Fundraising by Elena Marchisa

Fifteen years ago, at this time of year, just after my birthday, I was packing my backpack for my experience in Kosovo with Operation Dove (Nonviolent Peace Corps of the Pope John XXIII Community).

During my month there, I lived in a small enclave and shared the daily life and struggles of the people there. I supervised the implementation of the final tour of a journey of coming together and reworking the conflict of two groups of Serbian and Albanian youth. We toured between different cities, bringing the photo exhibition "No borders," a concert and a message of hope, nonviolence and brotherhood.

This experience changed my outlook on the world. It taught me how much good the sharing of small acts of daily care can do. How enriching it is to listen to people's stories, without prejudice, without rushing to conclusions, without immediately wanting to decide whose fault it is, who is in the right and who is not. How important it is to expose oneself personally so as not to leave those who suffer injustice alone.

Therefore, this year if you want to give me a gift for my birthday just past, I ask you to support Operation Dove's presence in Lebanon/Syria with me .

In 2025, friends and friends of Operation Dove managed to go to Syria after the fall of the regime, and now they are tiptoeing into the relationships and daily lives of people in a town in the province of Homs, to figure out with old and new friendships how to accompany them on this new journey.

For 13 years, in Lebanon, they have lived with these people great pains, labors and together also some joys. Today they are finally seeing them, family after family, return to their own town or village in Syria.

Thank you if you will join me in supporting this project!

You can learn more about all the details HERE.

Elena