The Awareness Forum takes occasional delegations and pilgrimages to the Middle East. The purpose of these is to build bridges between the West and the Middle East through bringing people together to talk, to share and to learn about each other.

In June 2007, a pilgrimage from the UK and US visited Aleppo, Homs, Lattakia, Palmyra and Damascus, exploring the route taken by St. Paul through Syria. In 2009 a delegation of civic and business leaders from the UK met their counterparts in Aleppo and Damascus in Syria; they also met with religious leaders including the Grand Mufti of Syria. Delegates' lives were changed forever, and new friendships were formed between the UK and the Middle East.

Our planned pilgrimage to Jordan will now take place in 2012.

Awareness delegates meet HE Dr Bouthaina Shaaban, Syrian Cabinet Minister and political & media adviser to the President.

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Awareness delegates meet Mr Muhammad Kashmir, the Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs. The Mufti of Damascus was also present.

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Awareness delegates meet Sheik Bashir Abd Bari, the Mufti of Damascus, and Sheik Ahmad Kabbani, the Director of Awkaf, in the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria.

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Awareness delegates visit the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria.

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Awareness delegates meet Dr Ahmad Talal Ebedo, the head of the Aleppo Chamber of Commerce, and his team.

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Awareness delegates meet the Orthodox Bishop of Aleppo, HE Metropolitan Paul Yazegy.

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Awareness delegates meet the Grand Mufti of Syria at his mosque in the presence of other religious leaders.

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Awareness pilgrims taking a break while visiting the remains of the great church of St. Simeon Stylites.