Restoration of a Youth Center in Aleppo, Syria

A Safe Meeting Place for Studying and Reading Under the Auspices of the Armenian Protestant Church

As part of the “Restoration Fund for Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria”, implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches in cooperation with “Kerk in Actie” organization in the Netherlands, MECC and the Armenian Protestant Church focused on the situation of youth in Aleppo, Syria. They worked on restoring a dedicated youth center called the "Study Zone," which serves as a meeting place for young people and a space for reading and studying, in addition to establishing a sports club in “Telephone Hawaee” neighborhood in Aleppo.

Regarding this center, Reverend Dr. Haroutune Selimian, Head of the Armenian Protestant Community in Syria, said that the Church wanted to provide a safe place for students to study and read, as well as a meeting point for youth from different religions and denominations. In this area, different religions and denominations have coexisted for hundreds of years.

Reverend Dr. Haroutune emphasized that today's youth need a safe place to gather, especially as they are now exposed to many unethical matters. Therefore, when these youth centers are under the auspices of the Church, they provide a safe environment where young people need to meet and exchange ideas.