Together We Serve: Working for Peace in the Middle East

14 March 2017

Appears in: Archdiocesan News

Hussein Itani is involved with the Adyan project.

The Adyan foundation in Lebanon works on fostering peace, social cohesion and spiritual solidarity between individuals and communities in Lebanon and the Middle East. The foundation’s “Citizens for Unity and Peace Project” is supported by Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, one of 11 charitable partners you can help by making a gift to Together We Serve, the annual appeal of the Archdiocese of Edmonton.

Hussein Itani is involved with the Adyan project, and spoke about it recently when he visited Alberta as a Solidarity Visitor sponsored by Development and Peace.

The project provides training workshops to youth of different backgrounds to help them to understand, analyze and bridge political and religious divides that are created by sectarianism and to value inclusiveness and diversity in society. These young people in turn provide awareness sessions to their various home communities in Lebanon and the surrounding countries.

“We believe in this cycle-of-change philosophy, so the first thing we try to do is help the animator help their students become self-aware,” says Itani. “… it is very important to remind them that they are able to go back to society and contribute positively to it.”

Your gift to Together We Serve supports Development and Peace – Caritas Canada in assisting the Adyan foundation and its incredible efforts to address intergenerational trauma, direct the energies of youth towards positive change, and build a sustainable peace in the Middle East. Thank you for your generosity!

You can make a difference by donating through your parish, or directly online.