You can make a difference
Donate nowToday, millions of families flee conflict or extreme weather events to seek safety elsewhere, becoming refugees, uncertain of their futures.
For so many of the displaced people we work with, the hope and peace promised at Advent is found in Christ, whose footsteps we follow.
In a world of unrest, suffering and crisis, Jesus was born to share our human condition and carry our sorrows. A baby: vulnerable, displaced, His parents having already made the long journey to Bethlehem.
Soon after His birth, and threatened by King Herod’s violence, the Holy Family escaped into Egypt under the cover of darkness. They became refugees, searching for safety in a foreign land.
In Christ today, God draws near to all who live with fear, loss, displacement, famine and thirst, to reveal the immeasurable dignity of every human person. And God’s love draws near to us in prayerful solidarity and in practical ways.
By giving to our Advent Appeal, you can help our dedicated partners provide emergency relief. Or skills and tools to families in the most volatile parts of the world, who are searching for a reliable source of food, education and a sustainable income to break the cycle of poverty.
A gift to SCIAF can save lives today and help families rebuild tomorrow.
Join us in prayer
In the final days of Advent, the Church prays seven ancient prayers known as the O Antiphons. Each calls upon Christ by a different name drawn from Scripture and asks Him to come among us.
Join us for seven days of prayer.
Yasmine's story
Yasmine has fled for her life multiple times during the conflict. She speaks to us from Al Masri camp in Gaza, a place she describes as a cemetery.
“The hardest part is when it’s very cold.
“First, we were displaced to a school. Then Israeli forces entered. A few months later, the school was shelled, so we had to leave.
“Some time later we were displaced again, and then again for a third time. In the third location, Israeli forces came once more. We lost our belongings. Everything.
“It’s just exhausting, truly exhausting.”
Against this terrifying backdrop, it’s a miracle Yasmine’s second child was born safely.
“I was sick and overwhelmed,” she told us. “I couldn’t take care of myself.
Fortunately, our partners at Caritas Internationalis were there to provide specialist psychosocial care and medical treatment for Yasmine. Aid workers brought her and her family essential supplies and other household items like nappies.
Offer people light during their darkest hour this Advent
Sadly, Yasmine’s story is not unique. This Advent, will you draw near to our sisters and brothers around the world facing their darkest moments with a gift?
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