Since October 1, 2024, and as a result of the intensification of Israeli aggression, Bikfaya has become a refuge for around 300 displaced individuals from the South, including people from Christian towns like Ein Ebel, Debel, and Rmeich. With their homes under threat, their futures remain uncertain. Despite these challenges, the community has quickly mobilized to offer shelter.

In response to the medium- and long-term needs of these families, the General Campus Ministry of the Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ) and Al Mazeed Association have joined forced to offer psychosocial, educational, and spiritual support. Acknowledging the deep trauma these families have faced, both organizations launched an extensive assessment program on October 21, 2024, conducting age-specific group sessions organized into five categories.

Social workers and psychologists led the sessions of each category, gathering insights that shaped focused interventions for the displaced families.

By November 2024, the USJ Campus Ministry and Al Mazeed had implemented tailored programs in mental health, education, and spirituality, introducing therapies like drama therapy, art therapy, and play therapy for children and their families.

The USJ Campus Ministry and Al Mazeed acknowledge the Christian faith of the displaced individuals and offer tailored psycho-spiritual support, both individually and in groups, to address the spiritual challenges amplified by displacement and conflict.

The USJ Campus Ministry offers a platform for dialogue, Christian formation, and sharing. Open to all, it enables students and staff to live out evangelical values while engaging in social and spiritual actions that give deeper meaning to their academic and personal lives.

Al Mazeed is dedicated to fostering civic engagement, leading sustainable community projects with youth, and supporting the elderly in navigating the hardships of Lebanon’s ongoing crisis. This mission is inspired by the pursuit of Magis, or “more love and action for others.”