Empowering families
in the heart of the Middle East
for over 115 years
Lutheran Mideast Development began in 1910 in Kurdish Iran. Working in partnership with the people most in need, we develop organic solutions to violence, poverty, inequality and natural disasters.
We empower accountable local leaders—helping communities to help themselves. It’s cost-effective and powerfully transformative.
We empower accountable local leaders—helping communities to help themselves. It’s cost-effective and powerfully transformative.
To refugee women you gave the possibility of existence,
you became like a ray of sunshine to us, and as this light reflected from us,
many lives have been touched and warmed.
- Refugee from Raqqa, Syria
Turkey/Syria Earthquake
On February 6, 2023, Mw 7.8 and 7.7 earthquakes devastated Turkey and Syria, killing over 59,000 people and injuring 121,000. The disaster left 1.5 million people homeless after widespread building collapses. With $157.8 billion in damages across 350,000 km², the region continues to struggle with a catastrophic housing crisis. Some 650,000 remain homeless remain in container cities in Turkey.
Our partners were especially impacted by the disaster. They also became an important part of the recovery, focusing on relief and support for women, children and the elderly.
The work goes on today.
The work goes on today.
Meeting the special needs of women and children.
Led and directed by earthquake survivors.
Sourcing aid exclusively from the local economy to build self-reliant communities.
Your financial assistance will support our local charities working on the ground right now to help orphans and the elderly recover from the devastation.
Direct, grassroots, cost-effective and no bureaucracy or waste on advertising or large paid staff.
Donate Direct, grassroots, cost-effective and no bureaucracy or waste on advertising or large paid staff.
Syrian Civil War & Refugee Crisis
Our experience with refugees and families displaced by war goes back to the end of the First World War.
That long history and our deep relationship with local solution providers means that we can provide support to the people on the ground who are best equipped to help refugees.
That long history and our deep relationship with local solution providers means that we can provide support to the people on the ground who are best equipped to help refugees.
Most recently, we’ve provided urgent and long-term support to displaced Syrians through our partners, including psychological and legal assistance, emergency care and training to empower the community to help their own.
Long term commitment to refugees women focused on community building and economic empowerment.
Psychological and legal support.
Finding a voice: self expression through music, drama and arts.
Your gifts support this wide range of effective services offered to Syrian refugee women and families.
Provide nourishing food to a family for one month: $750
Donate Provide nourishing food to a family for one month: $750
Displaced & At Risk
Through the 1990s, conflict between government forces and separatists led to the displacement of families from rural Kurdish towns and villages.
Most struggled to establish new lives in large cities and children faced discrimination, difficulty integrating.
Through our partners we prioritize long-term support through scholarships, skill training to empower women, courses in arts and communication, and psychological and legal support.
Relationship centred scholarship program from elementary through high school and university.
Training in culturally appropriate trade skills.
Holistic community-based centers that reach across generations.
Fund a community training course or microlending program: $15,000
Provide a year's school supplies for one student: $300
Fund a scholarship for a talented student: $500
Donate Provide a year's school supplies for one student: $300
Fund a scholarship for a talented student: $500
Reconciliation & Peacemaking
From its beginnings in 1910, Lutheran Mideast Development served people in conflict. Religious and ethnic differences and ideological divisions in a region hotly contested by the world’s powers has meant a century of constant war and alienation.
Our calling is to be peacemakers. Whether on the international stage or at the grassroots, our commitment to reconciliation is fundamental to our work.
Our calling is to be peacemakers. Whether on the international stage or at the grassroots, our commitment to reconciliation is fundamental to our work.
Lutheran Mideast Development provided staff, financial support, and leadership for the “Reconciliation Walk” a multiyear project that brought thousands to the Middle East on the 900th anniversary of the First Crusade.
Learn moreFollowing the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We sponsored and led conflict resolution and peace symposia in Lebanon and Syria, which included leadership from all faith communities.
Reconciliation between Kurds and Armenians is also important to us, especially working to support relationship building through the exploration of common folk traditions like music.
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Phone: (US) 651 457 6541
lutheran.mideast@gmail.com
lutheran.mideast@gmail.com
