LILLE WELCOME CENTRE

The Need

There is a lack of places in which refugees are welcome to hang out, make friends and meet people from the local community.
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Such space is important as forcibly displaced women, children and men need more than shelter, food and documentation - they need opportunity to meet trustworthy people who can help them begin to rebuild their lives. They have many questions about their future and few places to which they can turn to try and find answers.

Beyond that, some refugees are Christians and long for places in which they can worship and pray.

And local French Christians need places in which they can meet refugees and extend help and welcoming community.

The Strategy

We have rented and remodeled a strategically located space within a local church building to serve as a Welcome Centre for refugees and asylum seekers in downtown Lille.

We are mobilizing Christians and others in the community to join with us in welcoming and assisting our displaced friends.

Location Served

• Lille, France

The Goal

Our on-going goal is to see refugees and asylum seekers in Lille better connected with trustworthy people in the city. The centre will help our displaced friends integrate into the local community. Those that pass through Lille en route elsewhere will find a much needed oasis in which they can recover from some of the strain and hardship of their epic journey.

Financial Goal: We need to raise $7000 annually to cover the costs of rent, operations and programs.

The Opportunity

You are invited to donate to the Refugee Centre Project - France. By doing so, you will show your solidarity with refugees and churches in Lille and help our friends recover from displacement and begin to rebuild their lives.

We also have need of people to assist with various creative and practical programming needs that are well-suited to both short-term teams as well as long-term missionaries. Interested in learning more? Click the blue button below.

Progress

IAFR completed remodeling and setting up the space for the Lille Welcome Centre in March, 2020. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 virus pandemic broke out forcing the centre doors to close just two days after opening. We look forward to reopening the centre as soon as it is safe and permitted to do so.