ASIA/LEBANON - The Choir of Lea and war orphans: "Singing is our prayer for peace"

by Gianluca Frinchillucci

Beirut (Agenzia Fides) - Lea Akoury, widow of a soldier who died in 2007 during an anti-terrorism operation, has transformed her grief into strength and charity and founded an association that brings together Lebanese orphans, children of fallen soldiers, to express a message of peace and friendship.

"I was born in a Christian village surrounded by Muslim villages. When I met my husband, an officer in the Lebanese army, I discovered an extraordinary bond among his colleagues: what mattered was the person, not his religion," says Lea. After the death of her husband, she decided to help the families of these soldiers, not only Christian ones, by creating a community based on love and mutual aid.

"Our religion teaches us to love and help all people," she emphasizes, and "that is the message we want to convey, what the Church has taught us and what Pope Francis embodies: faith, hope, welcoming others. In this time, we need the presence of his voice for peace."

Since 2015, Lea has led a choir that was originally founded to remember the fathers of children and young people on Father's Day in Lebanon. Through singing, these young people overcome the trauma of loss and tell their story to the world. The choir project, which initially began with 80 children and young people singing in Arabic, has grown with the support of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the choir has also performed in France and Italy. The interdenominational choir brings together young people from different faiths and now sings in Arabic, Italian, English, French and Spanish.

In recent weeks, the choir is preparing for a trip to Italy, where 15 young people from different regions of Lebanon will perform at concerts in a Roman hospital and in Forlì. The choir is supported by Alessandro Salvi of the Order of the Knights of Malta, who has supported Lea's association for years and, among other things, enables Lebanese orphans to study in Italy.

"This trip is a symbol of resilience," explains Lea. "The children will travel dangerous roads to get to the airport, but the enthusiasm of those who are waiting for us in Italy gives us strength."

With the help of the Italian army, the children and young people have expanded their Italian repertoire, which represents not only an artistic challenge for them, but also a cultural bridge. "The Italian soldiers have become reference persons for the young people, a bit like the fathers they have lost," emphasizes Lea.

"In these times, it is more important than ever to sing for peace and say: Enough is enough! We deserve to live in peace. We have made so many sacrifices, experienced wars and suffering. Now it is time to rebuild our country with a strong state where everyone is equal before the law,” she stresses.

At one of the last concerts, Lea said: “Singing is our prayer for peace. Despite the pain in our hearts, we want to show that it is possible to bring a positive message to the world. Our children and young people not only sing, but also tell of their lives and the sacrifices of their fathers through music.”

Lebanon, once called the “jewel of the Middle East,” is today in a deep crisis.

“We live in fear and uncertainty and rely on providence,” admits Lea. “We are trapped in a dark tunnel, but we remain in our country with resilience.” Lea has experienced the tragedy of loss herself: her husband died in a clash with terrorists in a refugee camp, leaving her with four small children. "Singing helped us overcome the pain and turn it into a message to the world: we want peace!"

Singing, she says, "is like a prayer. It is our way of raising our voice and sending a message to the world: we have made so many sacrifices to live in peace. This is our wish and our prayer."

"Lebanon is a small country, but full of beauty and hospitality. We hope that our friends around the world can be our voice to help this country finally live in peace," says Lea.

The choir also brings with its music a strong testimony of friendship, resilience and faith that will hopefully radiate beyond borders and inspire hope for the future of Lebanon and the world. (Agenzia Fides, 26/11/2024)

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