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. The “Other” became a camp buddy. 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 footprint in France in 1986 and a sister group in Iraq established in 2012 to share and promote its vision and experience.

Our Mission

The mission of Offrejoie is “To gather the entire family of Lebanon together as a treasure for humanity by serving with and for the “Other.” Offrejoie believes that fragmented societies can heal through the creation of human relationships born of shared opportunities to serve the community. By serving together a spirit of mutual regard and esteem grows fostering a sense of solidarity and a new understanding of citizenship.

Our Vision

Offrejoie envisions a society whose citizens are united in diversity and committed to honoring the fundamental human rights of all.

Responding Today (2020)

In April 2020, Offrejoie launched a food bank campaign to help the most vulnerable populations across Lebanon. The economic, political crises and the Covid19 pandemic that have struck Lebanon in the past 6-12 months have affected poor households the most. Offrejoie has been working with some of these marginalized neighborhoods and groups for the past 30 years. The reality is that most of the families we serve have lost their income and are currently food insecure. This is why we mobilized our network of volunteers and supporters to help the families most in need, in the short term with in-kind food and hygiene kits (mitigating price fluctuation and market insecurity) and in the mid-longer term with financial support to recover their livelihoods.

So far, we have received requests from over 4,000 families, we have managed to distribute close to 900 kits in the first few weeks and aim to reach 1,000 families, across Lebanon, on a monthly basis. Lebanon has witnessed amazing solidarity over the past few months, and the generosity of the Lebanese in country and abroad has saved lives.