Can you imagine the upheaval of being forced to leave everything familiar—friends, family, and all that gives you comfort—for a completely foreign environment? And even though years pass, you are still unable to return home. Before you were forced to move you had a steady income and were able to provide for your family. Now you don’t know if you’ll even have enough for your next meal.
This is Ahmad’s story.
When war broke out in Syria six years ago and conflict spread like wildfire throughout the country, Ahmad didn’t want to fight. As the violence and devastation creeped steadily towards his hometown, he decided there was only one choice his family could make: flee. So they sold their furniture to have some extra money and left everything they knew behind.
Yet, the fighting seemed to follow them wherever they went. Ahmad and his family were forced to move four more times within Syria before finally crossing the border into Lebanon in search of safety. Two years have passed since this family began living in Lebanon. Each day is still a struggle, as there is little humanitarian assistance available. As a refugee in Lebanon, this family has no legal status as residents and cannot find a steady source of income. With no income they can’t pay for a residency visa, and without a visa they can’t move freely for fear of being imprisoned at checkpoints. Being unable to move freely, it is nearly impossible for Ahmad to find steady work.
“When I have the chance to work, I grab it,” he shares. Unfortunately, he is often only able to find a few days of work each month. “I’m doing my best for my family and my children. But the conditions here make it so hard.” With little money, Ahmad struggles to pay the rent and purchase food for his family.
Thankfully, Ahmad and his family were connected with a local church that is distributing food vouchers to some of the most vulnerable Syrian families in this community. This voucher has been enough to help Ahmad buy the basic food items his family requires. They are grateful for this help.
This project is part of World Renew’s response to the enormous humanitarian needs caused by the Syrian civil war. In partnership with the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development (LSESD) and funded through the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Ahmad and hundreds of others are receiving lifesaving support in their time of need.
As we look towards Canadian Foodgrains Bank Sunday on March 5, let us remember that partnerships make it possible for families like Ahmad’s to receive this vital support. Through partnerships between individuals, businesses, churches, and growing projects in Canada, nearly $2 million was raised last year to help families in need. These donations were matched generously by the Canadian government, to the tune of $5.3 million! Combined together, these funds financed the efforts of our local partners who joined hands with hardworking members in dozens of communities across 13 countries to implement World Renew projects.
Join with World Renew and churches across Canada on March 5 to celebrate CFGB Sunday and support this important work to feed the hungry around the world!
