The Youth for a United World of Aleppo – Syria

29 May 2017

In this time in which so many of us youth were planning to go out a little from Aleppo and visit some relatives or friends in the quiet areas, we found out that they closed the streets around Aleppo. This means that we can’t go out and we have to stay in the city with all the bombings around us.

So, we got the idea to go and visit the elderly in an institution held by the Sisters of Mother Teresa, where we didn’t go for a long time. We knew that there were 35 elderly people, so we decided to spend the day with them. While talking with the sister, we discovered that the elderly had become 50. This bigger number made it difficult for us to cover the expenses. All the essential things are running out because of the closure of roads and are very expensive since they are rare. Our economic situation is difficult because of the war, many of us do not work and the people who work have to support their families. Meanwhile, a girl called us to say that she wants to put part of her salary to help the elderly. Gradually, other young people started doing the same and so the providence came plentiful.

A mother asked her child if he wanted to give something from his money. The child asked what would the money serve for so the mother responded: buying food for the elderly of the shelter . The child immediately broke his piggy bank and gave the money with great joy.

The next day we went to the shelter with two children. Everyone was very surprised from our visit because nobody visited them since the bombing started since the area is very dangerous.

After greeting them, they opened their hearts by telling us their stories. They told us that because of the war, many of their children have emigrated and many of them have their houses destroyed. We listened with great attention.

We helped some unable elderly people to move down in the garden, because as there is no electricity it was hot in the rooms.

We sang and danced with them, we have tried everything to make them feel loved despite the feeling of being abandoned by their children, relatives and some of them by God. The experience lived with them, increased their hope in life and trust in Jesus’s love.

The sisters thanked us and asked us to come back soon to help them on a project for 300 poor people. With all our joy we said yes.

Despite all the pain and the absurdity of the war, we felt that new hope was born in us and in these elderly.