INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES NEWS NEEDS SNAPSHOTS FROM THE FIELD VOLUME 9, NO. 1 SPRING 2006 Midnight run to New Orleans; The airport evacuation gates of evacuation had opened.” The remarkable story that Lebanon school culminated with the evacuation of 300 patients and 30 Vietnamese receives help evacuees in the early morning of Sept. 11, 2005 actually started following attack ten hours earlier. By Rachel Zoghbi Azzi, IOCC-Lebanon Although the situation in New Orleans had somewhat stabilized with the military taking control, Photo by Michael Rieger-FEMA at the city’s airport people with Baltimore, Md (IOCC) — special medical needs had not “Probably the most gratifying been evacuated, and the situation thing about bringing out the 300 was desperate with people dying critically-ill patients from the every day. Frank Carlin, drawing New Orleans airport that unfor- on more than 35 years of disaster gettable evening,” recalled IOCC response experience, led the Board Member Lee Kapetanakis, IOCC response team and recalled Beirut, Lebanon (IOCC) — As “was pulling back into Baton the evening’s events. the new year progresses forward, Rouge just at sunrise and seeing “From 9 to midnight we pressed many Lebanese communities are a convoy of more than 100 buses the case at the FEMA command still reeling from the effects of last headed the other way to evacuate center in Baton Rouge trying — year’s political and economic those we couldn’t. Word had with great difficulty — to get ten instability. Especially devastating spread that our midnight-run school buses to evacuate 300 were the more than ten explo- had made it and now the flood- continued on page 7 sions targeting populated com- mercial and industrial sites in Greater Beirut. Mr. Maurice Bou Habib, Director of the Public School of Antelias, was in his office on July 12, 2005 preparing for the start of the new school year. Suddenly, less than 50 meters away, an explosion targeting Lebanon’s Minister of Defense shook his school, blowing out most of the windows and doors. The Minister, his escorts and others were injured, a civilian was killed, and the immediate area Photo by Michael Rieger-FEMA Evacuees, including many who required medical attention, share floor space at the New suffered massive destruction. Orleans Airport following Hurricane Katrina. More than 300 of the sick were taken to Baton continued on page 3 Rouge, La. by an IOCC team. INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES NEWS NEEDS 2 From the Executive Director

without parents, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is raising new awareness to help those afflicted with the disease with new opportunities to live fulfilling lives in their communities and prevent others from becoming infected. And in Serbia-Montenegro and Bosnia- Herzegovina, the IOCC Study Group, joined by longtime supporter Vlade Divac, witnessed first hand how IOCC has empowered people, whose lives were destroyed by war and international -Ethiopia sanctions, to help themselves. God’s promise of Resurrection is given flesh on a daily basis through the programs you support Photo: IOCC in IOCC. As we approach the Resurrectional As we enter the period of Great Lent we prepare celebration this year, we thank you for your ourselves for the fulfillment of God’s promise in the prayers and we thank you for your faithful Resurrection. The Lenten fast can be more than a support that has brought this Paschal hope personal preparation; it can also be a reminder of to millions worldwide through IOCC. those for whom basic food, shelter, economic self- sufficiency and hope are a daily miracle. The pages Yours In Christ, of this newsletter are devoted to people who have received those miracles through your almsgiving in supporting the work of IOCC. First the story of immigrants, the elderly and infirm Constantine M. Triantafilou who were evacuated by a pan-Orthodox and Executive Director Photo: Nicole Minor - The P ecumenical group of humanitarian aid personnel from the devastation of New Orleans during the mid- dle of the night after a harrowing journey, and into the capable hands of medical personnel to treat them. Then there is the story of children in Lebanon and how their school was restored after a bomb damaged their building weeks before classes were angea Network to begin. A village on Nias Island in Indonesia that was leveled by the destructive force of a tsunami over one year ago is beginning to be revived through a comprehensive community development strategy that is bringing hope to the people as new buildings are being constructed. National Basketball Association Superstar and longtime IOCC benefactor, Vlade Divac, is shown above with two children from In Ethiopia, where HIV/AIDS has claimed Serbia whose family receives support through IOCC projects. The millions of lives and left over a million children visit occurred during the IOCC Study trip this past September.

