His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II attended the concluding event of the “Ward Initiative” at the Opera House in Damascus.
The event was organized by the Charitable Society for Sustainable Development and attended by Her Excellency Mrs. Rima Al-Qadiri, Syrian Minister of Social Affairs, His Excellency Mr. Bishr Yaziji, Syrian Minister of Tourism and His Grace Armash Nalbandian, Armenian Orthodox Archbishop of Damascus.

His Holiness was accompanied by His Eminence Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Patriarchal Vicar in the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Damascus, Very Rev. Raban Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, Very Rev. Raban Jack Yacoub, Director of the Youth Department, and Very Raban Barsom Kando.

The event included a choir performance of the Rainbow Children Choir led by Maestro Husam Brimo, as well as a documentary on women rights in Syria during the recent times of crises.

At the end of the event, an honorary award was given to His Holiness in recognition of his support and care for the different humanitarian projects that aim at the building of the Syrian human being and society.