Monthly Archive

This is Andrea, she is 2 years and 7 months and she adores the ballet class. The smile on her face is more rewarding than anything else.

 This morning I received the following text by mail and I agree a 100% with it:

Lebanon is going through a very difficult period on many different levels but most importantly on a street level.

I URGE everyone to try your best to calm the people around you. Now is not the time to ‘talk’ or to inflame friends and neighbours.

Please practice restraints!

If we allow them, the political crisis our politicians are putting us through will soon spill onto our streets!

If WE, as sovereign and independent Lebanese citizens, do nothing to stop it we will have a civil war on our hands again!

We have to use our rational and our common sense and not be manipulated into hatred of one another and street expressions!

None of us want to see our children fighting and killing each other on the streets again!

None of us want to witness a new wave of death, hate, destruction and humiliation again!

None of us want to be manipulated and treated like sheep without any will or conscious again!

None of us want to live in fear of sending our children to their universities and schools where students are being bullied and bitten for expressing an opinion again!

Please talk to your children and friends and convince them:

Not to rise to provocation
Not to allow anyone to push their buttons
Not to be source of provocation
Not to inflame other’s political and/or religious loyalties
Not to get into a war of words with others over politics or religion
Not to get into fist-fights or feuds with others over politics or religion
Not to destroy or assist in the destruction of another’s properties/cars over politics or religion
Not to be influenced into expressing their opinions in our streets !

If you love our Lebanon, please forward this message to as many Lebanese as you possibly can …

…so that we can help calm and defuse a highly explosive situation and maybe avert a crisis!

Our country’s survival and the lives of our children depend on our collective efforts!

Peace be upon us all!

Domestic violence happens everywhere. It affects someone near you. At least 1 in 3 women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Usually, the abuser is a member of her own family or someone known to her.

Get active against domestic violence as part of the 16 Days of Activism.

Kicking off on November 25 - International Day Against Violence Against Women – make the human rights of women your business. For 16 days, until December 10 - Human Rights Day – you can take a different action every day. Tell the world about this human rights scandal and make governments act on their obligations to women.

Be an activist against domestic violence!

Shelter Stories
Take a new action every day to help shelters for domestic violence survivors.

March Against Domestic Violence
Play our activist online game and join Amnesty International’s virtual march.

Break the silence surrounding domestic violence!

Take a look on the following link:
http://web.amnesty.org/actforwomen/shelters-251106-index-eng

As you can see we hold a benefit concert at AUB assembly hall and proceeds go to our Center for Fine and performing Arts. It is on Dec 9 and we do hope that the situation in here will have calmed down.

Dec. 1, World AIDS Day: 5 Things You Can Do

We are all mourning, mourning the death of -another- young man, another loss on the political scene. Do not misunderstand me: I am not talking politics I am talking about the following: Who has the right to systematically kill one after the other?  We mourn Sheikh Pierre and with him all the others who lost their lives and who were mutilated. We are crying because a country is loosing good people, people who fight for their country and want to give it a brighter future. We want to denounce the violation of the Human Rights. We ask for independence and freedom and free expression of opinion without being threatened or assasinated.

As christians we pray silently, yesterday night we celebrated Eucharist for Lebanon and prayed and still pray, but Lord you do sometimes seem far away…but at the same time I want to cry aloud with Psalm 22. My God have you forsaken us?

Today is supposed to be Lebanon’s 63 rd independence day. Following the assasination yesterday of Minister Pierre Gemayal, the President Lahoud announced 3 days of official mourning and canceled the festivities planned for the Independence day.

Many horrible things happened  yesterday night though everyone, the father of the victim and also Patriarch Sfeir admonished people to calm down.

Reflecting on what happened I recall: I first heard about the assasination at 4 15PM. I had 2 Art classes running: one piano and one of traditional dances. I hurried and informed the teacher and talked to the students and helpend them to get home. All of our kids’ homes are in the area so they do not have to walk very far. As usual the mobile network shuts down for about an hour or even more, so trying to call friends on their mobiles in a useless effort. When trying to call the Drama teacher, I heard she already was on her way knowing of nothing. The assasination happened at about 3 km from our NGO. Some mothers called some kids did not know and arrived for the next class, some I accompanied home. This all took me till 6, I then was able to assure myself that my friend who’s pregnant and her sister safely arrived home, because they had been shopping in the same area of the crime. Then while driving the drama teacher home, many of the roads were closed by road blocks: youth screaming and burning tires…Are we going back to internal conflicts? Do we really need all this right now? Where is the general purpose? What do we go for? Is there Überhaupt a common goal?

My God, didn’t we learn enough from the last July war 2006? Pierre Gemayel was assasinated. Another murder another crime….till when….his driver took him to the hospital but he was already dead though the news was only officially announced once he was at the hospital. People are angry burn tires and scream and mass demonstrations are heading towards the presidential palace…

this I read at the Daily Star newspaper online:

Prominent Christian politician Pierre Gemayel was assassinated in a suburb of Beirut on Tuesday his death will heighten the political tension in Lebanon, where Hezbollah has threatened to topple the government if it does not get a bigger say in Cabinet decision making.Witnesses said Gemayel was shot in his car in Jdeideh. The witnesses said a car rammed Gemayel’s car from behind

2007

JANUARY 2007

• 1
  • Mary, Mother of God - Catholic Christian
  • Feast of St Basil - Orthodox Christian
• 5
  • Twelfth Night - Christian
• 6
  • Epiphany - Christian
  • Feast of the Theophany - Orthodox Christian
  • Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings) - Christian
• 7
  • Feast of the Nativity - Orthodox Christian
  • Baptism of the Lord Jesus - Christian
• 18-25
  • Week of Prayer for Christian Unity  - Christian
• 20
  • Hijra - New Year * - Islam
• 25
  • Conversion of St. Paul - Christian
• 28
  • Triodion begins - Orthodox Christian
• 29
  • Ashura * - Islam

FEBRUARY 2007

• 2
  • Candlemas - Christian
• 11
  • Meatfare - Orthodox Christian
• 14
  • St. Valentines Day - Christian
• 18
  • Transfiguration Sunday - Christian
  • Cheesefare Sunday - Orthodox Christian
• 19
  • Clean Monday (Lent begins) - Orthodox Christian
• 20
  • Shrove Tuesday - Christian
• 21
  • Ash Wednesday (Lent begins) - Christian
• 25
  • Sunday of Orthodoxy - Orthodox Christian

MARCH 2007

• 1
  • St. David of Wales - Christian
• 17
  • St Patrick’s Day - Christian
• 20
  • Mawlid an Nabi * - Islam
• 25
  • Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Christian
• 27
  • Ramanavami ** - Hindu
• 31
  • Mawlid an Nabi * - Islam
  • Lazarus Saturday - Orthodox Christian

APRIL 2007

• 1
  • Palm Sunday - Christian
• 5
  • Maundy Thursday - Christian 
• 6
  • Good Friday - Christian
  • Holy Friday - Orthodox Christian
• 8
  • Easter - Christian
  • Easter/Pascha - Orthodox Christian
• 23
  • St George’s Day - Christian
• 30
  • St. James the Great Day - Orthodox Christian

MAY 2007

• 3
  • St. Phillip and St. James the Lesser - Christian
• 17
  • Ascension of Christ - Christian
• 27
  • Pentecost - Christian
  • Trinity - Orthodox Christian

JUNE 2007

• 3
  • All Saints Day - Orthodox Christian
  • Trinity Sunday - Christian
• 7
  • Corpus Christi- Catholic Christian
• 11
  • Trinity - Christian
• 15
  • Sacred Heart of Jesus - Catholic Christian
• 24
  • Saint John the Baptist  - Christian
• 29
  • Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul - Christian

JULY 2007

• 11
  • St Benedict Day - Catholic Christian
• 15
  • St. Vladimir Day - Orthodox Christian
• 25
  • St. James the Great Day - Christian

AUGUST 2007

• 1
  • Lammas - Christian
• 6
  • Transfiguration of The Lord - Orthodox Christian
• 11
  • Lailat al Miraj * - Islam
• 15
  • Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary - Catholic Christian
  • Dormition of the Theotokos - Orthodox Christian
• 28
  • Lailat al Bara’ah *  Islam

  29

  • Beheading of John the Baptist - Christian

SEPTEMBER 2007

• 1
  • Church year begins - Orthodox Christian
• 8
  • Nativity of Mary - Christian
• 13
  • Ramadan begins * - Islam
• 14
  • Elevation of the Life Giving Cross/Holy Cross Day - Christian
• 29
  • Michael and All Angels - Christian

OCTOBER 2007

• 4
  • St Francis Day - Catholic Chrisian
• 6
  • St. Thomas Day - Ortodox Christian
• 9
  • Laylat el Qadr * - Islam
• 18
  • St. Luke’s Day - Christian
• 27
  • Reformation Day - Protestant Christian
• 28
  • Milvian Bridge Day - Christian
• 31
  • All Hallows Eve - Christian
  • Reformation Day - Protestant Christian

NOVEMBER 2007

• 1
  • All Saints’ Day - Christian

  2

  • All Souls’ Day -  Christian
• 15
  • Nativity Fast begins - Orthodox Christian
• 25
  • Christ the King Christian
• 30
  • St. Andrew’s Day - Christian

DECEMBER 2007

• 2,9,16,23
  • Sundays of Advent - Christian
• 8
  • Immaculate Conception - Catholic Christian
• 12
  • Feast day - Our Lady of Guadalupe - Catholic Christian
• 16
  • Posadas Navidenas begins - Christian
• 18
  • Hajj begins * - Islam
• 20
  • Eid al Adha * - Islam
• 21
  • Yule - Christian
  • St. Thomas Day - Christian
• 25
  • Christmas * - Christian
  • Feast of the Nativity ** - Orthodox Christian
• 26
  • St Stephen’s Day - Christian
• 28
  • Holy Innocents - Christian
• 30
  • Feast of the Holy Family - Catholic Christian
• 31
  • Watch Night - Christian

Tomorrow Nov 19 is the international day against child abuse. Also here in Lebanon there is a huge campaign. Below you can see the poster with the different kinds of child violence, from verbal abuse to GBV (Gender based violence) and sexual abuse, school and domestic violence.

