Les Maristes Bleus*, a symbol of hope for the Syrians

Dr. Nabil Antaki founded Les Maristes Bleus in 1986 with his wife Leyla Antaki Moussalli and Marist Friar Georges Sabé. Its goal is to support impoverished Christians in Aleppo, Syria. Instead of leaving when the Syrian civil war reached the city in 2012, Les Maristes Bleus persevered in aiding displaced peoples, with particular care for children.

The Syrian conflict started in 2011 after young boys in the city of Deraa were arrested and tortured for painting revolutionary-themed graffiti on the walls of a school. The protests that followed were concurrent with the Arab Spring: a series of anti-government protests that spread throughout much of the Arab world. …

Since the beginning of the war, more than five million Syrian children have been born. War, displacement, diminishing educational opportunities and poverty have defined the lives of these children. This has led to severe cases of physical and emotional trauma among children along with a lack of basic needs.

Dr. Antaki spoke with The Borgen Project in an interview. He said that the greatest threat to the Syrian people now is the devastated economy that both the war and the difficulties the strict sanctions of the United States and the United Nations have caused. The conflict destroyed factories, the wealthy Syrians have fled and the U.S. and the U.N. have blocked foreign investments.

Les Maristes Bleus remains a symbol of hope for the Syrian people. Started in 1986 under the name L’oreille de Dieu (God’s Ear), the group organized volunteer efforts to help hundreds of Christian families in Aleppo. It helped them find housing, employment and education for their children. At the start of the war, the organization changed its name to Les Maristes Bleus to recall the Marist spirit of their work and the color of the sky and the blue color associated with the Virgin Mary.

The violent conflict in Syria has brought about a humanitarian crisis that has displaced almost 10 million people. Like the hummingbird, Les Maristes Bleus might not be able to put out a forest fire, but they are doing what they can to restore hope in the hearts of those that the Syrian conflict has affected, particularly children. Dr. Nabil is proud to attest to the people’s joyous reactions when they recognize Les Maristes Bleu’s blue-clad volunteers. This is proof that a little can go a long way.

Margherita Bassi, adapted from Borgen Magazine

*The Marist Brothers were founded in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest. He founded the order as a way to combat the illiteracy and spiritual poverty in post-Revolutionary France. This religious community is dedicated to educating youth and conveying the love of Jesus Christ through Mary.