International Orthodox Christian Charities, Inc. (IOCC) was established in 1992 by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) as the official humanitarian aid agency of Orthodox Christians to work in cooperation with the Orthodox Churches worldwide. The mission of IOCC is to respond to the call of our Lord Jesus Christ, to minister to those who are suffering and are in need throughout the world, sharing with them God’s gifts of food, shelter, economic self-sufficiency and hope. Published three times a year by IOCC, News & Needs is edited by Dan Christopulos, Mark Hodde and Emily Stchur. recycled paper

To learn more about IOCC’s international work, please visit www.iocc.org INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES 3 NEWS NEEDS IOCC rebuilding disaster-affected regions By Dirk Van Gorp, IOCC-Indonesia Photo: Dirk V Nias Island, Indonesia (IOCC) cally needed healthcare services to — One year after the devastating the families of Gunungsitoli. Tsunami and earthquake in Staffed by a local doctor and nurses Southeast Asia, IOCC and its part- on a daily basis, the clinic will also an Gorp, IOCC ners are continuing to provide benefit from visiting doctors and life-recovery assistance to hun- specialists. In addition to financial dreds of affected families. The support for the clinic construction -Indonesia Tsunami that hit the northern and equipment, IOCC recently coast of Sumatra, Indonesia on shipped a material donation of December 26, 2004, causing new medical supplies and equip- incomprehensible damage and ment valued at more than $300,000 human tragedy, was followed by to support this clinic and other an earthquake on March 28, 2005 health clinics and hospitals in the that struck near the small island Tsunami and earthquake affected The construction work on the new health of Nias southeast of Sumatra regions of Indonesia. clinic just outside of Gunungsitoli is nearing destroying 35,000 homes and IOCC has also partnered with completion and will be opening in April, 2006. killing hundreds. Church World Service — Indonesia Just outside the main town of (CWS) to provide $450,000 for an reconstruction of family homes, Gunungsitoli on the island of Nias, integrated village recovery pro- the rebuilding of water supply IOCC is working in partnership gram in Tugala and Desa Fodoro, systems and sanitation facilities, with the Orthodox Church of two small neighboring villages in psycho-social activities, nutrition Indonesia and the Orthodox the Sirombu district of Nias, fifty and feeding programs and liveli- Metropolitanate of Hong Kong miles from Gunungsitoli. hood recovery assistance. and Southeast Asia (OMHKSEA) The villages’ infrastructure, The integrated approach of to construct, equip, and operate a which was already in poor condi- these programs and others in the new community health clinic. This tion, was left largely destroyed by disaster-affected regions is aimed will be the first new clinic to open the earthquake. Through this pro- at helping entire villages in largely devastated Gunungsitoli. gram, IOCC will address many of rebuild their lives and liveli- The new clinic will provide criti- the most critical needs, such as the hoods, one family at a time. Lebanon school receives help following attack Continued from page 1 Luckily no one in the school start of the school year … and my able to resume our school year as was hurt, but the buildings were students will not have the chance scheduled,” expressed Mr. Habib. left badly damaged. to attend classes anymore. It was Words of thanks were not limited The Public School of Antelias is the end of the world for me. I was to the director or the manage- composed of three four-story so desperate. But, something trig- ment of the school, but students buildings that house 36 class- gered me to call IOCC saying to also wanted to say, “thank you” rooms. “No glass, no windows or myself maybe they can help,” to IOCC in their own way by doors; nothing stayed the same… said Habib. painting a picture of children I just thanked God for keeping us The IOCC team rushed to the saying “Merci IOCC.” alive, a few scratches were not a school, assessed the damage, and The Public School of Antelias problem,” replied the director within three days the rehabilitation is considered one of the premier when asked about his reaction work was ready to start. After schools in Lebanon for excellent after the explosion. thirty-five days of continuous hard student performance, despite its “But after realizing the size of work, all of the windows and poor building and infrastructure. the destruction, I automatically doors were fixed or replaced. It has also benefited from thought that my school will have “We are very grateful for the IOCC’s School Feeding and no future; no one will be able to effort done, and if IOCC did not Education program for the recover all the damage before the intervene, we wouldn’t have been past two years.

