray for us as we develop this resource and let us know if you would like to help support us in this effort. We do have an active team working hard to help establish wellbeing among our Syrian neighbors.
HOPE FOR VULNERABLE FAMILIES
A Trauma Informed Program of Caring and Connecting in Response to COVID-19
Our Vision
Working in partnership with our local Syrian friends who have been resettled as refugees here among us, to see the love of Christ expressed in word and deed to their family members who remain in Syria and unsettled in neighboring countries, suffering ongoing hardships from years of conflict in their homelands, and now a worldwide pandemic.
We have identified many families in need who are in Syria and some in Lebanon, severely impacted by the explosion in Beirut on August 4th. We have local partners there on the ground who are already helping whom we are supporting. Our focus today is on on emergency medical needs, food, and families suffering from hunger.
YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED TODAY to help us serve vulnerable families struggling today in Syria and Lebanon. (Donation info is on this page). Or contact us at info@bridgebuildersnetwork.org.