Meet Amir. He is deaf and lost his family and his country – but now has found hope
This nice boy is Amir, 11 years old, and FAID’s most recent addition. Amir was born deaf, in Aleppo, an ancient and beautiful city in Syria that has been devastated by war.
His parents divorced and little Amir lived with his father, until they had to flee Syria for their life. His mother’s whereabouts are currently unknown; she is believed to be still in Syria. Father and son took refuge in Lebanon, where his father remarried. But Amir was mistreated at home and ran away several times, until he was found by “Home of Hope”, a Lebanese organisation caring for abandoned children, and put into FAID’s care.
Amir being visited by Dr Nemer Attieh, FAID’s resident audiologist.
At FAID Amir’s hearing was tested by the audiologist and he was fitted with hearing aids. He also started to attend school, receive speech therapy and psychological help. He is now learning how to interact with his peers and teachers, adjusting rapidly to his new, peaceful life.
Amir is a full-boarder at FAID and spends the weekends at Home of Hope.
Amir has been fitted with hearing aids.
Amir, second from left, now atteds school at FAID.
“Best Friends: Hard to Find, and Lucky to Have” A hand-made card from the childen of FAID for our friends and supporters
The flags from Lebanon, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands on this card to honour our nationalities.
This beautiful, hand-made and lovingly decorated card from the children of FAID is dedicated to all our friends to have helped our projects: your heart is in the right place. Thank you!
Best wishes for a peaceful and lucky 2017 to all, and in particular to these friends, who chose to celebrate Christmas and the new year with generosity:
Silvana Falaschini
Fabio & Marta Delfante-Cocurullo
Patricia Meade
Enrico & Lilli Bertolotto
Nino & Milda Cocurullo
Fam. Parodi
Giovanna Pellegrini
Carla & Natale Ferraro
MC Ferraro
Giovanni Zappavigna & family
Mick Halpin
David John Landy
Mike and Jordan Shea
Lilliput Stores in Dublin
Symantec Corporation, Dublin
Also this year some dedicated friends have braved the frigid waves in Fenit to raise funds for Lebanon Trust: a big THANK YOU to Mike and Jordan Shea, who raised over €400 with the Christmas Swim! Fantastic!
Cutting the ribbon at the opening of the new playground at FAID.
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Dear friends and supporters,
we would like to tell you what we did this year with your donations.
We went to Lebanon in October, and stayed at the deaf children’s school that we support, the Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf (FAID). There, we built a brand-new playground for the kids and donated towards the school’s operational expenses. About 25% of FAID’s pupils are refugees from the Syria war.
We also published a beautiful story about two deaf children who used to live in poverty in a Syrian refugee camp, and who are now attending school at FAID thanks to internet crowdfunding, organised by a clever American volunteer.
Like every year, we also visited two refugee camps and donated to their kindergartens, run by our local partner Association Najdeh. Lebanon hosts more than 1 million registered refugees from Syria, on a local population of 4 million (and 450 thousand Palestinian refugees). It’s like Ireland had 1.2 million refugees – the real number is 11 thousand – or the UK had 16.3 million – real number 169 thousand (source: UN).
The total amount donated in 2016 slightly exceeded last year’s.
Before Lebanon Trust’s intervention: the area around the gilrs’ dormitory at FAID was unused
… and after: the new playground at the girls’ dormitory
The children welcomed the new playground with much enthusiasm
Our chairman Christy, justifiably proud of the work done
A warm welcome at the refugee camp of Chatila. We visit and support this kindergarten since 2010.
Kindergarten of the refugee camp of Burj el-Shemali, in South Lebanon. We visit regularly and support this kindergarten since 2012.
Lebanon Trust’s donated USD 8000 to FAID
Lebanon Trust donated a total of USD 4000 to two refugee kindergartens
What we did at the Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf (FAID) in Beirut:
Donation of one year’s worth of funding for the school bus, the electricity generator and the classrooms’ heating. Total: USD 8000
Maintenance and improvement of FAID’s premises. Tools, material and equipment have been purchased by Lebanon Trust, and the work carried out by the volunteers themselves: total USD 2534
Creation of a new playground on a vacant plot outside the girls’ dormitory: complete clearance of the area and of its access pathways; complete re-paving; restoration and re-painting of the perimeter fence; purchase, installation of 4 large wooden boards along the perimeter fence to be painted and decorated by the children; construction and installation of a safety door to the generator housing; sourcing, purchase and installation of child safety surface and of high-quality metal playground equipment (slide, swings, merry-go-round, see-saw, etc.; 5 pieces in total); restoration, re-painting and installation of six wooden benches in the area.
