SAT-7 Presenter Gives Hope to Suffering Children

Fleeing war in Syria, SAT-7 KIDS presenter Shady Tarzi found peace in Lebanon. But when conflict broke out there also, he shared his experiences to help a new generation facing the trauma of war and brought hope to young viewers in a displacement camp.

In the spring of 2011, the foundations of Shady’s peaceful life began to shake, when huge pro-democracy protests erupted in his home country of Syria. By 2012, a full-blown civil war was underway. Young Shady and his family, like so many others in country, had to flee for safety.

“When I think back, I realize that I lost my friends and our home, and my father lost his business,” Shady reflects. “Years of hard work were lost in an instant. This has taken a huge toll on my life and emotions.”

Shady and his family were able to start a new life in Lebanon. Things were not easy at first, but an opportunity opened up for him to join the SAT-7 KIDS team as a presenter. “When I was younger, I used to watch the channel. I used to tell my sister that one day I wanted to be on it. So when I became a host on this channel, it was a dream come true,” he said.

Meeting Displaced Children

Shady presented four seasons of the popular gameshow Challenge Accepted and is now one of the hosts of new children’s magazine program Jesus is our Strength.

In a recent episode, Shady visited a camp for displaced people in Lebanon where he met two sisters, Maryam (11) and Sarah (9), who, like him, were originally from Syria. Shady said he was “surprised” to see them watching Jesus is our Strength on a television in their tent. The girls had learned the Bible verse from the episode and participated in the show by singing a song.

Meeting the girls inspired Shady in his work with SAT-7 KIDS. “It gives me hope and strength to keep going,” he says. “There are children out there, just like I was, watching SAT-7 KIDS and being inspired by the presenters.”

Fears For His Children

Shady married Gloria in Lebanon, and they started a family with son Tio and a baby on the way. When conflict erupted there in September, Shady’s new life felt threatened, and memories of his childhood trauma came rushing back.

“After all the beautiful things that have happened in my life: my work, my family, and my son…suddenly war broke out in Lebanon,” he said. “This was unexpected, because I had fled war to come to a safe place to live, work, and build a family. I was shocked when the war started here.”

Knowing all too well about the long-term impact of experiencing war as a child, Shady is concerned about the effect of the bombings in Lebanon on his son. “There was a strike very close to our home,” he said. “We tried our best to hide our fear from him, but I know that something inside him is changing, hardening. I pray that this experience does not affect him negatively as he grows older.”

Through Jesus is Our Strength, which launched in September, Shady is sharing his own experiences to help young viewers whose lives have been turned upside down by wars in different parts of the region. The program airs live from Lebanon three days a week and once from the Egypt studio, and it is attracting high levels of engagement from young viewers as it seeks to address their spiritual needs and create a sense of community.

“I thank God for the many new children participating in this program. We are trying to share the message God has given us through the Bible: that Jesus is always with us,” says Shady. “Whether it’s through a verse, a smile, or a word of hope, I can be someone who inspires them.

Shady Tarzi, SAT-7 KIDS presenter (right), met Maryam (left) and Sarah (middle), displaced sisters from Syria who inspired his work with SAT-7 KIDS.