The beautiful chuppah we will exchange our vows under was made by the able hands of the refugee women who run a workshop supported by Basmeh w Zeitooneh - Arabic for "A Smile and an Olive."  

The refugee crisis in the Middle East is particularly close to both of our hearts, because it has been such a part of our lives as journalists- and writing about the plight of people suffering war and oppression never feels like enough. In honor of our wedding, we would be grateful for any donations you can offer in support of Basmeh w Zeitooneh, a local NGO in Lebanon we have long loved and admired.

Both of us have spent time in refugee camps with Basmeh w Zeitooneh volunteers and have been impressed by their dedication and love for what they do and the people they help. They run workshops to teach people vocational skills, education programs for children, and even an arts and culture center that offers children and adults alike a much-needed creative outlet.

Refugees are coming under more and more pressure in Lebanon - and around the world - and they have fewer and fewer places to go. They are truly in need of our support.

By giving to Basmeh w Zeitooneh instead of another large NGO, you can also help to support a locally-run organization that is closer to the communities it serves.