Playground for Syria

Playground for Syria

In 2021 during a worship service at a church where Eddie James and his team were ministering, God spoke these two words to me - "Playground Syria." I was very surprised to say the least. I sure wouldn't have thought of such a thing on my own. Then this past summer during another worship service He said it again - "Playground Syria." Since this second time He said that I've sensed Him saying that "it's time" to take on this project, so when I visited a fellow missionary friend in Tennessee, just before returning to Kenya, I told her about what the Lord had said to me those 2 times. I hadn't talked to anyone about it before. She then surprised me by saying that she was also working on getting a playground to Somalia, and she told me of the organization she had been in communication with about that project. They're called KATW, or Kids Around the World. They minister to children around the world by installing playgrounds, as well as food programs and Bible story telling programs. They've now built 1130 playgrounds in 64 countries. You can check out their website, KATW, to read about the therapeutic value of play, including research on how it even helps to heal trauma.

When I reached out to them, they said they were interested in partnering to get a playground to Syria. Not only were they interested...but it turned out that another organization they partner with - Samaritan's Purse, Franklin Graham's organization, had been praying that God would touch people's hearts to help them put 4 playgrounds in Syria this year. They said that we, at Tree of Life, are an answer to prayer. Below is a copy of an email I received from the contact person at KATW.

"Greetings Tammy: I hope you are doing well and your trip back to Kenya was frictionless.

I was able to meet with our Vice President yesterday and found out you are an answer to prayers, hallelujah! Samaritan's Purse (SP) wants to build four playgrounds in Syria in refugee camps, however, they only have funding for one playground at this time.

If you could fundraise for another one, that would be a huge blessing, as there is no better partner on the ground to assist us with your project than SP. They can act as consignee for the container and also help build the playground with our installer who has significant experience in this part of the country. Check out this video...Playgrounds for Iraq."

So we're partnering with Samaritan's Purse on the project and KATW. KATW will provide the equipment and arrange to have the playground shipped over. Samaritan's Purse is helping to pay for the shipping and has people on the ground who will receive and install the playground. Tree of Life, Tree of Life Foundation, will provide much of the funding, shared with KATW and some with Samaritan's Purse. We need to raise $13,450 total and someone has already donated $7,000, which leaves us with $6,450 to go. The playground will be built in either an orphanage or remote village in northeast Syria. It will be a large playground which includes a swing. Pictures and video will be provided during and at the finish of the project.

Last year UNICEF wrote that, "Across Syria, some 2.4 million children, aged 5-17 years, are out of school. They represent nearly half of the about 5.52 million school aged children." UNICEF also said, "For many children in Syria, conflict is the only thing they know. They continue to live in fear of violence, landmines, and explosive remnants of war. They struggle with physical and psychological scars of conflict." https://www.unicef.org/syria/situation-children-syria

On March 15th of this year, Save the Children wrote that, "The impact on children and their mental health is severe. Two-thirds of children in Syria are said to have lost a loved one, had their house damaged, or suffered conflict-related injuries." This link, https://www.savethechildren.org/us/charity-stories/photos-timeline-war-in-syria, will take you to an eye-opening timeline of the war in Syria through the eyes of children, describing the war's devastating effects on the children there.

God is so great! He loves extravagantly and cares deeply about hurting and oppressed people around the world - I think especially children. Please consider helping us at Tree of Life, Kids Around the World and Samaritan's Purse bring God's healing and restoration to children in Syria through the gift of play. Thank you and God bless you!