Lebanon Trust’s 2013 results

In the year 2013 Lebanon Trust continued its support to the Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf (FAID) in Beirut and to the kindergartens of the refugee camps of Chatila in Beirut and Burj el Shemali, in the South of Lebanon near the ancient city of Tyre. We are pleased to report that the total amount of money donated to our charitable projects exceeded last year’s.

Our volunteers worked hard throughout the year to raise funds, despite the adversity of the persistent negative economic climate in most European countries. In November we travelled to Lebanon, which currently struggles with a volatile political situation and has to cope with the presence of nearly 1 million refugees from the violence in next-door Syria. A description of our results follows. All our donors receive a report detailing Lebanon Trust’s accounts.

• Financing of 1 year of a speech therapist for the children of the Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf, Beirut. The speech therapist teaches deaf children how to speak, giving them the chance to find a job and lead an independent life: $ 8000
• Ongoing financial support for the kindergarten of the Burj el Shemali refugee camp in Beirut: $ 1200
• Financing of the renovation of the electricity generator’s premises in the kindergarten of the Chatila refugee camp in Beirut: $ 1800
• Evaluation of the work done by the Institutions we support, discussion of their plans and needs, meetings with their management, the Board, staff and pupils, further definition of our mode of collaboration
• Field visit to the Chatila refugee camp in Beirut and its kindergarten, meeting with the teachers and the children
• Refurbishment, painting, maintenance, reconstruction work at the school’s premises (Chapel, courtyard, playground, garden, outside perimeter, etc) of the Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf. The tools and material have been purchased by Lebanon Trust, and the work carried out by the volunteers themselves and by local staff paid by Lebanon Trust: $ 550.

We are delighted that in July Lebanon Trust won Liberty Global’s “IN Givers” programme award, in recognition to the results of its activities and the commitment of its volunteers.

This is our sixth visit to the Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf (FAID) in so many years. Every time we are astonished and delighted by the progress of the children, who grow up quickly, become more and more confident and – above all – speak better and better, both in Arabic and English. This is thanks to the speech therapy that every child enjoys at FAID. We believe that also for our donors it is a great satisfaction to know that their donations towards the speech therapist are so well invested.

This year the school hosts also several Syrian refugee pupils, some of whom had never had the chance to attend school until now.

We also did considerable maintenance work on FAID’s premises. Now the older children can play in a more spacious and sanitary courtyard; the younger ones at the kindergarten have their merry-go-round and seesaws again; the Chapel looks wonderful after a complete renovation; there is a lot more light in the garden and in the playgrounds, as trees and plants have been pruned. Many smaller maintenance tasks have been carried out, too.

Also we celebrated Lebanon’s Independence Day on Nov 22nd with a party for all the children, with balloons, sweets, candies and music. Everyone had a very good time.

We have visited the kindergarten of the Chatila refugee camp in Beirut many times now. Despite its crowded and squalid surroundings, now worsened by the influx of thousands of Syrian refugees, the kindergarten is an oasis of serenity: cheerful, bright and spotlessly clean. The children learn Arabic and English. The staff is motivated, active and very welcoming; they really make the most of the limited means they have. This is very encouraging for us and, we are convinced, for our donors as well.

Lebanon Trust donated $1800 for the renovation of the electricity generator’s room on the roof, next to the playground. Another $1200 will go towards the on-going support to the kindergarten of the Burj el Shemali camp in the southern city of Tyre, which this year we could not visit due to safety concerns.

The necessary funds have been raised through:

• Private donations
• Corporate sponsorships
• Events: parties, raffles, quiz nights, disco nights, etc
• Sponsorship cards
• Collection cans

Catherine Poeydomenge & Adrian Ruf (Zurich, Switzerland) – Declan Griffin of Griffin Digital Print (Dublin, Ireland) – Giovanna Pellegrini (Genoa, Italy) – Liberty Global plc and its executive officers (Denver, Colorado, USA) – Clair and the staff & pupils at North Islington Nursery School & Children’s Centre (UK) – May Ramjaun (London, UK) – Maria Cristina Ferraro & Alessandro Bertolotto (Genoa, Italy) – Silvana Margotti (Livorno, Italy) – Martina Merkle (Zurich, Switzerland) – Ole Vossnack (Zurich, Switzerland) – Fam. Della Penna (Genoa, Italy) – Pauline Kelly, Michael Halpin and all the Symantec employees (Dublin, Ireland) – Robert Sumner & Silvan Scheller (Zurich, Switzerland) – Myles Heal (Dublin, Ireland) – Fam. Prola-Smith (London, UK) – Paul Martin of Paul Martin Communications Limited (Dublin, Ireland) – Romilda Bertolotto Cocurullo (Genoa, Italy) – Austin Stacks GAA Hurling and Football Club (Tralee, Ireland) – Enrico e Lilli Bertolotto (Genoa, Italy) – St Peregrines GAA Club, Blanchardstown (Dublin, Ireland) – Paul’s Barber Shop, 123a Old County Road, Crumlin (Dublin, Ireland) – The people of St. Peter’s Crescent, Walkinstown (Dublin, Ireland) – Emma Wilde of Ulster Bank, Walkinstown Branch (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) – The Yellowstone Football Club (Dublin, Ireland) – Paul Reid Dental Laboratories (Dublin, Ireland) – Hoistech Ltd., Clondalkin Industrial Estate (Dublin, Ireland) – Kelly’s Welding & Engineering Supplies Ltd, Tallaght (Dublin, Ireland) – Aidan Turner & his staff at Turner’s Lounge (Tralee, Ireland) – Tina of Aspire Hair Salon (Manor, Tralee, Ireland) – Fam. Parodi (Genoa, Italy) – Natale e Carla Ferraro (Genoa, Italy) – Giovanni Zappavigna (Genoa, Italy) – Angela Vigna and family (Savona, Italy) – Adrian and Gerard O’Sullivan & staff of The Castle Bar (Tralee, Ireland) – Niall Nolan of Nolan’s Garage (Tralee, Ireland) – the band Rouge: Dave, Hobb & Shaggy & guest singers – Stacey Conway & Niall O’Brien – James O’Donoghue, Oaklands Shop (Tralee, Ireland) – CIE Social Welfare Club (Tralee, Ireland) – Sean Patrick Moran – Jeff & Noreen Riordan, Wine Supplies – all the friends and supporters who attended Lebanon Trust’s fundraising evenings and events – a special THANK YOU to Noel’s friends and family, who did the bucket collection and sold raffle tickets – and finally many thanks to all the people on the sponsorship cards, of which there were many!