Zaiid’s Story | Finding New Hope at the Life Center

Refugee kids wish to live a normal life like all children, living in a town or city instead of tents. During our Boys’ Club Day, they created this city calling it the City of Dreams and Hope.

Mental Health Awareness Month

While the main focus at each of our Life Centers is medical care, most of the Centers also offer other programs such as vocational training or children’s programs to help those in need locally.

In the Middle East, many of our patients are refugees carrying the emotional and psychological scars of war and violence. Whenever possible, we offer trauma counseling, home visits and support to those who are suffering.

Fifteen-year-old Zaiid* has lived with his family in a tent in Lebanon for the past nine years since fleeing war in Syria. Though he is the youngest of seven brothers and two sisters, he was constantly hit and put down by the others. He was never able to attend school due to all family members needing to work to make ends meet.

One day, he heard about the Boys’ Club at one of our Lebanon Life Centers. WIth the club, he visited a book fair, went to trauma camps and participated in football tournaments.

“The club was amazing. Not only were we able to play football, but we had to be trained on how to respect each other, not to curse and even not to shout!” said Zaiid. “One of the most rewarding things about being at the [club] was learning English. It was such a great feeling to be able to read and write. I just wish that this would last forever.”

Earlier this year, Zaiid got into a fight with two of his brothers. They held him down to the ground and scratched his head against the rocky ground of the tent. Despite his ear bleeding profusely, his father did not take the incident seriously.

Without anyone else to turn to, Zaiid ran to the Center knowing that he would find safety and help. Our doctor happened to be there at the time and treated his wound. It took more than six months to heal.

Zaiid said he was very angry but the leader at the Center helped him to forgive his brothers and move on in life.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Would you consider supporting our work caring for the bodies, minds and souls of recovering refugees throughout the Middle East?

We are continually humbled by your ongoing support for our work.

*Name changed for security purposes.