What We Do
Fellowship and Aid to the Christians of the East (FACE) devotes itself to supporting Eastern Christians in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa so that they may remain in their homelands – the biblical lands – where Christianity was born and first spread.
Together with the local Christian communities, we aim to bring lasting change to those regions through education, healthcare, pastoral support and interreligious projects.
Whether in times of peace or war, we support the work of the patriarchs, bishops, priests and religious of the Eastern Churches by offering grant aid to their local projects, to the benefit of all in their multi-faith communities, regardless of race and creed.
FACE’s projects enable Eastern Christians:
- to rebuild their homes and communities
- to educate their children
- to create employment opportunities
- to secure the maintenance of their churches, schools, hospitals and care homes
- to promote ecumenical and interreligious relations
- to be peacemakers in their multi-faith communities
- to be a force for good in bridging divisions between the different faiths of the region
- to strengthen the pastoral bonds with Western Christians
EDUCATION PROJECTS
FACE supports education projects across the Middle East and the Horn of Africa – including nursery, primary and secondary schools and universities – in order:
- to provide school places and hot meals for children from socially disadvantaged families
- to rebuild, repair and maintain school buildings
- to purchase teaching equipment
- to pay teaching staff
- to provide French and English language teaching
- to offer further education opportunities
- to provide vocational training
- FACE offers a resource in the UK to parishes, schools and other places of learning by way of publications, talks and media work, in order to bring Western Christians to a greater awareness and understanding of the Eastern Churches and Eastern Christians.
HEALTHCARE AND WELFARE SUPPORT PROJECTS
FACE supports healthcare and welfare projects across the Middle East, including funding clinics, hospitals, dispensaries, and care homes for the elderly or disabled.
PASTORAL SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS
- FACE funds the training of priests and religious so that their Congregations may serve their local communities.
- Œuvre d’Orient and FACE support the re-building and repair of churches, and the maintenance of libraries, archives and heritage sites.
- FACE strives to preserve the heritage of Eastern Christians by protecting them locally in the Middle East and raising awareness of them in the UK.
- FACE endeavours to link Western and Eastern Christians through diocesan and parish twinning.