Creation of a garden with plants and flower beds (purchased & planted for the purpose) outside the girls’ dormitory, to provide the children with a pleasant and safe recreational area.
Purchase and installation of high-quality metal merry-go-round and see-saw for the kindergarten’s existing playground.
Installation of a net around the external perimeter of the school’s courtyard, to allow the pupils to play football.
Organisation of a visit by a delegation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon, headed by Senior Communication and Public Information Officer Matthew Saltmarsh. The visit included interviews with Lebanon Trust’s officers and school staff; visit of the classrooms during school time; visit of the Audiology Department with live demonstrations; illustration of the school academic programme and of the challenges faced by FAID; visit of the playground area being built by us; filming of school activities, speech therapy and interviews.
Organisation of a visit by a delegation from the Symantec Corporation’s Beirut office, headed by the Commercial Manager for Egypt and the Levant Region Marcel Nasser. Symantec’s Ireland HQ have been supporting us for many years now.
Evaluation of the work done by FAID and discussion of their plans and needs; meetings with their management (Director and Board), with the staff and pupils.
What we did at the refugee kindergartens:
Kindergarten of the Chatila refugee camp in Beirut: on-going financial support for books and educational material, USD 2000; field visit with inspection of classrooms, roof playground and educational material financed by Lebanon Trust, meeting with the teachers, the children and the schoolmaster
Kindergarten of the Burj el Shemali refugee camp in Tyre: on-going financial support for books and educational material, USD 2000; field visit with inspection of new and refurbished classrooms and playground; meetings with pupils, teachers and head teacher; detailed discussion about their needs and plans.
Finances
Income: Donations to Lebanon Trust (Euro)
Fundraising events
3171.94
Private donations, collection boxes, sponsorship cards, proceeds from MC Ferraro’s latest book
7878.08
Corporate sponsorships
2484.47
Total
13534.49
(Year close Nov 30, 2016; EUR/USD/CHF currency exchange rate: 2016 average)
Expenditure: Donations to the supported institutions, expenses (Euro)
Web hosting & domains
180.00
Hardware & materials, transport, logistics, etc.
2533.30
Contribution to FAID
7520.00
Contribution to Chatila refugee kindergarten
1880.00
Contribution to Burj el Shemali refugee kindergarten
1880.00
Total
13993.30
Loss
–458.81
Accommodation was kindly provided by FAID for free. Flights and local transport have been paid for privately. The volunteers took unpaid leave from their employers.
Fundraising events organised by the volunteers over the year: Christmas swim, street collections, weekly raffles, cake sales, quiz night, virtual flea market, bucket collections.
Our special thanks to these friends, who helped us this year:
Paul’s Barber Shop, 123a Old County Road, Crumlin (Dublin, Ireland)
The people of St. Peter’s Crescent, Walkinstown (Dublin, Ireland)
McCormack’s Cycle Centre, 31a, Dorset Street Lower (Dublin, Ireland)
Eddy McHugh’s Shop, Patrick’s Road in Greenhills (Dublin, Ireland)
O’Neill’s House of Sport, Walkinstown Avenue (Dublin, Ireland)
During our trip in October, a delegation of the UN Refugee Agency came to visit us at FAID. They interviewed us and the school’s staff, visited the audiology department and the classrooms, spoke to children and parents – and then filmed and summarised all this in a wonderful story.(opens a new tab)
Earlier this year a young American, John Van Rooy, who teaches English in Saudi Arabia, went to Lebanon’s Bekaa valley to work as a volunteer among Syrian refugees. He got to know a family there – listen to his own words:
This family “led by an amazing woman named Wafaa, is from Aleppo—a city that has been catastrophically destroyed by the Syrian conflict. They have been living in a refugee camp for the past 4 years. Wafaa supports her severely disabled husband, elderly mother-in-law, and 3 children—including a deaf daughter named Warda. Warda is 12 years old and has been unable to attend school for the past 4 years as there are no programs for deaf children in Zahle. Wafaa told me that Warda would cry every day when she watched the other children going off to school. With the assistance of the Learning Centre for the Deaf in Beirut, we were able to find a boarding school where Warda can study and learn to read, write, and sign. The cost of the program is $3500, which includes room and board for 1 year. ”
So John started a crowdfunding collection, and in just 3 months managed to raise 6000 dollars, enough for Warda and also Assad, age 9, another refugee deaf boy who had never attended school before.
Now both Warda and Assan are at FAID, where they attend school, are among friends, and at last live in a peaceful and safe environment.
Well done John and thank you FAID for this amazing work!
