Joy is possible
In this time of war and conflict in the Middle East, Beirut might not seem an obvious destination for a young woman to volunteer. Miriam Atallah (22) is half Lebanese, so she felt confident about spending a week volunteering at the convent of the Sisters of Charity of Mother Teresa.
‘I love Lebanon,’ says Miriam. ‘I wanted to visit my family over there. But I also wanted to do some volunteering.’ Miriam works in London as a digital auditor and lives in Bracklyn, London, where Tamezin activities for young professionals take place.
Left on the doorstep
The sisters care for people of all ages, from babies to the elderly who have no family to look after them, on a daily basis. ‘There were babies of a variety of ethnicities. Many are left on the doorstep because their parents cannot care for them,’ says Miriam. ‘Even though it’s heartbreaking that these children have been abandoned, the atmosphere at the convent isn’t heavy or sad, as you might expect.’
Many of the children have been exposed to horrific experiences. ‘Before I went, I bought some games to take with me for the children. I spotted some little water-pistols which I thought the children might enjoy playing with’, says Miriam. ‘That was a mistake! I was quickly told that toy weapons are not for traumatised children. I spent time with the children doing colouring and crafts.’
Love and laughter
The sisters also care for people with Down syndrome, ranging from a girl of 14 to adults. The sisters give a home to those who have no other way to look after themselves. ‘There is a lot of joy, laughter and love,’ says Miriam. ‘I saw people with Down syndrome hugging and looking after the younger children, who are very affectionate and energetic. I saw that something good can come from what looks like brokenness or imperfection.’
‘The sisters make a family for everyone who lives with them,’ says Miriam. ‘The elderly women are the “grannies” for the children. It’s a big environment and everyone mixes together. The little ones often said “Let’s go and see the grannies!” It showed me that even if someone’s childhood or situation isn’t perfect, joy is still possible.’
Lebanon is a difficult country to live in at present. The daily bombings from Israel are localised, but driving through the country to visit her relatives in the mountains, Miriam could see the devastation. Life is complex in a poor country such as Lebanon. Not all the children in the convent are orphans. ‘One day I was playing with a little boy of two called Mateo. I saw a very young woman approaching and I asked her if she was visiting,’ says Miriam. ‘She told me she was Mateo’s mother. She isn’t able to care for her child herself, but she comes to see him.’
‘Francesca is someone who stays in my memory,’ says Miriam. ‘She is 23, so close to me in age. She is in a wheelchair. She spends her time making jewelry. She gives it away because she wants to help others to feel beautiful.’
Many lessons
There were many lessons for Miriam to learn. Little Rania, aged five, was always asking to be picked up. ‘But I was told not to hold her,’ says Miriam. ‘These children crave physical affection, but it’s not fair to let them get attached to someone who is only there for a short time.’
Miriam says that volunteering was a powerful and beautiful experience. ‘One of the biggest things I took away is that when you give a bit of yourself to others, you receive so much more in return,’ she says. ‘I only gave a bit of my time and energy to these children. I wasn’t able to take away their problems or change their lives in a huge way, but even bringing them a little bit of joy felt like it mattered. And they gave me so much more back.’
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