Mr. khassan F. saka visited st . polus orphanage in Damascus

Visiting St. Polus orphanage, the shelter of orphan kids and elders in Ancient Damascus on Saturday, May 7, 2022 Mr. Khassan F. Saka visited St. Polus orphanage, that is located in Bab Sharqi. Mr. Naji Al-Shawy the principal of the orphanage welcomes him. St. Polus orphanage started in 1963, the project idea came from His Beatitude Maximus IV, where he asked the members of the sect to work the monastery for children who do not have families. This orphanage began in the 70s, and there was 40 boys and girls in the ages between 2 & 14. The project was based on keeping these kids in the orphanage after they have their high school diploma, after consulting with their parents or guardians If available. In the 70s as well started the nursing home for orphan elders, including with the kids. Two years ago, the orphanage got supported by a person in America who has renovated the building of the orphanage and have helped them with all their needs as well. Historically, the orphanage was supported by the members of the sect, but because of the war they couldn’t afford helping anymore. So, the best idea was to rely on international organizations and other international donors. The orphanage suffers from the difficulties of living such as gas, diesel, and the daily expenses of the orphanage. The orphanage carries a project activity for young people. It is done in a big monastery of the sect members in Ma’arat. The activities are either camp, training courses, spiritual sports…etc. Among these activities they rehabilitated The Patriarchate School, which contains 4,000 students from nursery school to secondary school in the town of Al-Maliha. As for the financial aid that comes to the orphanage from the international organizations, it arrives through the Patriarchate account in Lebanon and is receive by a concerned person. As for the sample aid it is really difficult and expensive to get it to the orphanage so the Canadian organization offered material aid whether through European banks or the accounts of churches in Lebanon or sending sample aid in agreement with the concerned authorities