Rebuilding A Future: Elias. Maja, And Rita’s Story

For Elias*, Maja*, and Rita*, safety was something they had almost forgotten.

The three siblings fled Syria with their family after years of conflict and growing insecurity. Following escalating events in late 2024, life became increasingly dangerous. As members of the Alawite community—a religious minority in Syria that has often found itself caught in the country's political and sectarian tensions—and with their father having previously worked for the government, the family felt increasingly vulnerable and feared for their safety. The children stopped attending school, rarely left home, and spent their days isolated from friends, education, and any sense of normal childhood.

When the family arrived in Lebanon, they escaped immediate danger but encountered a different set of challenges. Food was scarce, opportunities were limited, and the children remained out of school. Their mother, carrying the emotional weight of displacement and loss, struggled deeply, and the uncertainty surrounding the family affected all three children. Without routine, stability, or social connection, hope for the future began to fade.

Their connection with True Vine Church began through something simple—a food box. As staff members built a relationship with the family, they identified a deeper need: the children had been without education for months. When registration opened, all three children were enrolled in the educational program.

Today, Elias, Maja, and Rita are attending school regularly, building friendships, and rediscovering the confidence that conflict had taken from them. The structure, encouragement, and care they receive have helped restore a sense of normalcy in their lives.

"At school, I feel safe," one of the children shared.

"I feel like I'm rebuilding my future."

What began as a food distribution became much more—a pathway to education, belonging, healing, and hope.

*children’s names have been changed for their privacy

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