Lebanon
In Beirut, Lebanon, we have been working with the local Tahaddi Community Centre in the Hay el Gharbeh, slum quarter of the city, since 2017. Thanks to funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior and, to a large extent, from our individual donors who support our Lenten collection, we provide food and material aid, education and medical care for those most in need – Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese and stateless families.
We provide food in the form of vouchers, baby diapers or formula, and basic household items such as blankets, heaters, low-cost washing machines, cookers and refrigerators. We support the reacquisition of personal documents (ID cards, birth and marriage certificates, etc.), which are absolutely essential for access to some services and for the possible future return of refugees back to Syria.
We are also funding the running of a kindergarten, a sewing workshop for women and, most importantly, a community centre for approximately 50 students who can receive basic education in Arabic, mathematics, English, IT and science, as well as learn a craft in an equipped carpentry and sewing workshop. We also support the running of a community health centre that provides basic primary care and prevention.
The ambassador for supporting the Tahaddi Community Education Centre is Pavel Drdel, chef and owner of the Strakonice restaurant Salt & Beetroot, whose Lent Cookbook – as well as products from the sewing workshop – are available for purchase on our charity e-shop Pomahejdarkem.cz (Help with a Present).