When Europe started closing its borders and refugees entering Greece became stranded, many of them congregated in Idomeni. The informal camp was the largest in Greece, with more than 10,000 people gathering at the Macedonian border hoping to be allowed to continue on their journey. In an unofficial camp, there
Lina, 25, is Serbian-Syrian, born in Serbia to a Serbian mother and Syrian father. When she was 12, her father died, and she traveled to Syria with her mother and older brother, Samir, to return his body to his homeland. They didn’t plan to stay long, but as her mother
It all started as a normal Sabbath—I went to church with my family, and we had lunch with friends. Then I received a phone call: “Get prepared. There are several thousand refugees approaching the Slovenian border.” There was never a question as to whether we would help. A few hours
It’s been three years, but Loubana’s children still have nightmares about the day their Syrian home was bombed. “I remember when I hid under the stairs when the bombs were falling,” says Nour, who was only 6 at the time. Loubana and her family had a good life in Syria.
As president of her village savings and loans (VSL) program, Estelle is a natural leader. Weekly meetings are orderly; small fines are issued for infractions such as tardiness, absence, or losing a key to the lockbox; and she keeps a watchful eye over every transaction as they are recorded in
It is crowded at the train station at Tabanovce as the refugees exit the train. Today they have crossed the border from Greece, where they arrived in Europe, and boarded the train at the first station in Macedonia. The few tents put up for shelters are quickly filled up, and
At one month old, Qamar has nowhere to call home. Her parents, Mustafa and Hala, are refugees who fled Syria to escape growing violence and the threat of terror that surrounded them. They left their home in Damascus two months before we met them. Hala gave birth to beautiful Qamar
On a given day, hundreds of refugees may trickle across borders or they may come in waves of thousands. Today, a group of fifty were crossing into Serbia from Bulgaria, so there was time for ADRA team members to make conversation. One volunteer spoke at length with a father named
Said is only 14, but has experienced hardships that no child should face. In Serbia, he shared his family’s story: “Mom and dad told us that we are going to Europe. We did not took anything with us, except of one spare clothe for each of us. They did not
On the first day of school, Jo walks down familiar streets. When he reaches the schoolhouse, it is no different than before. Fewer people lingering in the street, perhaps. Fewer children laughing on the front lawn. One year ago, the Ebola outbreak was a growing rumor in West Africa. It
Every gift in our Kids’ Gift Catalog was chosen just for kids. These are gifts that will catch their interest, spark some thoughtful conversations, and hopefully teach them how much of an impact they can make at any age! Plus, each gift comes with a free, downloadable coloring sheet. Use
When we share stories with you about the people and communities ADRA serves, it’s important to us that the unjust reality of life for our neighbors around the world is seen and never forgotten. ADRA’s purpose is to serve humanity so all may live as God intended, and our hope
Humanitarian work is a unique career. Those who are called to this line of work are frequently faced with some of the world’s most heartbreaking challenges, but the results are intensely rewarding. Three of ADRA’s staff members from around the world shared a little bit about their humanitarian careers. Who:
Meher grew up along the route of the famous Silk Road, which once made its way through his home country of Afghanistan. With no formal education, he became a farmer and did extra field work for others to support his family. “I had no major complaints in life as life
ADRA is blessed to be able to honor refugees and all those who have been displaced, through our work every day. This seems especially important now as a devastating new record was reached in 2022. For the first time in recorded history, the number of people forced to flee conflict,
Elianne was on a mission. Making her way around her neighborhood, with her big brother by her side, the young girl knocked on door after door. “Hi, do you have any change?” she asked everyone who answered. “I’m getting money so I can buy a chicken for some people in
Oriana’s mother doesn’t want her to come home. It may not sound like something a loving mother would want, but telling her daughter to stay away may be the most loving thing this mother could do. Years ago, Oriana fled Venezuela with her husband and their young daughter, Lucia, who
The ADRA family has been overwhelmed with prayers, donations, and other support from our community of supporters across the country and around the world! We are so grateful because the power of your prayers is very real, and monetary support is vital in a crisis like this when flexibility is
ADRA is blessed to meet amazing mothers in our work every day. These are the kind of mothers who would do anything, give up everything, and go anywhere for their children. Mothers like Masha and Glendys. These two women have lived vastly different lives, but they are united by the
While the world’s attention remains on the continuing Ukrainian humanitarian crisis, your support is helping us make sure that others living in crisis conditions aren’t forgotten. Here are seven more countries where ongoing humanitarian crises have uprooted lives and forced people from their homes. YEMEN This month, Yemen passed the
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