On June 15, URI members and friends gathered for the latest Earth Healing Interfaith Webinar to hear an inspiring story of resilience, environmental restoration, and interfaith cooperation emerging from northern Syria.
Hosted as part of URI's Europe Earth Healing series, the webinar featured Elisabeth Ziegler-Duregger of the Interreligious Team Eastern Tyrol Cooperation Circle in Austria and Hassan Abu Ali, who has been working with refugee communities in the Aleppo region of Syria.
What began as a simple effort to bring beauty and hope into refugee camps has grown into a remarkable restoration project transforming lives and landscapes.
Elisabeth shared how her collaboration with Hassan started with providing flower pots for families living in refugee camps. Over time, this modest initiative expanded into a much larger vision of environmental healing and community resilience.
Today, the project includes:
- Digging wells to improve access to water
- Establishing nurseries that have produced more than 88,000 plants
- Planting trees and restoring green spaces in and around refugee camps
- Supporting families through gardening and food-growing initiatives
- Creating opportunities for community participation and hope-building
The project demonstrates how restoring the environment can also help restore dignity, purpose, and well-being for people recovering from conflict and displacement.
Sisters of Mariam: An Award-Winning Initiative
The initiative, known as **Sisters of Mariam**, has received international recognition, including a Silver Medal during World Interfaith Harmony Week.
Beyond environmental restoration, the project has become a powerful example of interfaith cooperation. Christians and Muslims work side by side to care for the land, support vulnerable families, and build relationships across religious divides.
Participants heard moving stories of how shared efforts to heal the Earth have also helped heal hearts and strengthen community bonds.
Overcoming Challenges with Creativity and Trust
Working in a conflict-affected region presents many challenges. Elisabeth and Hassan spoke openly about navigating sanctions, logistical obstacles, and limited resources.
A key aspect of the partnership has been maintaining direct and transparent support. Through direct transfers, resources are able to reach local communities quickly and efficiently, ensuring that donations are used for their intended purpose and that local leadership remains at the center of decision-making.
Their collaboration serves as a reminder that trust, relationships, and persistence can overcome even the most difficult circumstances.
Earth Healing Through Global Connection
The webinar also introduced participants to the Restore platform, a global tool that enables organizations and communities to document and track Earth restoration efforts.
Lauren Van Ham encouraged URI Cooperation Circles and Individual Members to consider registering their own projects, whether large-scale restoration initiatives or small backyard efforts, to help showcase the collective impact of URI's global community.
The session concluded with reflections, prayers for peace, and gratitude for those working to heal both people and the planet in some of the world's most challenging environments.
The Earth Healing Webinar Series continues to provide a space for sharing practical examples of environmental stewardship, peacebuilding, and interfaith cooperation from around the world.
Next steps emerging from the webinar include:
- Continued support for restoration activities in northern Syria
- Strengthening connections between Austrian and Syrian communities
- Encouraging URI Cooperation Circles to document their environmental projects on the Restore platform
- Gathering participant feedback to inform future Earth Healing sessions
As participants reflected at the close of the gathering, the story of Hassan, Elisabeth, and the Sisters of Mariam project offers a powerful reminder that even in places marked by conflict, seeds of hope can grow into forests of peace.
Resources shared during webinar: https://restor.eco/
Webinar Recording is available on the URI Europe YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/KEimtaeJxmA
