Philemon Project Preschool - May 2021 Update
GROW Center
Beirut, Lebanon
By God’s grace, the GROW Center (part of the Philemon Project, a legal Christian Lebanese NGO) has weathered the storms of revolution, economic crisis, disaster, and the COVID-19 pandemic. We are still able to provide children with a God-centered experience by giving them a safe, warm, and welcoming climate in which to explore, grow, thrive, and develop.
We wanted to introduce two of our key staff members and share some of their thoughts with you. They have led the project through Lebanon’s many challenges over these past months.
Mireille, GROW manager: “This year was so challenging for us as Lebanese citizens. But despite all the bad circumstances, we are grateful for God’s blessings. When the blast at the Beirut port happened, all the GROW students who live close to the port were safe. God protected them and protected the staff as well. He is using us to support the families who, through their testimonies, praise Him for providing for them. We are able to make each child and family feel special and show them God’s love and acceptance through our work at the center.”
Nairy, GROW coordinator: “It is easy to trust God when everything is going well in life. But since October 2019, when the revolution started, then the economic crisis, the pandemic, and the blast at the Beirut port, I had moments where I started asking God, “Why is all this happening to me in Lebanon now too? Because I left Syria nine years ago, hoping I would never experience brokenness again!” Meanwhile, I had to stand strong to be able to support my family and serve the communities to which God has called me – the GROW center and my church. During this challenging time, we have prayed and asked God to lead us in how to best serve the community during the pandemic. As a result, we have been able, together with the social worker, to visit the families and help them by giving them food and hygiene vouchers, listening to their struggles, and praying for them and their needs. This has been an amazing opportunity to strengthen our relationship with the community by carrying to them the hope and the love we have received and experienced from Jesus Christ our Savior.”
The Philemon Project has been very active during the pandemic shutdowns. We looked for ways to care for the least of these by tangibly showing the love of Christ. During the pandemic, GROW has been providing food vouchers, home visits, and psycho-social support. We conducted rapid assessments by visiting and communicating with many of our families to better understand the community’s situation and challenges in light of the pandemic.
One of our former students, precious Mikael, is pictured here. The first photo is from when he began his time at GROW; he is wearing a gray and red shirt. The second photo is from our “graduation," where our 4-year-olds head off to kindergarten. The last one is from a recent visit that he and his mother made to the center to see Mireille and Nairy.
The GROW Center was instrumental in shaping his life and caring for him and his mother, who is raising him on her own while working as a cleaning lady. Mikael was with us for about three and a half years. He’s now in a Christian boarding school/orphanage, thanks to Mireille, our director, who played a vital role in getting him into that school. From all reports, by God’s grace, he is doing well. He’s smart, articulate, and confident, and most importantly, he knows that God loves him.
Grateful for your partnership,
Robert Hamd
Executive Director
Read more about Philemon Project Preschool HERE.
THE NEED
The Outreach Foundation is seeking $5,000 to assist with scholarships and general operations. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.