Lily (Programme Manager at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) - an Embrace partner based in Damascus, Syria) has worked in the development sector providing humanitarian aid for many years. She considers her work to be the greatest expression of her Christian faith.

Wael is Programme Manager at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) - an Embrace partner based in Damascus, Syria. One project currently providing a great source of hope for Wael is the training programme for Community Health Peer Educators, funded by Embrace.

Sarah’s priority is to empower families in the West Bank to be able to access the essential nutrients, vitamins and protein they need for children to have a healthy start in life, developing strong bones and muscles and a robust immune system.

Mousa co-ordinates the team of therapists from Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre working at its satellite clinic at Al Ahli hospital in Gaza City. Mousa says, “All of us are brothers in humanity. When Embrace support us it says to me that, all over the world, your brothers see you.”

As the recent war engulfed much of southern Lebanon, Maya had to flee her home with her family and endured 10 terrifying days with no shelter except their car as airstrikes struck across the country. Still unable to return to her damaged home, the experience has left her struggling with a complex mix of emotions, but she’s found help thanks to one-to-one intervention sessions run by our partner Tahaddi.

Badly injured in an Israeli airstrike moments after giving birth, Aisha was separated from her new baby. For months she feared he had been killed.

My name is George and I work with children with disabilities at the Princess Basma satellite unit in Gaza City. This year has been so very hard for us…

When Tuqa’s father realised his daughter needed extra support to overcome the additional challenges she faced, he was determined to do all he could to help her. But accessing disability care in the West Bank, particularly because of the severe travel restrictions, is extremely difficult. It was only through the Outreach Programme run by Embrace partner the Princess Basma Centre that they were able to get the specialist assessment and interventions Tuqa needed.

When Belal learnt he had a serious heart condition and needed open-heart surgery, the news was doubly devastating. Without surgery he was unlikely to survive – but he had no way of paying for an operation. Thankfully he was able to find help through Embrace’s partner the St Vincent de Paul Society.