Ecumenical Youth – Middle East

PRO ORIENTE has been working with Churches in the Middle East since its establishment. This cooperation with the “We choose abundant life” Group is meant to strengthen and expand the existing cooperation, thus focusing on working with youth and local CROs in the region. Both organizations PRO ORIENTE and “We choose abundant Life” acknowledge the importance and need to involve the young generation in ecumenical dialogue as an essential contribution towards a more synodal church and for a stronger and a more engaged Christian witness in a changing world. Hence, both organizations recognize the need to train young people theologically and ecumenically, thus strengthening their involvement in and contribution to shaping the future of both our Churches and societies. Through ecumenical workshops with young people from and in the countries of the Middle East, the project contributes to the preservation and strengthening of Christian presence and witness in these countries as well as to developing future perspectives for a life in dignity and peace.

The “Ecumenical Youth in the Middle East” project was awarded the 2023 “Intercultural Achievement Award” recognition prize of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA). The prize is awarded to projects of civil society organizations that promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue.

Further information can be found here.

First Workshop, March 4–6 2022, Beirut (Lebanon)

A short documentation with the participating youth of the workshop can be found on the YouTube-Channel of PRO ORIENTE.

Second Workshop, May 2–4, 2022 in Madaba (Jordan)

A brief video documentary with comments from the young people who took part in the second workshop is available on the PRO ORIENTE YouTube channel, and a summary report is available here.

Third Workshop, 17–19 June 2022, Bethlehem (Palestine)

Further information can be found here. A short documentation with the participating youth of the workshop can be found on the YouTube-Channel of PRO ORIENTE.

Fourth Workshop, 8–10 July 2022, Ankawa (Iraq)

Further information can be found here. A short documentation with the participating youth of the workshop can be found on the YouTube-Channel of PRO ORIENTE.

Fifth Workshop, 9–11 September 2022 in Bethlehem for Christians from Galilee

Further information can be found here. A short documentation with the participating youth of the workshop can be found on the YouTube-Channel of PRO ORIENTE.

Sixth Workshop 16–18 September 2022 in Wadi Natrun (Egypt)

Further information can be found here. A short documentation with the participating youth of the workshop can be found on the YouTube-Channel of PRO ORIENTE.

Regional Ecumenical Middle Eastern Youth Workshop – Austria 2023

Further information can be found here. A short documentation with the participating youth of the workshop can be found on the YouTube-Channel of PRO ORIENTE.

Workshop from 21–23 July 2023, Al-Liqa'-Center in Rabwah, Beirut (Libanon)

Further information can be found here. A short documentation of the workshop with the theme "Ecumenism and Youth Leadership" is available on the YouTube-channel of PRO ORIENTE.

Workshop from 28–30 Juli 2023 in Damaskus (Syrien): Synodality and Spiritual Psychological Support

A documentation of the workshop is available here and on the YouTube-channel of PRO ORIENTE.

Workshop from April 18–20, 2024 in Cairo (Egypt)

Almost 30 young adults from the Coptic Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches met in Cairo for another Ecumenical Youth Workshop entitled "Youth and Community in Church and Society".

Further information can be accessed here. A video documentation is available on the PRO ORIENTE YouTube channel.

Ecumenical Workshop, June 13–15, 2024 in Amman (Jordan)

In Amman, 18 young adults from various Christian churches came together for another ecumenical workshop, discussing the topic “Receptive Ecumenism” and the role of the media in relations between Christian churches.

Further information can be found here. A short documentary featuring the participating young people can be found on the PRO ORIENTE YouTube channel.

Ecumenical Workshop, January 30 – February 1, in Baghdad (Iraq) 

In Baghdad, 25 young adults from various Christian churches came together for another ecumenical workshop. The focus of the workshop was on strengthening Christian witness in Iraq. Another focus was on dealing with trauma and on spiritual counseling and accompaniment.

A short report can be found here.

Ecumenical Workshop, September 13, 2025, Beirut (Lebanon)

In September 2025, a one-day follow-up workshop was held in Beirut for young multipliers who had previously participated in one of the earlier youth workshops. Thirteen committed young Christians from various churches in the country took part in the workshop, which focused primarily on the current geopolitical challenges facing the country and the region.

A short report on the workshop is available here.

Ecumenical Workshop, September 25–27, 2025 in Erbil (Iraq)

Another ecumenical workshop took place in September 2025 in Erbil, in the Autonomous Region of Kurdistan in northern Iraq. The theme of this workshop was “Youth and Ecumenism: Together on the Path to Unity and Healing Memories.” Eighteen young Christians active in their churches from the various churches represented in northern Iraq took part in the workshop.

A summary report on the workshop can be found here, and a short video documentary with comments from participants is available on the PRO ORIENTE YouTube channel.

Regional Ecumenical Planning and Networking Workshop, January 15–18, 2026, Amman (Jordan)

From January 15 to 18, 2026, eleven young Christians from five countries in the Middle East gathered in the capital of Jordan, together with the project managers. The young multipliers had previously participated in one or more of the PRO ORIENTE youth workshops in the Middle East region and were highly committed to the project. Together with them, the work done so far was evaluated and strategic planning for the future direction of the project was carried out.

A brief report on the workshop is available here.