Embrace the Middle East
Glen Edey reports on the vital work of this Christian charity
I have been involved with Embrace the Middle East for at least 15 years, a charity that has worked to tackle poverty and injustice for 170 years. It partners with Christian-led initiatives in Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine – Israel and Syria. Embrace works with partners on the ground in these countries, as they understand the culture and local needs.
People are helped regardless of race or creed, they are helped because they are human beings at risk of being marginalised or excluded. Projects supported are varied, providing wherever there is a need for refuge, health care including therapeutic help for the traumatised, education, justice and human rights.
Personally, I became particularly motivated when I visited Palestine in 2010. As I looked around, I just kept saying: “but that cannot happen, that just wrong, inhumane.” Each visit has revealed more injustices, but also messages of hope. On the Embrace website there are always photos of smiling children being given opportunities for education, a chance to play, respite from challenging situations.
The work of reconciliation
In Israel and Palestine, the charity Masalaha, feel there is no option but to continue to work towards reconciliation. Without this, there is no hope for peace. Their role is to bring together groups of Palestinians and Israelis, forging relationships where the truth of the inequalities between the two groups are not overlooked but acknowledged. One such initiative, ongoing since October 7th last year, is the creation of safe spaces where women -Palestinian and Israeli -could meet in person. This is still happening to an extent in Israel, but in the occupied territories it has become impossible. The women try to keep in touch with each other by sending homemade cards. Some Israeli women also buy produce, to support Palestinian farmers.
We have a doll that was bought from a child in Khan al-Ahmar, a Bedouin village that has been under the threat of demolition for over 10 years. This doll represents to me the blessings brought through people recognising the humanity in each other. Women from an Israeli settlement had helped the children to make the dolls.
Recently, I was in communication with a partner in Lebanon, a school focussing on integrating deaf and hearing pupils, their outreach work aims to reduce the cultural stigma surrounding disability. The school had been providing shelter for displaced individuals when the war in Lebanon began. With the ceasefire, the visitors returned home to find their whole village destroyed, The head of the school, did not mention their own family home and all their treasures and memories were also lost. This humility I often notice in partners, and am humbled to see how rarely I recognise the privileges I have.
Embrace supports initiatives that enhance autonomy:
- Women learning to write their name and to read.
- Growth of businesses, as we know from our experience, is important for all communities. Income brings security and hope.
- The olive tree project replaces olive trees in the occupied territories. Trees are all too frequently destroyed unjustly.
Capni in Iraq offer business loans. One that particularly caught my attention was given to a beekeeper who now has many hives. One of my favourite gifts from the Embrace catalogue are candles made from his wax. The changes in Iraq have meant some communities have been displaced many times. Funding such opportunities gives hope for the future.
Tourism in the West Bank is now non-existent, causing businesses to fail and, of course, the ensuing hardship. The catalogue continues to market olive oil, soap, hand carved olive wood gifts, ceramics, middle eastern foods dates and almonds and Dead Sea salt products from West Bank Salt company. Such support also brings hope. In fact, whenever contact is made with partners, there are messages of joy and hope. Where there is support and compassion, hope follows. Just this week news came of a new initiative. Pontifical Mission for Palestine, will support six Christian organisations (a mix of businesses and NGOs) which are in danger of closing or of needing to reduce the services they offer.
We invite you to give generously to support the projects of Embrace partners. Gifts of hope and compassion.
If you would like to know more about Embrace the Middle East, please sign up on their website – on the Keep in Touch page.
