By Zainab Chamoun | Project Leader
As you know, during the month of December Adyan launched a special fundraising Christmas appeal via ‘GlobalGiving’. The appeal aimed to raise funds for children with special needs at Blessed School in Beirut, which was badly damaged by the Beirut explosion.
Thanks to your generosity, and the generosity of people around the world, the campaign successfully raised $5,322. With these funds, we bought an individual educational toy for each student at the school (a total of 76 toys), specialized for their needs. These include memory and creative puzzle games, a pottery wheel, a musical xylophone, Lego, wool for knitting, and toys that involve colours and shapes, magnets, numbers and letters, paint, sand art and more.
Funds are also being used to cover smart tablets for the school, to help the students with their learning. Students will have access to over 15 tablets to practice and develop their motor skills, and to benefit from a wide range of disability-friendly applications and features.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who donated to this special appeal. The money you kindly gave will allow us to lift the spirits of these children, who represent so much light and hope despite the devastating situation in Beirut.
Due to the complete lockdown in Lebanon, as part of the Covid-19 prevention measures, it saddens us that we still have not gotten the chance to distribute the gifts and tablets in person to the children. The students were due to return to Blessed School on 4 January, with Adyan’s visit scheduled for 7 January. However, 2021 started with an alarming spike in Covid-19 cases in Lebanon, resulting in a lockdown from 7 January until 22 March. This means the doors of Blessed School, like all schools in Lebanon, are closed, with the children staying at home for their safety. We plan to distribute the gifts as soon as schools are open and it is safe to do so.
We are, however, eager to tell you about the few occasions that we interacted with the children in December before Christmas. On 16 December, we watched the children gather at the school to decorate the Christmas tree together. We were moved and inspired by their relentless eagerness to give and spread happiness in Beirut
Furthermore, despite the trauma and destruction caused to Beirut and their school, the children insisted on organizing their annual festive street event just before Christmas. Just as they do every year, the children from Blessed School wanted to fill the neighbourhood with music and hope. Children such as Abir, Patrick, Gerome, Nicolas and Omar proudly rehearsed Christmas songs every day to make their event more magical! On 22 December 2020, the Christmas street celebration took place in the centre of Beirut, where the children filled the neighborhood with joy. They are our inspiration to keep giving!
“Watching them sing on stage makes me appreciate the human spirit and meaning of life”
says Linda Macktaby, Director of Blessed School.
We are looking forward to giving something in return and bringing joy to their hearts after the lockdown ends soon! We will make sure to update you with more pictures and stories after we distribute the gifts and celebrate a belated festive season with them.
As promised, together we can help them reach their full potential! Thank you again for joining our journey in giving these children equal learning opportunities. Your generous and compassionate donation made all of this possible, and we are so grateful to have you as a part of our global community of Adyan supporters and friends.
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