New garden for FAID’s deaf pupils

See the difference made by the work of Lebanon Trust’s volunteers at FAID School for the Deaf, during their very successful work trip in October!

The former garden had been abandoned and was completely overgrown …	.. and it was definitely not a welcoming place for FAID’s children
The volunteers put in a lot of work and initiative

… and they really made a difference, with the new playground, plants and freshly painted benches and features

A very proud Christy, Lebanon Trust’s chairman

Old objects were restored and given new life

October 2016: a brand new playground for FAID

Before Lebanon Trust’s intervention ….

The area outside the FAID girls’ dormitory, before the intervention of Lebanon Trust’s volunteers

The old playground had been abandoned long ago and was no longer usable.

and after:

Lebanon Trust cleaned and prepared the area, and bought and installed the new playground equipment.

FAID”s children are ecstatic with their new playground

Back to school at FAID, school for the Deaf

On Friday 30th of September the Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf celebrated the opening of the new school year 2016-2017. Like every year, Father Issam Ibrahim conducted a prayer at the school chapel.

The school has welcomed new staff members and new students alike. We all look forward to another fruitful year.  Welcome to FAID!

Our volunteer Noel and Lebanon Trust feature in an article in Kerry

Our volunteer and Lebanon Trust Officer Noel Conway feature in an article on Kerryseye, the largest circulation newspaper paper in Kerry, with the latest news, comment and sport throughout the county. The article illustrates Lebanon Trust’s upcoming mission to Lebanon, where we will support the Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf (FAID) and two kindergartens in refugee camps, one in Beirut and one in the South of the country.

Again a Lebanon mission coming soon ….

Next month our intrepid volunteers will travel to Lebanon, like they have done each year since 2008. They will work at FAID, the school for deaf children that Lebanon Trust has been supporting all these years, and visit (& donate to) the kindergartens of the refugee camps of Shatila and Burj el Shemali.

All help and donations are most welcome!

A fantastic cake sale in Dublin

On July 28 budding bakers and cake lovers alike gathered for a fabulous cake sale and raffle in favour of Lebanon Trust. More than EUR 900 were raised for our charitable projects.

A million thanks to those who helped, participated, bought, donated, eaten, and in particular to our friend  Mick Halpin, who can get the impossible done and whose help was – as always – truly invaluable.

Tralee’s splendid generosity

The proceeds from last Friday’s fundraising drive in the streets of Tralee reached EUR 700.

Kudos to the whole town, and especially to those who contributed with their time, their work and their unending generosity! Bravo and THANK YOU!

Fundraising in Tralee (Ireland) on Friday 22 July

Lebanon Trust’s Tralee Chapter, headed by our officer Noel Conway, will hold a fundraising drive in the town, on Friday July 22nd.

Many friends and supporters lend their time and effort to the worthy cause of our charitable projects: a school for deaf children in Beirut and two kindergartens for refugee children.

A big THANK YOU to all who will donate generously!

For more information, please contact us.

FAID’s annual art exhibition

Like every year The Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf held its art exhibition to showcase the pupils’ work. This year’s theme, and title of the event, was “Read my Hands”. FAID’s children demonstrated originality and the ability to express themselves in a very personal way, with just a nod to tradition. The artworks were hosted by Beirut’s Exode art gallery, in the vibrating heart of the city.

It was a great opportunity for FAID’s students to see their work exhibited and admired by the many visitors.

FAID’s pupils learn the ancient craft of mosaic

Learning crafts is an important part of children’s education. The deaf children at FAID are no exception – last year they leaned furniture restoration, and this year they are mastering the ancient craft of creating mosaic, from design to installation. Congratulations to the young masters!

Our Officer Noel is currently at FAID in Beirut, laying the groundwork for our 2016 trip

Lebanon Trust’s officer Noel is spending three weeks in Lebanon, at the Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf. He is now defining and preparing the work that we will carry out in October during our trip to Lebanon – literally laying the groundwork for a playground next to the girls’ dormitory.

Later this year we will build and complete this playground.

A Lebanon Trust officer is going to spend three weeks in Lebanon

Noel, Lebanon Trust’s Advisor, is going to spend three weeks in Lebanon. He will spend time with the boarders at The Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf, those pupils who sleep at the school during the week – and enliven their afternoons with sport and games.

Have a great stay in Lebanon Noel!

@LebanonTrust is now on Twitter

A new online presence for Lebanon Trust: our new Twitter handle @LebanonTrust, for keeping in touch easily as never before! Follow us here.

A corporation’s generosity reflects its people’s generosity

Symantec Corporation Limited (Dublin) has generously matched its own employees’ generosity with a donation of over EUR 1500. The company and the employees really show how much good one can do. We can never thank them enough – but the very real improvement they bring in the lives of the deaf and refugee children in Lebanon speaks for itself. A special thank you to Annette Dempsey, Paula Dunphy, Jayne Delahunt and Mick Halpin who, with their colleagues and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, have given invaluable support over the years.

Thank you to our generous friends

Many friends have started the new year by showing their generosity towards less fortunate people. Many heartfelt thanks to: Giovanna Pellegrini (Genoa, Italy); Giovanni e Lucia F. (Asmara, Eritrea); Mr Licinio Aquini and Ms Caterina Alberghini (Arquata Scrivia, Italy); Silvana Falaschini (Livorno, Italy); Mariapia Porta (Genoa, Italy); Caterina Pellegrini (Turin, Italy); Martina Merkle (Zurich, Switzerland). Your generosity will go a long way.