Vision, Mission, Objectives, and Strategy:
Pro Terra Sancta operates in the Middle East, particularly where the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land are located, in places where the Christian faith originated and alongside local communities. It is a network that works to promote and implement projects to preserve and enhance cultural and natural heritage, support local communities, and provide assistance in humanitarian emergencies. It is a network established to make the work of each individual entity more effective, working in its uniqueness for the benefit of the Holy Land.
Participating in the Pro Terra Sancta network.
The association specializes in implementing projects to preserve and enhance cultural heritage, raising awareness of common roots in local communities and representing opportunities for sustainable development. The association also works to enhance projects in educational and social areas, and intervenes to support humanitarian emergencies.
The association aims to create a strong bond between supporters and holy places, involving people from all backgrounds, cultures, and religions in supporting social, educational, and cultural projects.
The Pro Terra Sancta in Syria is present in several governorates:
Damascus:
Location: Damascus – Bab Touma – Misk Street – Gate Number 9
Contact number: +963115423254, +963994626635
Email: Lac.Damascus@gmail.com
Social media: Latin Centre for Relief and Development
The PRO TERRA SANCTA office in Damascus was opened in 2017 under the supervision of the Franciscan friars at the Latin Church, where the Latin Centre for Relief and Development is located in the Old City of Damascus, Bab Touma – Misk Street – Gate Number 9. It is an Arab house consisting of a ground level with 4 offices staffed by 7 employees and a first floor that includes a training hall.
Projects of the Centre:
The centre has several ongoing projects:
Relief Project, including the following programs: support for food and non-food items, support for new-borns with milk and diapers, support for the elderly with diapers, support for heating fuel, support for house rent, support for surgeries and various medical procedures, support for chronic medication, in addition to family support through awareness sessions.
The Kindergarten:
Located in the Monastery of St. Paul with around 140 children. Pro Terra Sancta provides support covering teachers’ salaries, children’s meals, kindergarten uniforms, activities, furnishings, and toys, as well as renovations if needed.
Franciscan Music Centre:
Located in the Monastery of St. Paul, targeting children up to 18 years old with around 125 children and young people learning three musical instruments: piano, violin, and guitar. Most teachers are university students. Pro Terra Sancta provides support covering teachers’ salaries, children’s meals, trainees’ uniforms, activities, furnishings, and renovations if needed.
Support Project for Patients Residing in Damascus:
The Monastery of St. Paul receives patients coming to Damascus for treatment, where Pro Terra Sancta assists patients with accommodation costs in the monastery.
Educational Project:
The project helps university students cover training courses’ costs that benefit their university specialization and professional life, in addition to supporting professional courses for non-university groups.
Support for Micro-Projects Project:
Aims to support families with small or unsuccessful projects to improve their living condition by providing them with an interest-free loan and offering training courses on how to manage projects in all fields.
Elderly Support Project:
The project provides the following services for the elderly:
- Caregivers trained at a high level sent to elderly homes for their care
- House cleaning
- Kitchen: Daily meal delivery
- Laundry service
Latakia:
The PRO TERRA SANCTA office opened in Latakia on March 1, 2017, under the supervision of the Franciscan friars.
Location: Al Sleibeh – Baghdad Street – within the building of the monastery of the church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Contact number: 00963941582472
Currently, the centre has several ongoing projects:
Construction of a new building in the centre of the Latin monastery:
consisting of 3 floors to meet the needs of the Latin parish in Latakia by providing additional rooms and halls.
Medical Aid Project:
Consists of a clinic on the ground floor of the Heart of Jesus parish building, where the medical team is supported in critical surgical operations, eye surgeries, hearing aids, doctor examinations in various specialties, blood tests, radiological imaging, dental surgeries, prescription glasses, and other services to care for patients.
Relief Project: Includes programs such as:
support for food and non-food items, support for new-borns with milk and diapers, support for the elderly with diapers, heating fuel assistance, house rent support, support for surgeries and various medical procedures, summer activities, human development, support for students (school and university), and family support through awareness sessions.
Sewing Workshop Project:
Focused on training over 30 women in sewing and tailoring, as well as training around 30 individuals in marketing, financial management for projects, market study, and preparing projects that suit the economic reality in Syria in general and Latakia in particular. This project is the cornerstone to providing financial support for about 96 women with varying amounts based on their projects. Some of these small businesses started from the homes of mothers providing for their children due to the absence of the father for various reasons. Others rented small shops, and some developed their existing projects that were affected during the war and earthquake. Most of these projects are still ongoing and continue to support many families.
Child’s House Project:
This project takes care of 20 children who are suffering from harsh family and social circumstances. The project aims to bring children from their homes to school and then to the church, where they are welcomed by a specialized team consisting of 8 teachers and 2 cooks. The project supervisors ensure the cleanliness and mental health of the children from the moment they enter the church. They are provided with a healthy and nutritious meal in a loving family atmosphere. After enjoying a 25-minute break with calming music, they proceed to their classes where the teachers explain scientific, literary, and linguistic subjects to them. Regular follow-ups are done with their families or social workers if necessary. The children are then safely transported back home by church-provided transportation.
Latin Educational Institute Project:
The institute is equipped with the best amenities for the students. This institute allows for ninth-grade students to study and learn with a team of elite teachers in Latakia. It helps students achieve the best results in their final exams. The institute also has a separate branch, the English Language Institute, supervised by one of the best conversation teachers in Latakia, who was the former director of the British Consulate Language Institute.
House Restoration Project:
The PRO TERRA SANCTA office, under the supervision of specialists, has restored over 25 homes that were damaged due to the earthquake that hit the area. The damaged homes were renovated or reconstructed based on the level of damage and need.
Aleppo:
Finally, we as the office of PRO TERRA SANCTA wouldn’t have been able to achieve any of these dreams in these professional and loving manner without the meaningful and professional support from the Franciscan friars and administrators in the supervisory office in Milan, overseeing all PRO TERRA SANCTA offices in the Middle East. We will not forget the donors who have made all these works seeds of hope and salvation for many families whom they have continued to support, working tirelessly to be the blessed workers under the supervision of the Franciscan friars to achieve God’s glory on earth with loving and sincere hands.
