Freelance photographer David Snyder is traveling throughout the Middle East to see the many CRS projects helping people throughout the region. David is blogging about what he sees along the way.

Just finishing up four days here in the West Bank with Catholic Relief Services. As always it’s been a fascinating trip. I’ve been to Jerusalem three or four times now and each time I come back I’m reminded of how complex this place is – a complexity layered with centuries of ancient history and decades of modern history.

One of the most interesting projects I’ve seen in awhile was the one we started our week with here. Through what is called the Visual Impact Project, CRS provides support to B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization documenting human rights abuses in the West Bank and Gaza by Israeli settlers and security forces. By providing video cameras to 200 volunteers, B’Tselem has gathered more than 3,000 hours of video footage, which it provides free of charge to Israeli and international media to try to bring about accountability for abuses that occur in the Occupied Territories.
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A pilgrim prays by candlelight at the wall of Christ’s tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the old city of Jerusalem. This is one of the holiest sites in the world for Christians. As the holiday season approaches and we sing about peace on earth, CRS reflects on its nearly 50 years of service in the Holy Land.

Our projects aim to support peace with justice for all people in this troubled region. Years of conflict have made youngsters feel bleak about their futures., CRS gives them a sense of hope and possibility with programs that introduce them to potential career paths, and encourage them to help the less fortunate. Photo by David Snyder for CRS