Two friends lend a huge hand – and a matching donation from Symantec Ireland – to Lebanon Trust
With their tireless support, David Keane and Wolfram Rausch of Symantec in Dublin made it possible for Lebanon Trust to receive a USD 2000 matching donation for our project. Thank you Symantec, David and Wolfram!
Matt Saltmarsh, spokesman of the UN Refugee Agency in Beirut, with colleague Lisa Abou Khaled and photographer Haidar Darwish spent a morning with us during our stay in Lebanon last October. They interviewed Lebanon Trust’s Christy and Laura and FAID’s Gladys; visited the the Audiology department, where audiologist Nemer illustrated his work and demonstrated his equipment; had a tour of all the classrooms with Lina, Academic director, and were cheered by all the children; then had a conversation with Toufic Takchi, chairman of FAID’s Board. A memorable day for all involved. Thank you Matt, Lisa and Haidar!
The UNHCR delegation visiting the Audiology department at FAID.
Matthew Saltmarsh of UNHCR interviews Lebanon Trust and FAID staff
Matt Saltmarsh (UNHCR) interviews FAID’s Chairman Toufic Takchi
FAID’s founder Father Andeweg’s portrait, flanked by Lina, FAID’s Academic director, and Christy, Lebanon Trust’s chairman
International software giant Symantec’s Lebanese office visits FAID, School for the Deaf, and the volunteers of Lebanon Trust
Our friends of Symantec Dublin have been helping Lebanon Trust with great generosity over the years. During our trip in October, a three-member delegation of Symantec’s Lebanese office in Beirut visited FAID. The group was headed by Marcel Nasser. They toured the school and visited the area where we were building the playground for FAID.
Our officer Noel presents some good friends with a Certificate of Appreciation
Noel showed all our gratitude to friends Mark, Danie, Breda and Joe, Neill, Darren for their continued support to Lebanon Trust’s charitable projects, and presented them with a framed Certificate of Appreciation.
During our trip to Lebanon last month, we travelled to the refugee camp of Burj el-Shemali in Tyre, in the South of Lebanon. A permit granted in advance by the Lebanese Army is necessary to enter the camp. We went to see the local kindergarten run by the Association Najdeh, which hosts about 80 children, and which we support since 2012.
The kindergarten is spotless, very well maintained, and the classrooms brightly painted and decorated. The kids are a delight, full of chatter and laughter. The teachers are very motivated and full of initiatives. We played and chased soap bubbles with the children, talked with the teachers, and delivered a donation of 2000 dollars for teachers’ training and operational expenses.
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Dublin and Zurich, November 2016
Dear friends,
the Lebanon Trust volunteers just returned from Lebanon this past weekend. We visited, and donated to, two kindergartens in refugee camps (USD 4000 in total), and stayed at FAID, the school for deaf children that we have been supporting since 2008.
There, we received a visit by a Symantec delegation headed by Marcel Nasser, Commercial Manager for Egypt and the Levant. Symantec Ireland supports us generously. We also received Matthew Saltmarsh, spokesman of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Beirut, and some of his colleagues, who visited the classrooms and the audiology department, and interviewed us, the school staff and some parents.
In addition to donating USD 8000 to finance FAID’s much-needed speech therapist & school operations, we built for the children a brand-new playground and a garden area: see the difference that two weeks – and your continued great generosity – made for these disadvantaged kids!
So, on behalf of Lebanon Trust and especially of the kids, a very big THANK YOU!!!!
A proper financial report for our donors will follow.
Our 2016 work in pictures: before …
and after:
Matthew Saltmarsh of UNHCR (centre) interviews Lebanon Trust and FAID staff
The UNHCR delegation visiting the Audiology department at FAID.
UNHCR at FAID. The Chairman of FAID’s Board, Toufic Takchi, is second from left.
A portrait of FAID’s founder Father Andeweg flanked by Lina, FAID’s Academic Supervisor, and Christy, Lebanon Trust’s Chairman.
We spent a great day at the kindergarten run by the Association Najdeh in the refugee camp of Chatila in Beirut. Lebanon Trust supports it since 2010. Thank you Mariam and all the teachers for the warm welcome!
Volunteers of Lebanon Trust present Mariam, the head teacher, with a donation for the kindergarten.
Children of the refugee camp, playing at the kindergarten
Children at this kindergarten learn Arabic and English.
Refugee camp of Chatila: view from the kindergarten
Refugee camp of Chatila. A very rare sight: a tree.
Our very proud Chairman Christy and some other volunteers presented FAID, the school for deaf children that we support since 2008, with a USD 8000 donation during a party to open the new playground built & donated by Lebanon Trust. The much-needed donation is for the ongoing operations of the school.
A deaf pupil cut the ribbon and the playing started!
