Building Relationships with Children in Spite of War Donna Barten Senior Warden, Christ Church Cathedral
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n 2016, Christ Church Cathedral, in partnership with NuDay Syria and six other communities of faith in the Greater Springfield Area, held a fund raiser to help build a school for children in a displacement camp in Syria. Asi camp is less than a mile from the Turkish border, so it is in a relatively safe location. Each year, additional funds have been sent to help support the school through grants via the Christ Church Cathedral Outreach Committee and the Diocesan Global Missions Committee. In 2019, there were 178 girls and 168 boys enrolled, and they
hope to add several more classrooms to allow more children to attend, as the camp population has grown. In addition to sending money and supplies, we have also sent messages of encouragement to each other. In the summer of 2019, original artwork from children in the school was displayed in the cathedral’s Brooks Foyer, along with photos of the children. What strikes each person who looks at these hand-made treasures is the happy themes. It is heartening to see how resilient children can be,
even after they have lost their towns, homes, and often family members. In response, children from our Sunday School made a poster for them with our well wishes, along with non-perishable food donations. ♌ If you would like to display the artwork and photos in your church or other public space, contact Donna Barten at barten.d.m@gmail.com. If you are interested in helping to support these children, donations can be made to NuDay Syria at www.nudaysyria.net.
Sean Asante, Maame A. Asante, and Tasha Lynn Mensah Brown show their poster for children in Syria. Photo: Donna Barten
ABU ND ANT TI MES
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