What does quality in relief work look like? I was extremely
surprised by an answer given by one of our partner organisations on a recent
trip to Lebanon. Some days you learn something really important, when you think
you are there to teach.
We were visiting the Bekaa Valley, an impoverished part of
the great little country of Lebanon, wedged between Israel, Syria and
the Mediterranean. Bekaa is inland from Beirut, behind the snow covered Lebanon
mountains, towards the world’s most notorious trouble spot, Syria.
Unsurprisingly, this fertile flat land is the first port of call for thousands
of people fleeing trouble in Syria. Town names heard on the BBC News so often,
like Homs, Aleppo, Raqqa, gain more meaning as you hear the stories of those
who have picked up their children and left their homes in these indescribable disaster zones.
Most of the people in the camps have little money. Many were
poor day workers in agriculture or construction, and uneducated. Most have
several children, some of them born in the last few years, since they became
refugees. Their wealthier compatriots have found more comfortable accommodation
elsewhere. In Bekaa the landscape is dotted with tents and temporary shelters
in large and small groups or in formal camps. Most consist of a wooden frame
covered with thick plastic sheeting. Some are quite nicely furnished inside
with cushions, fabric hangings and a stove.
Our partners in Lebanon are providing simple schools to help these children and their families. We spent a day visiting them, and also managed to call in on a couple of homes, where we were warmly
welcomed with coffee and chat. We were able to take some photos but the people
did not want these to be shared as there are many possible risks to
being identified in this way.
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| Arabic lessons |
The following day we met with leaders in the partner
organisations to discuss the aims of the project. This was part of my task to
help Global Care to evaluate the impact of its work and ensure that we get the most benefit for vulnerable children. By defining the aims and
objectives, we would be able to determine whether we succeeded. So I asked
everyone to say what outcomes would represent “success” for them.
Many of the answers were as expected – children can
demonstrate that they have learned, they can help their parents when out
shopping by reading the labels. Some were beyond what we hoped for – families
function better by following the example provided, children are safeguarded
from recruitment by extremists.
But the answer that surprised me most was the report that
certain families had been able to say “no” to the relief workers when asked to receive visitors
(maybe we were those visitors!). Our friend explained that this was a sign of
an honest relationship between them and the beneficiaries. Maybe becoming a "refugee" means that you don't just lose your home, belongings, extended family, country and livelihood. Maybe you can even lose the sense of the ability to determine
your own life or to control who comes in to your temporary shelter. And
maybe, someone who shows that they respect you and believe in you can start to
change that.
As well as being humbled by the depth of concern and insight
shown by our partner, I was greatly encouraged to know the quality of people we
are working with and the respect they have for the people they serve so
faithfully. More power to them!
If you would like to help Global Care continue this work for
desperate families and vulnerable children, please go here: https://www.globalcare.org/projects/20
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