Blessed School in Lebanon — Update
In early October, a team from The Outreach Foundation, led by Associate Director Marilyn Borst, paid a visit to the Blessed School on their way to Syria …
Blessed School, tucked away in a poor area of Beirut and founded by English missionaries in 1868 as a school for the blind, now primarily serves those on the autism spectrum and with mental challenges. Our short visit with Rev. Linda Maktaby, who directs this faithful ministry, and Tony Haddad, who runs the Lebanese Evangelical Society which oversees this tender place, was a reminder of Christ’s call to serve “the least of these” whom He loves. Often outcasts from their own families and communities, at Blessed School they find loving care and shelter from the broken world that too often rejects them. With most of the students placed here by Lebanese social services, they know that Blessed School will open its doors to some of the more challenging children who are not accepted by other institutions. Some are Syrian or Palestinian refugees; others come from Lebanese families. All find acceptance and love here.
We heard about some of the newer students like Rafat, a Palestinian boy from one of the camps. His mental challenges meant he was often beaten by others. Although loved by his parents, they could not care for him. He is experiencing “school” here for the first time because he was never accepted to study anywhere else.
Roberto is a 13-year-old whose disfigured face often made him a target for bullies. His father was once a successful businessman, but his partner swindled the firm and now he cannot support Roberto in school.
Charbel was abused by his mom and has visible scars from that. Weary of caring for him, she abandoned him in the street, with a note that directed the finder to call Linda who should/would come and take him to Blessed. A tall, gentle young man, he arrived with only the clothes he was wearing. Outreach made a small gift on the spot so that he could be provided with clothes and shoes.
Linda Maktaby faces many challenges to keep the school open. To begin with, the bankrupt government of Lebanon is years behind in sending payments from Social Services for the students they place in the school. On top of this, the economic collapse in the country has severely devalued the local currency (by close to 90%) and so, one-third of Blessed’s staff left as the new year began because the cost of their transportation to the school is now greater than the paycheck they receive from the school.
With 78 children/young people under her care (18 of whom are boarding students) Linda’s biggest challenge is paying her staff who serve in this challenging ministry, as the nature of some of the extreme emotional and physical needs of the students require a low staff-to-student ratio. It may be that the staff could find easier places to use their gifts and skills…. but probably few of those feel quite as “blessed.”
Read more about the Blessed School in Lebanon HERE.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts to support the mission and ministry of Blessed School. All gifts of any size are welcomed to help set up new workshops for skills development and to provide scholarships for students. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.