INTERVIEW MOTHER AGNES ON THE SON OF MAN ASSOCIATION
« The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Lebanon, Moroccan Najat Rushdi, said that Lebanon is already at the beginning of a “serious collapse,” noting that her organization is focusing on “avoiding the complete collapse of basic services »
Mother Agnes Mariam of the Cross, Foundress and Superior of the Greek-Catholic monastery of St .James the Mutilated in Syria (maryakub.net), has founded the Son of Man Association in August 2019. This Association aims to relieve the suffering of the Lebanese who are in need of everything due to the terrible economic situation today. Let’s listen to what Mother Agnes Mariam has to say about the Association.
Mohter Agnes-Mariam:
Today is the 4th of August 2021, one year to the day since the terrible explosion on the port of Beirut, which pulverized a third of the capital. Total toll: more than 200 dead, 6500 injured and more than 250 000 families left homeless. This tragedy was added to a wobbly situation that followed a revolution that started on the 17th of October 2019 which resulted in a near bankruptcy of the Lebanese banks and the rapid devaluation of the Lebanese pound. To that one must add the Covid-19 pandemic that paralyzed the country and the public confession of the Lebanese state that said it was no longer able to pay its depts, at least the interests to the world bank. All these factors have accelerated the impoverishment of the Lebanese population and the reduction of thousands of people to unemployment. Lebanon thus began its descent into hell and we don’t know how it will end because there are no short or medium term resources that can put back the country on its feet.
What motivates you to help the Lebanese ?
Mohter Agnes-Mariam:
Our motivation comes from our love for our homeland Lebanon. But our deepest motivation is the love of Christ that constrains us (2 Co 5,14) to help those in need (cf. Mt 25, 35).
The Son of Man Association seeks to help the poorest families in Lebanon : the victims of the Beirut explosion, the unemployed, the poor, … Lebanon is in a state of bancrupcy, so people are in need of everything. We need to create jobs, and thus launch development projects (agricultural, small businesses).
What are the concrete projects you are working on ?
We started our strategy one year ago by launching food projects to provide the Lebanese with the minimum to survive :
Monthly distribution of food rations that can provide each family with what is necessary to survive. Each ration costs 25 EURO. The more we give the better because everyone is in need.
Providing daily bread to the poorest. A mobile bread oven bakes bread to nearly 2000 families a day. To keep this project running we buy flour and other ingredients, we pay the salaries of the workers, the baker, as well as the costs for transportation and packaging.
Helping families who want to rehabilitate their agricultural lands. A family that owns 10 000 m2 needs 3000 EURO to cover the first expenses. Once they kickstart they are able to sell their crops and become self-sufficient.
Opening of pig and cattle farms to give young people work. We use a part of these earnings to be able to help more people in need
Health sector
The Son of Man association has two medical centers inside Beirut where medical teams receive patients daily for free diagnostic and laboratory tests. These include X-rays, ultrasounds, blood and urine tests, … We provide medicine free of charge. We need financial aid to keep these centers up and running.
The Son of Man Association relies on the help of volunteers. Anyone who wants to help Lebanon, especially Christian families who have been the most affected by the current tragedy - these volunteers (from Lebanon or from outside the country), animated by the charity of Christ, are most welcome to join us so that we can help more people every day !
Lebanon is important, help us to preserve it ! In the words of pope John Paul II:
“Lebanon is more than a country — it is a message of freedom and an example of pluralism for East and West.”
