“Basically I lived at the Caritas center, where my days began early alongside fellow volunteers. Almost every day, I dedicated around 16 hours to engaging in a variety of Caritas activities. Some involved office work, where we planned and analyzed different tasks, while most of the time is spent in the field.
Our daily missions were diverse, ranging from distributing food kits to families and providing hot meals during visits to their homes to assess their needs. Occasionally, we organized activities such as house renovations and summer camps for children. The nature of our tasks depends on the ongoing activities scheduled for each day, with several initiatives taking place in different areas simultaneously.
Our driving force is the desire to help those in need and offer our support to as many people as possible. As long as there are individuals waiting for help and support, we are committed to carrying on with our work.
For me, Caritas is no longer just a job; it never has been. It’s a mission that we live, so we breathe Caritas.
We are truly involved in it and believe in that mission, as well as the young people and all volunteers we work with. Caritas has become a part of our lives.” Said Peter, Caritas Youth operator and in charge of Caritas Lebanon Emergency Department.
Caritas Lebanon has been actively responding to various local crises. From the Beirut blast to supporting families and addressing the Lebanese economic crisis, as well as combating the widespread fires that engulfed the country, they worked tirelessly. Their activities include supporting civil defence, utilizing different machines to extinguish fires daily, transporting injured people to hospitals, and providing assistance to human trafficking victims and stranded migrant workers, in coordination with the relevant departments.
When Syria was hit by the earthquake, Peter sent 14 volunteers to the affected country in less than 24 hours. They were ready to leave their own country to help Syrian people who were already struggling with the huge and protracted crisis. They went to Syria and supported Caritas Syria in Damascus, Aleppo, and Latakia in the distribution of humanitarian aid and providing all the help needed to Caritas Syria.
Despite Lebanon experiencing its own crisis, Peter’s words, “a country truly hurt,” resonated deeply. His unwavering dedication to helping those in need is a meaningful witness to how Caritas members remained united and committed to bringing hope, restoring dignity, and caring for the most vulnerable people.