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At the invitation of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, IOCC began working in Syria in 2002 on small projects to rehabilitate schools, hospitals and orphanages.
Since 2007, IOCC has implemented a large scale program with almost $10 million from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (BPRM). The program provides school fees, school supplies, after school tutoring and hygiene supplies to thousands of Iraqi school children and disadvantaged Syrians as well as their families.
The program, conducted in cooperation with the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, has also provided thousands of Iraqi refugee and disadvantaged Syrians with vocational training in computer-based graphics, word processing, car repair, cell phone repair and hairstyling.
IOCC has also trained about 140 Iraqi refugees to design and fund their own community service outreach programs to benefit their fellow Iraqi refugees living in Syria. These projects, which focus on healthcare issues, have benefitted more than 5,000 Iraqi refugees.
IOCC has also provided a number of grants and repair projects for charities in Syria including the St. John School and Al Asieh in Damascus, the St. Gregorios Home for the Aged and Orphanage, and the Girls Hostel in Homs.
Programs Prior to 2008
In 2003, IOCC provided furniture and electronic equipment for the social and educational center at St. Christophoros Monastery in Sydnaya. The center hosts training workshops and other activities that promote peace, tolerance and coexistence between Christians and non-Christians. In 2005, IOCC refurbished the facilities of the St. Gregorios Society, a center that provides care for orphans and elderly people. IOCC also renovated two kindergartens in Hama in 2006 and 2007. The kindergartens allow care for children whose mothers must work to support them.
Syria stories from the archives
For more information about this country email relief@iocc.org.
For information about other countries where people have been served through IOCC, please use the drop-down box:
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