Frequently Asked Questions - Program Policies

The purpose of the Damascus Summer Encounter is to create opportunities for friendship and partnership between the peoples of the Middle East and the rest of the world. The program will allow participants from around the world to build relationships with the Christian and Islamic communities of Syria, to serve the local community through vital service projects and to learn about the peoples of Syria and the richness of their history and culture.

We expect all participants to adapt to and respect the local customs and cultural environment to the best of their ability, to be modest and respectful in their behavior, to have reasonable expectations about the amount of volunteer work and arabic study they will be able to accomplish in a short amount of time, to refrain from intoxication and drug use, and to follow the guidelines set out for participants during the orientation session. Remember that, as a guest in another country, you are here as a cultural learner. You are here to learn, not to teach and, as a volunteer, to serve, not to lead.

We do not make a profit of program fees. All program fees are used to cover the costs on the ground of: the arabic classes, weekend trips, meals, transportation, accommodations at Saint Elias Monastery, and staff time for set up and program development.

Absolutely. In fact, we encourage you to stay as long as you can. There is no reason why you cannot continue your arabic study and your volunteer position beyond the length of the program. The Damascus Summer Encounter is a great immersion program for those who want to "jump start" a longer volunteer experience in the Middle East. Just let us know in advance exactly how much longer you would like to stay and will begin making arrangements and offer a revised fee. You are also free to make your own arrangements.

Yes. We do accept participants who are under the age of eighteen on a case-by-case basis, particulalry if they are being accompanied on the program by a parent or guardian. If you are under the age of eighteen please contact us with a brief explanation of your interests in the program.

We strongly encourage you to participate in at least one full session of the program. It is okay to leave a little bit early as long as you are okay with not completing the Arabic class and missing some of the events of the program. Participants should definitely not arrive late, however, or else they will miss the orientation session and may have more difficulty adjusting to life in Syria.

Participants will be placed in double rooms at the St. Elias Hostel. Those who need a private room will need to pay an additional $336 for one month or $672 for the full two months. Prices are subject to change!

The Damascus Summer Encounter program is designed for participants of all ages, faith traditions, and nationalities who feel called to serve and build relationships with the peoples of the Middle East.

Middle East Fellowship is a Christian nonprofit but the program is open to and designed for peoples of all backgrounds and faiths. Candidates under the age of 18 will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Some nationalities will have extreme difficulties obtaining a Syrian visa and may, as a result, not be able to participate in the program.

No. Unfortunately there are no scholarships available at this time. We hope to someday be able to offer small need or merit based scholarships in the future (if you know of anyone willing to make a generous donation for this purpose, please let us know!)

We do, however, strongly encourage all of our participants to fundraise for their trip- especially if they are having difficulty finding the money to cover their costs. Your friends and family can send in money on your behalf and it will be counted as a tax-deductible donation to Middle East Fellowship. We have had a number of participants who, through appeal letters and fundraising events, have been able to raise enough money to cover the entire cost of the program (including flight!). Please feel free to contact us if you want to brainstorm strategies for raising your own support.

When we set up your volunteer opportunity, we take three factors into consideration:

1) the expressed needs of the organizations in Damascus
2) Your skills and talents (based on an assesment of your application) and
3) Your preferences and interests.

We will work hard to to find a volunteer placement that is right for you. And please feel free to contact us regarding any strong preferences. We won't, however, guarantee that you will automatically get your top choice. And you will not know where you are volunteering before you submit your application. Once your application and application fee is turned in, we will begin the process of setting up a place for you to volunteer.

Middle East Fellowship reserves the right to reject any application submitted. We may, for example, impose a cap for a maximum number of participants. In this case any application submitted after we have filled all available spots will be returned. The program is designed for fluent English speakers. No background in Arabic is required. If for any reason whatsoever we feel that you may be a risk to yourself or others during the program, your application will be denied. We ask that people do not purchase their plane tickets until they have been formally accepted into the program.