In August, CINF donated $1,500 to Syrian-Christian refugees from the village of Um Sharshouh Village. Um Sharshouh is located on the Orontes river amid many non-Christian villages, putting the villagers, mostly farmers and some low-income employees, in great danger during the Syria crisis.

In 2013 the village was bombed by more than 300 shells and its community was subject to kidnapping, abduction, and slaughter. The villagers hid from the destruction in their cellars that evening.

The next day they fled with nothing except for the clothes they wore, leaving behind their homes, their lands, and all their possessions. They fled to the Mashta (the valley of the Christians) and the village of Homs, living as guests in different neighborhoods and in temporary shelters, hoping to eventually return to their own homes.

Um Sharshouh was liberated three months ago. The villagers who rushed to return discovered their homes, churches, and schools destroyed and their belongs, even their power cables, stolen.

The villagers returned to Homs and the Mashta to begin rebuilding their lives. Seeking aid in this endeavor, they contacted CINF.

CINF donated $1,500 to the villagers of Homs to help them purchase school supplies for their children. The donation allows more than 200 elementary and high school students to have notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers, and backpacks for the coming school year.