Chichester churches link to help Syrian refugees

CHURCHES across Chichester are working together to provide tent schools for Syrian refugees.
Outside one of the tent schools in Syrian refugee campsOutside one of the tent schools in Syrian refugee camps
Outside one of the tent schools in Syrian refugee camps

Members have been raising money for Chichester-based charity Children on the Edge to build and run tent schools in a refugee camp.

Esther Smitheram, communications officer for Children on the Edge, said: “It’s a great example of local people uniting to make a difference.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A group of the city’s churches wanted to respond to the Syrian refugee crisis together and agreed to help build a school in Lebanon.

Putting up a signPutting up a sign
Putting up a sign

Dan Slatter, leader of Revelation Church, based in St Pancras, described how members had felt while reading news feeds over the last 18 months.

He said it had become increasingly hard not to be moved by the stream of shocking images, showing refugees from Syria pouring into the surrounding countries and, more recently, arriving onto Europe’s doorstep.

“Like many people, we at Revelation Church were moved as a community and felt the stirring to respond, but then very quickly hit the limit of our expertise as a local church leader team.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I had heard that Children on the Edge was working with partners in Lebanon, so a coffee was booked to get advice.”

Children on the Edge is small organisation, also based in St Pancras, but working with vulnerable children across the world.

Over the last two years, the charity has been working with local partners in Lebanon to establish tent schools for Syrian refugee children in many of the small camps that have sprung up in Bekaa Valley.

Dan said: “When we heard about the combination of Children on the Edge development expertise, working alongside a local Lebanese organisation, we knew we had found the right channel for our response.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We just wanted to know how we could help, but what emerged from this question is something that honestly took us all by surprise.

“We dared to dream what could happen if a whole group of different churches in Chichester responded together, to build and run a school in one of the most desperate places of need on the planet.

“So, the churches of the city took up the challenge together, pooled their resources and partnered with Children on the Edge.

“To date, we have fully paid for one school build and yearly running costs and are now well on target towards a second school. Before we really knew what was going on we had six churches on board, with enough money committed to fund almost two new school builds and the running costs for a year.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Nuna, the church leader in Beirut, said: “I am so grateful to each one of you who are sowing into this work. It means we can be in the camps all the time with a constant presence with people on the ground. Without this we can only do small visits and are less effective.”

Children on the Edge has connected with a church and associated non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Lebanon and the schools it supports are educating more than 300 children. The charity will also ensure the supply of winter provisions through the colder months.

Rachel Bentley, executive director at Children on the Edge, said: “It is an incredible privilege to be able to provide the opportunity to link the churches of Chichester to our partners in Lebanon to meet the needs of Syrian refugee children and their communities.

“We are very thankful for the support of Revelation and the Chichester churches for making this possible.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 – Make our website your homepage at www.chichester.co.uk

2 – Like our Facebook page at Chichester Observer Facebook

3 – Follow us on Twitter at @Chiobserver

4 – Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

The Chichester Observer – always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics: