Case Studies: former SOS child Kfarhay, Lebanon

Years after having left SOS Children's Village Bhersaf where he grew up, Elie* returned to the organisation as an employee. The 26-year-old teacher at SOS Children's Village Kfarhay in northern Lebanon is extremely dedicated to his job and passionate about it.

Back at the village to help children excel
With an overwhelming passion for SOS Children, which provided him with a loving home in a family environment, and a dedication to the organisation's mission, Elie, the educator at SOS Children's Village Kfarhay in northern Lebanon, is determined to assist all children at the village in developing to their full potential.

Elie, 26, moved into SOS Children's Village Bhersaf, the first village to open in Lebanon and one of four villages currently operating in the country, in 1990. After having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in audio-visual arts, and having interned and worked with the Media for a couple of years, he has returned to help his 'successors' at another SOS Children's Village. "I enjoy my job, because I'm helping children who are in the same situation that I was in when I was a child," says Elie.

Time to give back
"I definitely wanted to give back something to the people who raised me and cared for me when I was in need. Whenever SOS Children's Villages is mentioned, I think of my family, my siblings and the warm home where I grew up. I had a good life in the village; I was brought up like any other child and had everything I wanted. In other words, SOS Children's Villages gave me a good life; I appreciate that and can't ask for more," he says with overwhelming confidence and passion.

Elie was recruited by village director Amine El-Boustany. The two men have known each other for eleven years now, with their relationship going back to the days when Amine was a youth leader at the SOS Youth Facility where Elie lived when he was a teenager. "Elie is an excellent mentor and a very good example for the children to follow. He is very calm and cautious and is constantly looking to diversify his knowledge and develop his capacities and talents."

"His character has helped him learn quickly and lead a successful independent life. Before he left the youth house, he showed everyone that he was able to plan ahead and implement his plans, as well as take responsibility for his actions and assess his decisions, which was proof that he was ready to become independent," says Amine.

Elie's educational approach

During his adolescence, Elie also had a rebellious phase; there were times when he refused to listen to any advice. However, both Amine and Elie agree that this short phase was rewarding as it helped Elie mature and learn from his mistakes. Based on these experiences, he is determined to help all children overcome the challenges that they might face as they grow into teenagers and adults. He focuses on integrating children who are preparing for an independent life into the community.

"My approach with the older children who are about to leave the village and move to a youth house is based on my own experiences. When children become teenagers, they tend to think that they are always right, that they are old enough to make their own decisions and that they don't need to answer or listen to anyone; that's why they need close monitoring and mentoring," explains Elie.

Elie, who adores reading and collecting information about history, politics and arts, among other things, does not only focus on enhancing academia among the children in Kfarhay, but also pays attention to developing their general knowledge and cultural and music education, which he considers as extremely important. "I always plan social games for them, and advise them to play trivia and research matters through the internet. I also often hold joint musical and historical sessions for them to raise awareness on the history of certain musical genres and the influence of particular historical eras on music. Engaging them in various activities is very important," explains Elie.

*The name of the educator has been changed upon his request to protect his privacy. For the same reason, no photos of the educator are available.