To learn more about IOCC’s international work, please visit www.iocc.org HOPE FIRSTHAND: THE Serbia-Montenegro an

“The two highlights of the study trip for me involved the shortest adult I have ever seen and one of the tallest men I have ever met. Standing less than five feet tall and 91 years of age, His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of the awarded IOCC the of St. Sava, First Degree (the highest ecclesiastical in the Serbian Church) in recognition of IOCC’s work since 1992. His Holiness stated: ‘The award is pre- sented on behalf of all the Serbian From Aug. 29 - Sept. 7, IOCC Executive Director Constantine people to Constantine and IOCC Triantafilou led a group of 11 committed supporters, who were there for us during our including three , on a study tour of Serbia-Montenegro and most difficult times. I present this Bosnia-Herzegovina. Participants visited IOCC projects in both to you with my heart-felt apprecia- countries and saw, firsthand, how IOCC’s efforts are continuing to tion. I know first hand all that make positive impacts in the lives of those served. IOCC has done for us. There was always a light for us, and that light was provided to us by IOCC, and “Foreign travel is often exciting but every number is an individual: an that light continues to shine, even we tend to focus on the history and individual created in the image unto this very day.’ The second landmarks of each county. This and likeness of God. Our trip was- highlight was having the 7’2” special trip was an opportunity to n’t designed to impress upon us Vlade Divac, a Serbian born U.S.A. immerse ourselves in the culture the numbers, but rather to share in NBA superstar, spend the entire and everyday life of struggling IOCC’s programs assisting those day accompanying us throughout humankind and to see with our individuals less fortunate. These central Serbia. A longtime IOCC own eyes how God’s work makes are our God-given gifts we offer to benefactor, Vlade is a ‘true hero’ a difference. Our lives will be those with whom we share that of this nation as he generously changed forever.” very same image and likeness.” reaches out to everyone.” — Peter & Joan Calott, — Steve Kreta, — Fay Zaharas, Minneapolis, MN San Francisco, CA Cheyenne, WY Photo: V “Over ten days, we would meet “Throughout the trip I was contin- people and hear stories of sadness, ually impressed by the IOCC staff. ecernje Novosti - Belgrade, 9/1/05 destruction, families torn apart, It was not only their unbelievable neighbors moved from their commitment to the activities in homes, and loved ones lost. The these communities that struck me, numbers of those affected, directly but their sincere connection to the or indirectly, by the war in the for- people they are serving. It is clear mer Yugoslavia were staggering; that IOCC doesn’t work with a thousands, tens of thousands, community, they work within it, hundreds of thousands, perhaps creating a sense of ownership millions. But the magnitude of and true participation among the these numbers pales in compari- beneficiaries.” son to the reality that behind — Nicole Minor, Houston, TX

To learn more about IOCC’s international work, please visit www.iocc.org 2005 IOCC STUDY TRIP nd Bosnia-Herzegovina All photos courtesy IOCC unless otherwise indicated “I encourage you to participate in one of the future study trips, Milada was one of the whether it be to Serbia and beneficiaries visited Bosnia or some other place during the 2005 Study where IOCC is working… Trip. Through the And when you go, be prepared support of IOCC’s to come home changed, micro-credit loans, invigorated and committed.” Milada has been able to secure a steady — Fr. David G. Barr, Pastor of source of income to St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox support her family Church in Austin, TX while insuring that her pasta business will “So often, a very simple continue to grow well request to a worthy cause is into the future. all our faithful need. As clergy, we must provide our flock “Whatever type of material with opportunities to exhibit assistance IOCC provides, it their love to the people of the pales in comparison to the hope world. Almsgiving, along with it creates for families with so prayer and fasting, is the little, for villages, and for entire instruction of our Lord.” municipalities.” — Fr. Anastasios Bourantas, — Fr. Marc Vranes, Pastor of Holy Pastor of St. George Greek Trinity Orthodox Church (OCA) Orthodox Church in Media, PA in Bristol, CT

