Since before the outbreak of civil war began in March 2011, Salesian missionaries have operated three centers in Kafroun and the particularly high conflict areas of Aleppo and Damascus. Each of the centers is staffed by three Salesian priests and a deacon. The centers provide educational classes, meeting space and social development and sporting activities for youth and their families. The centers also offer trauma counseling, emergency shelter, nutritious meals and medical referrals to those in need.

Salesian centers continue to meet the needs of their communities through the distribution of food, economic aid and scholarships to help young people continue with their schooling. Salesian missionaries have noted the absence of youth in the area as many have fled to safety in other areas of Syria and in neighboring countries.

In addition to Salesian centers within Syria aiding those who have been internally displaced, Salesian missionaries have been helping Syrian refugees in countries across Europe and in Turkey, Lebanon and Egypt since early 2012 assisting between 400 and 800 refugees each day, many of whom are women and children.

In February 2023, Salesian Missions launched an emergency appeal to provide disaster relief for those impacted by the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck in Kahramanmaraş province in southern Turkey, very close to Syria’s northwestern border, on Feb. 6. The earthquake was felt in 14 countries, including Lebanon, Israel, Cyprus and Jordan.

The Turkey/Syria Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund will bring critical medical supplies, food, water and support to survivors, helping them to heal and rebuild their lives. The Salesian center in Aleppo sustained some minor damage and people rushed to the center for support.

In Aleppo people have nowhere to go and nowhere to sleep. Salesian missionaries who have been serving those in Syria since the beginning of the war are doing their best to help those victims reaching out to them and providing shelter, food, warm clothes, blankets and more.

In addition to Salesian centers within Syria aiding those who have been internally displaced, Salesian missionaries have been helping Syrian refugees in countries across Europe and in Turkey, Lebanon and Egypt since early 2012 assisting between 400 and 800 refugees each day, many of whom are women and children. At these refugee sites, missionaries provide emergency relief by meeting basic needs and providing shelter, safety and medical assistance. Missionaries also offer technical skills training to assist refugees in the task of finding stable employment in their new host countries which for many is particularly challenging due to labor laws and a lack of established social and professional networks.

Salesian missionaries seek to assist the most disadvantaged and vulnerable refugees, particularly those living outside of protected camps who take risks in order to support elderly parents, wives and children. Offering skills training, advocacy and counseling programs, Salesian centers provide safe spaces for vulnerable refugee families to find a sense of community and peace.

Although war is still being waged in Syria, Salesian missionaries provide a ray of hope through their summer youth program in Aleppo. Close to 800 young boys and girls participate in these summer events made possible by 85 Salesian staff and volunteers. The theme for many of the summer events is focused on mercy and providing a safe space for youth to congregate, learn and play.

Since the outbreak of civil war began in March 2011, Salesian missionaries have operated three centers in Kafroun and the particularly high-conflict areas of Aleppo and Damascus. Each of the centers is staffed by three Salesian priests and a deacon and have been in operation since well before the start of the war providing educational classes, meeting space and social development and sporting activities for youth and their families. The centers also offer trauma counseling, emergency shelter, nutritious meals and medical referrals to those in need.

An Italian hospital in Damascus, which was founded in 1913 and is run by the Salesian Sisters Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, is currently being supported by the “Open Hospitals” project. The Syrian “Open Hospitals” project was launched by the AVSI Foundation in 2016 in partnership with the Gemelli Foundation and the pontifical charity branch “Cor Unum,” which is overseen by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Integral Human Development. The AVSI Foundation is a nonprofit that seeks to promote development and support humanitarian aid projects throughout the world.

The “Open Hospitals” project provides medical care for those living in poverty and is currently supporting the activities of three Catholic nonprofit hospitals in Syria. The hospital run by the Salesian Sisters has 55 beds and employs 26 physicians and 54 nurses. The St. Louis Hospital in Aleppo, managed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition, and a French hospital in Damascus, managed by the Company of Daughters of St. Vincent de Paul, are also supported. The three Catholic hospitals offer free medical care to the poor no matter their religious affiliation, allowing some 400 impoverished people a week to receive care.

To date, three offices have been established to evaluate treatment requests and identify those most in need. More than 15,700 patients have been accepted and treated free of charge. Hospitals have received updated equipment and a new IT system has been installed for future training. As of December 2018, 5,457 patients have been cared for at the French hospital in Damascus, 7,065 at the Italian hospital in Damascus, and 3,236 at the Aleppo hospital, most of whom are between the ages of 50-70.

Salesian missionaries working in Syria are starting construction projects to open programs for youth and their families in the remote district of Jaramana, which is located an hour away from the current Salesian youth center in Damascus. Many families, even during the most dangerous heights of the war, traveled by bus to attend programs in Damascus. Now, Salesian missionaries are launching new programs locally.

For years, bullets and the blast of bombs have marred Jaramana. The war destroyed this part of the city and its traces are visible. Most of the youth who participate in the activities at the Salesian Youth Center in Damascus come from this area. Now that the war seems to have calmed down, Salesian missionaries are constructing a new youth center, church and vocational training center.