What We Do
FACE devotes itself exclusively to supporting Eastern Christians in the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and India so that Eastern Christians may remain in their homelands – if they so desire
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
FACE has exclusive access to Œuvre d’Orient’s networks in the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and India, including its close links to the Patriarchs, Metropolitans, Major Archbishops and Bishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches.*
FACE delivers grant aid directly to specific projects which have been proposed and approved by the local Christian communities in conjunction with Œuvre d’Orient, and which are managed by the local dioceses and religious communities.
EDUCATION PROJECTS
More than 400 institutions across the Middle East and the Horn of Africa – including nursery, primary and secondary schools and universities – are supported 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
Œuvre d’Orient and FACE provide healthcare and welfare support to over 3 million people in the Middle East by 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.
*The international aid agency Œuvre d’Orient, based in Paris, is the oldest Catholic charity supporting Eastern Christians in the Levant.