Home of Hope Beirut — January 2023 Update
By Mr. Toni Haddad, Executive Director of the Lebanese Evangelical Society, which oversees the ministry of Home of Hope
From 1975 to 1990, civil war raged in Lebanon, causing enormous destruction. As a result, countless families were torn apart, and many children were forced to search the streets for food and usable materials — a heartbreaking sight that the Lebanese had not been used to until the war. Increasing social conflicts and rising criminality among unprotected children eventually led to the establishment of Home of Hope (HOH) in 1999 as the first Lebanese institution to care for street children. HOH is part of the Lebanese Evangelical Society, which runs several schools including one for children with special needs.
The residents of the HOH are children affected by traumas including physical and psychological abuse, neglect, and loss. Many of them come from the streets, where they were forced to steal or beg for money. Others have been victims of sexual abuse, drug experimentation, or organ trafficking. Such horrific experiences leave deep scars, so the children are confronted not only with difficult living conditions but also deep internal traumas, which they find difficult to process without help.
For this reason, the HOH pursues two goals. The first goal is to offer the children perspective. This is achieved by providing them with everything they need to gain a foothold in society including providing a school education based on Arabic and English and learning a healthy lifestyle. The children are also introduced to craft skills. The second goal is to focus on the long-term inner stability of the children. For this purpose, the staff includes childcare workers, social workers, psychologists, and trauma specialists. Together, they work with the children on ways to advance their inner healing process.
Home of Hope has housed almost 3,000 children to date. The home is designed for up to 60 residents. In times of need, however, more than 80 children have lived there. Somehow, there is always room for one more child.
The children may stay at HOH until they turn 18 but they are free to go back to their families if they wish. Sometimes the child may even be placed in a foster family. Whatever the child's path, the hopes and prayers of HOH are that each child will find stability and grow into an independent person.
With gratitude for your help in bringing Hope and healing to traumatized, neglected, and abused children so that they may be led to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ,
Toni Haddad
Read more about Home of Hope Beirut HERE.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts to support the mission and ministry of Home of Hope Beirut. All gifts of any size are welcomed to help set up new workshops for skills development, provide food relief in the midst of Lebanon’s unstable economy, and allow for small improvements to the old building currently occupied by Home of Hope. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.