Sponsor's update from Kfarhay, Lebanon

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Kfarhay, Lebanon from Winter 2008.

Dear Friend,

When writing this report, we mainly focus on some achievements at SOS Children’s Village - Kfarhay , over the last twelve months. As for our children, they are so enthusiastic when preparing the personal greeting card to their caring sponsors.

Currently 50 children live in 9 SOS Family Houses. During the year 2008, 3 siblings have been admitted. They now feel secure in their SOS home under the care of mother, Nadira. At the end of the school year in June, few of our children didn’t have a good school result. During the summer, they had a special reinforcement course to reach the required level. The SOS educational collaborator helped them to prepare the second chance exam they had to sit at the end of September. They made a good effort and all of them succeeded in the September exam and passed their class. The school success for the academic year 2007 - 2008 is 97%. For the current academic year, 5 children are attending a school for special needs.

Our children like practicing Martial Arts and to know more how human body works. They have been doing taekwondo for more than 10 years. For a change, they suggested learning a new martial art, Aikido. When you ask them what is the difference, they will say : “Taekwondo teaches me how to strike hard and fast and always move whereas Aikido gives the knowledge and ability to take down my challenger without using much of my own energy. Moreover experiencing falls and learning how to defeat inner and outer fears help me to have more self-confidence. ”

At the SOS Youth Houses, there are 18 adolescents who are continuing their academic or technical studies. The SOS Youth Leader gives them a close and individual guidance as well as continuous educational support. 4 SOS Youth who are now semi-independent have succeeded in their official exams. They are continuing the university studies. One is studying law, the second is in telecom engineering faculty, and the last two are studying finance. They are grateful to the moral support and financial aid they are still receiving.

10 SOS Lebanese Youth, among them 3 youth from SOS Children’s Village - Kfarhay, were invited to visit Ireland by the Art for Peace Foundation whose mission is to build cultural bridges among youth from different countries. This youth program focuses on promoting team building, acceptance, and encouragement of peer support as well as conflict resolution. The organisers were greatly impressed by the SOS Youth behavior and their respect for others in spite of their religious and cultural divergence.

Events at Kfarhay, Lebanon

The strenuous unstable situation that has been prevailing in the country for few years now has led us to enlarge the scope of our work, especially where the Family Strengthening Programme (FSP) is being applied. We are now active all over Lebanon. In North Lebanon, where SOS Children’s Village is located, we support actually 72 families. These families face different kinds of difficulties that can potentially lead to child abandonment. The FSP programme offers financial and social support to meet their most urgent needs, while an incoming generating project is developed within each family to lead it towards economic independence and social integration. Preventing child abandonment is one of our major priorities.

Summer 2008 was a peaceful time and our children were so happy to participate in various activities. They were invited to an interesting summer festivity that took place in Mizyara, a famous village located in North Lebanon. The day started with a 5kms cross country with 5,000 participants. Then a guided tour was organised to learn more about the Lebanese heritage and the village customs hundred years ago. In the evening, they assisted to the traditional Lebanese Dance, Dabke, and folklore songs presented by the local troop and choir.

“Defending Our Mediterranean Sea - Do we want to be part of it” is a one open-day activity that was organised by Green Peace. First of all our youth assisted to an exposition that explains the aim and the work of the organisation. Then they watched a film showing the wealth and beauty of the Mediterranean Sea and also its sickness and dirtiness. After lunch, they participated to a workshop entitled “We need actions”. The Youth had to think about actual and tangible actions to be taken to preserve the ecological beauty and the biodiversity of the sea.

It is time to end the report. Kindly receive warm and joyful greetings from SOS Children’s Village - Kfarhay and our grateful feelings for your caring help during this Holy Season and all year through.