“‘Without the eyes to see, the heart cannot feel,’ were the words of a refugee woman we met the first day of our trip in Serbia. Since then I often reflect on the significance of this statement. Many people have asked about the study trip and even when I tell them stories of the people and their hardships, I know it is not the same as being blessed with having experienced it first hand. IOCC has made such a difference in the lives of these individuals.” TWO STUDY TRIPS IN 2006! — Lisa Xanthos, Los Angeles, CA Serbia-Montenegro & Bosnia-Herzegovina: Sept. 5 - 13 tentatively Jerusalem & the West Bank: Nov. 7 - 14 tentatively For more information contact Dan Christopulos at [email protected] or call toll-free 877-803-4622. Helping others help themselves

To learn more about IOCC’s international work, please visit www.iocc.org INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES NEWS NEEDS 6 Snapshots from Jerusalem and Ethiopia Education helps family, village in West Bank By Nora Kort, IOCC-Jerusalem Madama, West Bank (IOCC) — During those three years, Maha continues to receive funding from Maha lives in the West Bank gained the respect and apprecia- IOCC and its partners. village of Madama near Nablus. tion of her village for whom she Photo: IOCC She is a young mother of four volunteered so much time. Then, whose husband, like most men in at the end of 2004, her village her village, can’t find work. With received a grant to start a com- -Jerusalem living expenses and mouths to puter center and a library. The feed, her husband encouraged her village elected Maha to be the to pursue her dream of having a computer trainer for the center. job. Five years ago, she joined the After she started this job, she Madama Health Education continued her voluntary health Training program funded by education training and started IOCC, where she learned to teach attending the university in sound health practices to a com- Nablus. Her income from her job munity in need of public health at the computer center pays for awareness and a safe, clean some of the family expenses and environment. For three years she her university fees. She says she worked on a voluntary basis and is grateful for her education and found it extremely rewarding, her role in the community, which but kept her hope alive to find a has assisted her and her family. Children in the village of Madama wait in paying job that would enable her The Madama village community line at the health clinic next door to the to study at the university. center was constructed with and Health training center. Overcoming stigma in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (IOCC) the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. — Tadeleu contracted HIV from There, she found a sense of her husband, who has since died. community and a program that Her two children, who are HIV would change her life. The Hope negative, live with Tadeleu’s Center provided her with skills mother. She tearfully tells of the training and the start-up capital stigma that she faces, both per- to begin a small business.

-Ethiopia sonally and socially. “When I Now she is too busy to feel found out I had the disease, all I hopeless. She works every day could think about was how from sunrise to sunset at her much I hated myself, and I kept self-powered sewing machine. denying that I had the disease” Orders come in regularly giving she says. “I do not want to [get to Tadeleu confidence in her work know] people, because I fear they and a sense of security. Amidst will find out my status.” her tears, a smile breaks out, Photo: Stefanos Roulakis, IOCC When Tadeleu discovered she and she says, “I am happy that Tadeleu’s business, which keeps her busy at her sewing machine every day from had HIV, she started attending the Church has provided sunrise to sunset, has given her a new support meetings at the Hope support. This program has sense of confidence and hope. Center, established by IOCC and given me life.”

