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Lebanon Relief Efforts
Each family brings their family registration papers, allowing us to establish the ages and sex of all family members. Registration is completed the day before these families are invited to come and receive their bag of donated clothes.
In addition to families receiving new clothes, distribution of warm winter clothes took place at many schools and orphanages. Local clergy also gave out clothes to poor families in their communities who were not able to make the journey to the distribution point.
Other Activities to Benefit Children
Family Care Lebanon provide inspirational programs for displaced children, working alongside United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
We host a weekly program for underprivileged girls ages 7-13. Through involvement in arts and crafts activities, music and drama, these girls are given an opportunity to express their creativity.
Motivational Volunteer Training Program
Our Motivational Volunteer Training Program (MVTP) is designed to encourage university students to get involved with and trained in efficient social work here in Lebanon. The program also multiplies Family Care Lebanon’s ability to reach out in the community as the volunteers provide an extra influx of manpower that we can channel to various social activities according to the aptitudes & abilities of the students.
The end goal is to help students become more aware of the need of others & to get involved in their communities and thus be more caring citizens.
The classes designed for the Motivational Volunteer Training have been very well received and appreciated, with many students raving about all the things they are learning. Once they complete the course, they then are placed in volunteer work situations under our patronage.
When the students complete the course, they receive a diploma and then are placed so as to best put their talents and skills to use. For example, they may then gather hands on experience:
Visiting the Elderly and Infirm We find that many of the students we work with haven’t had much contact with the elderly. At Old Folks Homes we visit they have the opportunity to mingle with lonely elders. Since it is often their first such encounter, it’s not uncommon that most of the students are nervous at first, but they end up doing wonderfully. Shortly, not only are the students at ease in the situation, but the old folks are delighted with the attention, and on subsequent visitors have dressed up in their finest clothes, to highlight the special event and visitors.
The team visiting originate a few games, sing a few songs, and bring along some snacks. But by far the best part of our visit is the personal time that each student spends talking with the elderly one on one. We can truly say that it s a life changing experience for the students and oldsters alike. Rescue program We distribute packages of food & essentials to the homes of over 40 indigent old folks, as well as a dozen other families. By way of payment for this service, we encourage everyone to in turn do what they can for others. For example, one of the ladies whom we assist goes to check on five of the old folks, taking care of their daily needs: warm meals, cleaning, and state of health.
We have also developed a small network of highly qualified physicians and specialists to take care of the cases we refer to them, free of charge. Though we do not often have to make use of their services, it is a big help to know that there are such dependable professionals ready to help whenever called upon. This allows us to not have to push for hospital admittance which is always very difficult to work out here, except for the most serious cases. We are continuing with our regular cash assistance program for the most destitute, primarily Senior Citizens and underprivileged families. This program channels regular donations designated by contributors to specific cases, which we pass on monthly or quarterly, to cover rent and utilities. We also help sponsor children in need of educational scholarship.
At the Roumieh Prison, the main penal centre in the country, we provide a free English language course to provide inmates with the opportunity to invest their time constructively, and upon their release, a broader base to start their lives over again. This is a program that we undertook in 1998, and which originated with the need to help inmates fight boredom, and has now become a pillar course in the prison. Three of the honor students took turns giving speeches in English, with everyone impressed by their ability to convey their feelings in a second language. The students expressed their gratitude to Family Care volunteers and their “in-house” teachers, the educated men who regrettably found themselves in prison but who decided to turn their ill fortune to the good of others. One of them, S., is a University Graduate in Physics and has now been a volunteer teacher at the prison for 3 years.
An interesting fact: Whatever their religion, we have found that a common factor is that every person in prison has questions for and about God. With respect to their individual religions, we encourage them to speak to God and commune with Him and He will provide the answers they need. Many inmates have testified they have found a renewed faith and relationship with God after being in jail.
In prisons for men, as well as women, we work to better the inmates' living conditions, in addition to supplying nutritious food, clothing, dental and eye care, as well as legal counsel. Additionally, we initiated a micro enterprise program in the men's prison, the manufacturing of clothing and handicrafts. In turn, local businessmen have pledged regular orders from the prisoners, which gives the inmates access to regular income.
At the women's prison, we have someone who volunteered to teach the women how to sew, and to make certain crafts, likewise empowering them to earn an income. They are undertaking the production of innovative greeting cards, as well as Brazilian bracelets which are very popular among the youth here.
Through exposing these products at exhibitions, they are marketed and sold. Among Family Care Lebanon's programs, we are involved with an orphanage and shelter for street kids.
A cheery smile and a hug from a friendly clown can make a
child's day.
United Nation's International Year of Volunteers The goal of our "Smile of Hope" program, which happens at various local hospitals, is to bring laughter and cheer to the young patients. Over 50 times during this past year, two of our young volunteers have dressed up in clown garb and visited the children's ward of a nearby hospital. Every week these teenagers, Katrina and Vesna, would discuss and prepare a small show, while applying clown make-up and then dressing up in their bright and gaudy outfits. Their purpose: To cheer up these young cancer patients and bring some joy and hope into these kids' lives. Every week the young patients would impatiently await their arrival. It was an unassuming role and the girls would sometimes wonder just how much effect they were having. Of course the kids always enjoyed their visits, and they got quite close to them, as well as some of their parents.
During the course of the year, photos that were taken of these activities and submitted to the UN for the 2001 tapestry celebrating the International Year of Volunteers (IYV). We were honored to be approached by the UN who had selected the photo shown at top right, from amongst thousands, requesting permission to use it as one of the main photos for the TV promotion of the IYV! This photo is being published worldwide, with reference made to our work here, as well as our link to Family Care Foundation, etc.
Letter of Recommendation from the United Nations Development Program
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