Hope for Syrian Students - November 2019 Update
Lebanon
In 2016, with more than 1.2 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon–60% of them school age–the National Evangelical [Presbyterian] Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL) came up with a vision: open a school for some of these refugee children and offer them the Syrian curriculum so that they could both build upon their previous education and be prepared to return to their “normal schools” once the war was over. There would soon be six such schools, all under the oversight of a local Presbyterian Church.
Today they are concentrating on their four main schools: Tripoli and Minyara in the north, Kab Elias/Beqaa Valley in the east, and Tyre in the south. The budget for each school for the entire academic year averages about $72,000. This includes the modest cost of the teachers, who work for well below the “normal” salary for a teacher because this is a ministry of love. Most of these teachers are members of the Presbyterian church.
As this new school year began in early October, enrollment was as follows:
Tripoli school: 105 students
Minyara school: 65 students
Kab Elias school: 120 students
Tyre school: 75 students
Just a few weeks ago, as I was leading a team into Iraq, we spent a few days in Lebanon and made time to visit, again, the school in Kab Elias. Here, Mrs. Ramak Abboud (whose husband, Tony, pastors the nearby Presbyterian Church in Khirbet Kanafer) oversees this transformational ministry with love, compassion and a quiet but resolute commitment to give witness to the Good News as she and her teachers serve the children whose families are not yet able to return to Syria, despite the (close to) ending of the fighting there.
With deep gratitude for your gifts and your partnership in Christ’s mission,
Marilyn Borst
Associate Director for Partnership Development
Through this and many other efforts of the Church in Syria and Lebanon, Christ is glorified and his name made known. We hear Paul’s word, “do not grow weary in well doing.” We invite you to continue with us on this journey of accompaniment. Make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.
Read more about Hope for Syrian Students HERE.
Outreach team with Mrs. Ramak Abboud (center)