Offre Joie

Offrejoie was born in the midst of a raging civil war in Lebanon in 1985. A group of young Red Cross volunteers worked together to help the injured. Alleviating human suffering transcended any differences between them. They committed to heal their torn country. They started with children’s camps during the conflict. Mothers entrusted their children to a trusted member of their community. And those Red Cross members brought children from their community to a summer camp. The camp honored each members’ differences and celebrated their common humanity. Those camps have continued their healing work since 1985, bringing together groups of children from differing social classes and backgrounds. And when those children grew up they carried the values they had learned at the camps and became a movement of young citizens from all the different communities and regions in Lebanon. Over the years, Offrejoie developed different approaches to tackle the continuing challenges of Lebanon. At its core are the consistent practice of the values of Love, Respect, and Forgiveness and voluntary service. What began as a group of enthusiastic volunteers in 1985 has developed into a voluntary movement across the country of Lebanon with a sister group in Iraq and requests from other countries to start their own Offrejoie groups.