December 2013: the volunteers of Lebanon Trust are back from a very successful trip to Lebanon

Despite the fragile political situation of the country, we just spent two very intense weeks in Lebanon. We worked at the Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf (FAID) and, for the fourth consecutive year, we delivered the financing for a speech therapist for the deaf children. We are delighted to report that they flourish, and seeing their remarkable progress year over year is a real joy.

We also visited the kindergarten of the refugee camp of Chatila in Beirut, and delivered the funds for fixing the electricity generator there and for the ongoing support to the Burj el Shemali kindergarten in the South of the country.

In summary, this year’s results include:

• The Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf (FAID): Lebanon Trust financed a year of a speech therapist for the deaf children, who otherwise could not learn how to speak.
• Practical work at FAID, financed & executed by Lebanon Trust: improvement of the schoolyard: removal of an unused chicked shed, reconstruction of the fence and reinforcement with metal sheets, complete repainting, installation of a net all along the top (to prevent the children from losing the ball when playing football). Fix and installation of the kindergarten playground furniture. Heavy trimming and removal of branches in the garden and outside the perimeter fence, to increase sunlight in the schoolyard. Complete redecoration of the Chapel: the walls have been painted anew, the beams, windows and doors revarnished inside and outside. The outside wall has been repainted as well. Several smaller maintenance and cleaning tasks have been taken care of, too.
• Kindergarten of the refugee camp of Chatila in Beirut: full financing of the restoration of the generator room next to the playground on the roof.
• Kindergarten of the refugee camp of Burj el Shemali in Tyre: ongoing financial support.

More information on this page. As always, a detailed report will be sent to all our donors.

November 2013: the volunteers of Lebanon Trust are going to Beirut once again!

Again this year our intrepid voluteers are going to spend two weeks of intense work in Lebanon. We will deliver the financing for the speech therapist at the Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf, as well as do much practical work on the school’s premises and play with the children. We will also visit and support financially the kindergartens in the refugee camps as in the past years.

We will post regular updates on this page. Thank you again for your support!

October 25th, 2013: a(nother) big THANK YOU to our generous friends at the North Islington Nursery School & Children’s Centre, UK

Our heartfelt gratitude to staff, children and parents at the North Islington Nursery School & Children’s Centre for their generous support to Lebanon Trust’s projects. Their generosity will go a long way. A special thanks to Clair for all her efforts.

October 18th, 2013: Fundraising night for Lebanon Trust at Turner’s Bar, Tralee

Music by many bands, good food, spot prizes and guaranteed fun: all can be had in one single night at Turner’s Bar in Tralee, and for a good cause to boot!

September 27th, 2013: opening of the new school year at The Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf

On Friday 27th the new school year started at FAID. The school director, Krikor Khasholian, announces it in a message to all our volunteers and supporters:

Dear all,

Greetings from our large family of deaf children and staff in Lebanon!

Trust that this finds you well. We are all doing well here despite of the situation, which is getting worse.

We are glad to inform you that on Friday 27th of September Father Issam Ibrahim opened the current scholastic year with a Chapel Service with prayers and meditations. Students and members of the staff attended the Service.

This year we have 71 children from all areas in Lebanon. Our students present a mixture of the Lebanese society coming from different social backgrounds. At the moment, we are busy with a house full of children who are back to school after a long vacation. They have already settled to their studies and routine.

Our initiatives in developing and improving facilities and resources for pupils and students have been possible only because of the generous gifts, donations and support we receive form our sponsors and friends, without their work and effort the school would not be moving forward. It is a great challenge to see how these students are eager to learn, they need our full support.

We are looking forward to continue our work and efforts together to assist our wonderful children and to give them a better life with brighter future.

Our pupils and staff send their best wishes to you. Wishing you all the best in your important endeavours.

August 30, 2013: fundraiser for Lebanon Trust!

Friday August 30th, at Austin Stacks GAA Hurling and Football Club, Connolly Park, Tralee, Co. Kerry: 9pm, table quiz, followed by food, spot prizes, disco – fun for everyone, and all for a really good cause! All invited!

Update: great fun was had by all on the night, and more than EUR 800 raised for Lebanon Trust’s projects – many thanks to all the participants!

July 25, 2013: cake sale for Lebanon Trust

Ireland’s yummiest home-made cakes on sale in Blanchardstown (Dublin 15) from 10 am to 3 pm – all proceeds will be devoted to our charitable projects.

Our heartfelt thanks to Lebanon Trust’s skilful friends who contributed with their baking masterpieces, and to all others whose generosity allowed a rich collection – more than EUR 650 for our projects! Thank you!

July 2013: a generous donation by Liberty Global, world’s largest international cable company

We are happy and proud to report that Lebanon Trust has been selected as recipient of a matched EUR 1000 donation by Liberty Global’s “IN Givers” programme.

Our heartfelt thanks to Liberty Global and its executive officers for their generosity.

June 2013: an article on the Lebanese English-language newspaper “The Daily Star”

On June 27th The Daily Star, Lebanon’s Eglish-language daily and a leading source of Middle East news and information, published a piece about volunteer work – and about the opportunities offered by Lebanon Trust to foreign volunteers. Enjoy the article and the pictures here (opens new tab).

June 2013: Greetings to all from the pupils of the Father Anderweg Institute for the Deaf

On June 14th the deaf children at FAID organised an art exhibition to celebrate Summer – each class proudly displayed their crafts, showing a real flair of colour and shape.

May 2013: A fantastic fundraising event in London on the occasion of World Book Night

To mark World Book Night, a celebration of reading and books, Lebanon Trust’s supporters Clair and May organised a special event in London (pictured left). May cooked dinner for more than 30 friends from all inhabited continents, who gathered to talk about their favourite reads, and each one brought a second-hand book which was then auctioned off to the highest bidder. These readers – English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Brazilian, African-Caribbean, Jewish, Greek-Cypriot, Maltese, French, Australian, Canadian, American – showed their extraordinary generosity by donating EUR 650 to Lebanon Trust’s projects. A huge THANK YOU to all of them, and especially to Clair and May, two very special women.

April 2013: News from the speech therapist at FAID

Frozina, the speech therapist funded by Lebanon Trust, compiled a very comprehensive report about her activities and progress with the deaf children at The Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf in Beirut. The goals of her work include developing the children’s oral communication, improving their voice in terms of intensity and frequency, minimising word alteration to facilitate comprehension, expanding vocabulary and strengthening lip reading skills. Pupils benefit from both individual and group weekly sessions of speech therapy.

Preschool children (between 3 and 6 years of age) show dramatic improvements in their communication skills, both in expressing themselves through a good vocabulary and in understanding others. Elementary school pupils have progressed in their oral spontaneous communication and in their vocabulary, also thanks to teaching techniques such as songs, that the children truly enjoy. Older pupils still have to work on the structure of their sentences through further therapeutic measures.

Also, the children enjoyed a day on the snow in the beautiful Faraya mountains, north-east of Beirut.

March 2013: a new member of Lebanon Trust’s Body of Officers

We are happy and proud to announce that Noel Conway, from Tralee, is now a member of the Body of Officers of Lebanon Trust, as confirmed by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, in accordance with the provisions of Section 207 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997.

Noel is an exceptional contributor to Lebanon Trust’s projects since several years.

2013: Happy new year to all our friends and supporters

The officers and volunteers of Lebanon Trust wish a happy, healthy and fruitful 2013 to all the friends who have supported them throughout the year. Thanks to your generosity, together we really make a difference for many people.