Lebanon

Founded in 1868, Blessed School was the first school for the visually impaired in the MENA (Middle East/North Africa) region. In later years, the ministry was expanded to include students with special needs. There are currently 68 students ages 5 to 74 attending including 16 who board. Under the governance of the Lebanese Evangelical Society (LES), Blessed has a partnership contract with the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs.

Our Vision
To educate, support, nourish, and secure the future for our students, trusting that they, like Jesus, need to increase in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52).

Our Goal
Believing that God is love, Blessed School works on different levels: Educational, Vocational, Psychological, and Spiritual.

· Educational Our students have the right to learn; we have individual and collective classes for them, each according to their individual needs. They are also taught basic life and social skills.

· Vocational Beginning at age 16, our students start learning a future profession including these options: catering, carpentry, cane works, art, beads, computer, music, and knitting.

· Psychology Blessed cares for students’ well-being by offering therapy for both students and parents, to make sure that their environment is safe and secure.

· Spiritual Believing that God has His Hand on our work, we start with daily chapel, teaching the Gospel and performing hymns in public places as well for special events like Christmas, and Easter.

Some Recent Updates
Believing that our students have the right to be active members of Lebanese society, Blessed has launched the “I Deserve, and I Can” project, affirming their right to work, earn money, and secure their futures. Blessed School already has many students working as caregivers and office assistants and in data entry and catering.

Knowing that music is a major part of their joy, Blessed School has performed at many big events with famous musicians and singers. A Christmas Medley was published in 2022, enjoy it here:

Blessed works alongside the Ministry of Culture, Red Oak, Istituto Itaiano Di Cultura- Beirut, and Museo Omero of Italy to write information in braille about statues in many Lebanese museums. Entitled “Doors: Please Touch,” this project allows the visually impaired to visit the museums, touch the statues (every Monday), and read the information since this is their right, as well.

With the support of partners and friends of the school who believe in our mission, Blessed was able to offer online teaching, home follow-up, food, and medical support to students and their families during the COVID pandemic.

In 2021, the Blessed School sustained damage from the explosion in the port of Beirut. With the help of local and international partners, Blessed was able to rebuild within three months. We were also able to support one of our students with Down Syndrome whose house was totally destroyed. We relocated him and his family for one full year while their home was being repaired.

Future Plans and Prayer Requests

· We are planning to print the Bible in Braille and distribute it for free.

· We are working to ensure our students have productive futures and plan to expand the catering and carpentry workshops to sell both in Lebanon and worldwide.

· Children under five with special needs have no place to go, not even a nursery school. We plan to start working on this project, along with the psycho-social support of their parents.

Thank you for joining hands with us and believing in our mission,

Toni Haddad, Executive Director of the Lebanese Evangelical Society which oversees Blessed School

Blessed School — Update

Lebanon