A year with Lebanon Trust: what we accomplished in 2024
Above: Blankets for the displaced, funded by Lebanon Trust and distributed by Najdeh
Dear friends and supporters,
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support, not only from all the volunteers of our association, but especially from the people we are trying to help.
The year 2024 has been a real calamity for Lebanon, a country already sorely tried by a very deep economic crisis and political instability. The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel escalated in September and culminated with very intense and prolonged Israeli aerial bombardment of almost the entire country, including the capital Beirut, and the invasion of the south, until the ceasefire on November 27; resulting in an estimated 1.2 million displaced people and thousands of dead, as well as total destruction of many population centers, burned fields and destroyed plantations. Demolitions and attacks unfortunately continue to this day.
Of course, our friends and work partners in Lebanon were deeply affected by all this. FAID, the school for deaf children that we have been supporting since 2008, was able to reopen only in December. The Association Najdeh, which is active in refugee camps, has worked tirelessly to rescue displaced people, who are camped on beaches, in public gardens, vacant buildings and on sidewalks. We were able to help 206 displaced families!
Thanks to all of you, we were able to send 11,000 dollars in donations. Another 4,000 euros (about 4170 dollars) could not be sent due to bank transfer difficulties but will be sent as soon as possible in 2025.
Income: donations to Lebanon Trust (euro) (1.12.2023 – 30.11.2024)
| Fundraising initiatives, private donations, corporate sponsorships | |
| Total | 14568.71 |
(Year close Nov 30, 2023; EUR/USD/CHF currency exchange rate: as applied by our bank in Ireland)
Expenditure: disbursements to the supported institutions, expenses (euro)
| Bank and PayPal fees, web hosting & domains | 189.70 |
| Donation to FAID (school for the deaf) | 5836.00 |
| Donations to Association Najdeh (refugee camps, displaced families) | 4600.00 |
| Total | 10625.70 |
| Difference (Corresponding approx. to the sum of USD 4000 that has not yet been possible to transfer to Lebanon) | 3943.01 |
Many generous people donated through Benevity, The Irish Online Giving Foundation and The UK Online Giving Foundation (thank you Mick!). Our friend Kevin Boyle in Tralee again organised a splendid choir concert in June in favour of our projects. Having friends like them is what keeps us going. Thank you so much!
• Kathleen, Mick, Carmel Halpin & family (Dublin & USA) • Amazon.com • Kevin Boyle and family (Tralee, Ireland) • St John’s Church Choir • Kerry Chamber Choir • Kerry School of Music, and the soloists, and everyone who helped on the night of the concert • QK Living Kitchens & Bedrooms (Dublin) • Catherine Murphy (Nawcastle West, Co Limerick) • Anna Dal Negro, Axel Sonnenfeld (Zurich, CH) • Ole Vossnack (Zurich, CH) • Catherine Poeydomenge (Zurich, CH) • Ardfert Quarry Products Partnership (Co. Kerry) • Pat Stafford and Stafford Engineering / Palmshade Ltd (Dublin) • Ms Sonja Kick and Endress and Hauser (Kill, Co. Kildare) • All the generous Walkinstown friends in St Peter’s Crescent and St Peter’s Drive for their constant support • Paul Reid Dental Laboratories (Dublin) • Big Mick (Dublin) • Dolphin Furniture Sales (Dublin) • Griffin Digital Print (Dublin) • The Terence Welding Company (Dublin) • Luca Baur and family (Schwerzenbach, CH) • Ansac Credit Union (Dublin) • Martina Merkle (Zurich, CH) • Patricia Meade (Ca., USA) • the customers of St. Peregrines GAA Club • Fam. Ricci (Arquata S., Italy) • Enrico & Lilli Bertolotto (Genoa, Italy) • Michael Duffy (Dublin) • MC Ferraro & A Bertolotto (Genoa, Italy) • Fam. Aquini (Arquata S., Italy) • Fam. Ponzano (Arquata S., Italy) • Fam Boiani, Fam Fasciolo-Barnabè (Arquata S., Italy) Giorgio Margotti (Livorno, Italy) • Silvana Falaschini (Livorno, Italy) • Fam Zappavigna (Marina di Massa, Italy) • Fam. Vigna -Mori (Savona, Italy) • Jolanda Bianchi (Genoa, Italy) • Fam. Cocurullo (Genoa, Italy) • Fam. Devia (Genoa, Italy) • Fam Prola-Smith (London, UK) • Sean Doyle (London, UK) • B. Biondi (Zurich, CH) • The many people who sponsored Paul on the cards • and many other generous people who prefer to remain anonymous!