Friday classes are: Drama, piano and choir. The choir class is a class in which the kids sing but also learn HOW to sing and to use percussion instruments. This was their first class and they got to know one another and learned how to use certain instruments.

Just have a look at this ballet class with Ms Rana for which 20 children enrolled. Today they had their first lesson. It is really fascinating  to watch those small kids enjoy the lesson of their dreams.

A friend of mine sent me this link. It is worth watching it and admiring what a father does for and with his son!

Pauline singing a solo. This is her first outing after she underwent scoliosis surgery in June and had to recover for 4 months. She is a teacher for children with special needs and teaches hearing impaired children in sign language.

The church of “Saydet el Zourou3″ where we prayed together with “Darb El Sama” and “Deir El khafi”. Hearing impaired young people danced (choreography).

While animating the Eucharist with Gabriel Sassi directing the choir.

As you can see above we went with our group (around 30 persons) to animate Mass. A joyful event.

As you can see we have a minibus with special modifications in order to make it accessible for people with special needs. We then had lunch together. Unfortunately as usual in Lebanon, there are very few accessible places for disabled. I wonder why nobody talks about this. Is it because those people rarely go out?

This morning we went to IC and had a meeting with 28 students (aged 16 - 18)who will be volunteering with Ayadina. IC stands for International College and is one of the best schools in Beirut. This is a great opportunity and the youth seem enthusiastic. They will participate in our activities according to their capacities and availibility. This volunteering is part of the community service students have to enroll in but they have many options to choose from and we are happy they joined us.

Like last year “L’union des Français à l’Etranger” made a big campaign and offered anti-grippe vaccination to many senior citizens. They go from dispensary to dispensary and today was our turn. We went with about 40 elderly to the Armenian Relief Cross where they were freely vaccinated.

This is the waiting room at the Armenian Relief Cross.

One of our senior citizens being vaccinated.

Bomb Explosion Near Tarik Jedideh Police Station, No Casualties (from Naharnet, Lebanese newspaper)
A bomb exploded near a police station in Beirut Sunday night on the eve of a dialogue session among Lebanon’s rival leaders to consider Hizbullah calls for a government of national unity, security sources said.
They said no one was hurt in the bomb that went off in a parking lot near the Tarik Jedideh police station in Beirut. No other details were given.

Witnesses said the bomb exploded under a vehicle parked in the parking lot, causing damage.

Unknown gunmen fired a rifle grenade at the Helou police garrison in Beirut on Wednesday, causing minor material damage but no casualties.

The grenade explosion was the second on the Helou garrison in nearly three weeks.

Sunday’s blast was part of a series of assaults aimed at destabilizing the security situation in Lebanon.

Five similar security incidents took place in Beirut last month.

The Lebanese government recently decided to set up a network of surveillance cameras in Beirut and its suburbs, two years after the start of a spate of bombing attacks that mainly targeted figures who opposed Syrian domination.

Among those targeted was former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed by a massive car bomb in the capital in February 2005. (Naharnet-AFP) (AP photo shows a Lebanese soldier taking evidence from the scene of the explosion)

Parents gathered to receive info about the Art programs offered at Ayadina. The meeting yesterday was one out of 3. Today there is an individual meeting with each family in order to make a social investigation and then onTuesday a selection will be made according to certain criteria of which talent is the last one.

Yesterday a very nice dance performance took place at Ayadina. Simon Sarkis and his group performed Andalusian dances. Have a look at the pictures:

Simon will be teaching dance at our Art Academy.

Marjet and Nancy, 2 Belgian educational researchers, visited Lebanon and together we visited some appropriate sites in order to establish relationships, to see how life and its hardships here affects youth and how do they cope with life in general. A very interesting project.

Today is the first day of the children’s program. Parents and children will receive information about the current programs, the children will have a mime animation while the parents have the opportunity to chat with the teachers. Tomorrow there will be a social investigation with each family seperately and then on Tuesday there will be an audition in order to select the children. First criterium: social weaknesses, last one: talent. To put it clear: children who are exposed to danger (drugs….father in jail and mother working) will be taken before children who are really talented.

Then at 6 pm there will be an international dance performance by Simon Sarkis and his group.