To learn more about IOCC’s international work, please visit www.iocc.org INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES 7 NEWS NEEDS Midnight run to New Orleans; The airport evacuation Continued from page 1 and for a moment I felt as if I were in a bad dream or in a war zone in a foreign land. That feel- ing was re-enforced as the SWAT team locked and loaded their weapons, guarding against snipers as we got on the long bridge going into the city.” After stand-offs at each of the six check points between the National Guard and the SWAT team, the convoy was finally allowed through. Upon arrival at the airport only 30 of the strand- ed Vietnamese evacuees could be located. The LSU medical team was thankful because it would

Photo by Liz Roll-FEMA mean more space for the critically ill. One final glitch was the Vietnamese who had been taken dents. He indicated that there refusal of the FEMA personnel at to the New Orleans airport. were more than 2,500 people with the airport to allow transporta- We were told that no buses serious medical conditions at the tion of critically ill patients claim- had been allowed through for airport and that he wanted to ing that the school buses were several days, but since we had a evacuate as many as possible on not properly equipped for such Roman Catholic Church willing our buses. It was agreed that the transport. But, through persua- to house them in Baton Rouge, most critical patients would be sion by the Sheriff and the SWAT we were given permission. taken out with any additional team, as well as prayer and a Our team consisted of Fr. Peter space being used for the demonstration by the lead bus Preble from the Romanian Vietnamese evacuees. Finally the driver of how the stretchers Orthodox Archdiocese of ten-bus convoy departed for New could be loaded and situated America, Lee Kapetanakis, Orleans, escorted by the Sheriff’s securely on the buses, the okay Pat Johns from Catholic Relief vehicles, with SWAT members, was given and the patients and Services, the priest from the LSU medical students, and the evacuees were loaded. Vietnamese Roman Catholic IOCC/Catholic team members The midnight run by IOCC, parish (with a few parishioners to dispersed among the yellow a pan-Orthodox effort in collabo- translate), Jim Kelley, Executive school buses.” ration with our ecumenical Director of Catholic Charities The 75 minute drive from partners, started a ripple effect New Orleans, and me. Baton Rouge to the New Orleans that led to other convoys coming “When the team arrived at the airport would take much longer into New Orleans to successfully LSU football stadium to pick-up that evening. evacuate the airport. It is a story the buses a little after midnight, “As we got closer we could of perseverance, faith, and God’s there was a SWAT team and two smell a suffocating stench gener- grace seared into the hearts of sheriff’s cars assigned to escort ated by the floating debris,” those whose suffering was them. Also present was the head Kapetanakis vividly remembered. alleviated by IOCC’s response doctor of the LSU Medical Center “There were no lights visible to Christ’s call to care for and a number of medical stu- from a pitch black New Orleans our brethren.

To learn more about IOCC’s international work, please visit www.iocc.org INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES 8 NEWS NEEDS Georgia and James Nicholas establish new fund to assist children All photos courtesy IOCC

Georgia and James S. Nicholas of Grand Rapids, Michigan recently established a $250,000 fund within the IOCC Foundation to honor the memory of Mrs. Nicholas’ parents, Chris and Amalia Spiris. The “Chris and Amalia Spiris Fund” will assist vulnerable children through educational, vocational, emer- gency relief and other IOCC programs. It will also provide capital for some of the worlds’ poorest families so they can create their own jobs, raise the income in their households, and improve their standard of living. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas are long-time members of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan as well as members of Leadership Non-Profit 100. Mr. Nicholas is also an 110 West Road, Suite 360 U.S. Postage Archon of the Ecumenical Baltimore, MD 21204 USA PAID Baltimore, MD Patriarchate and member of the Internet: www.iocc.org Permit No. 4280 Greek Orthodox Metropolis of E-mail: [email protected] Detroit Metropolis Council. The IOCC Foundation, a professionally-managed, not-for- profit support organization, is dedicated to supporting IOCC’s relief and development programs. The IOCC Foundation was formed in 2004 to provide a vehicle whereby assets con- tributed toward IOCC’s philan- thropic work worldwide would receive focused stewardship. For further information about the IOCC Foundation and how you can participate, please contact Dan Christopulos toll free at 1-877-803-4622 or [email protected] Address Service Requested