Fratelli Lebanon: little things that change lives

Little things that make a difference and can change the lives of many people. With this conviction, the Fratelli Lebanon Project Community has shared its latest report on the programmes and actions through which it offers a second chance at education every day to children and young people who are refugees from the war in Syria and religious persecution in Iraq.

“In a year full of challenges, the Fratelli Project has focused on the ‘real life’ happening within our walls: the resilience of mothers, the laughter of children and the dedication of our community”, reads the latest quarterly report, which highlights the importance of vocational training aimed at employment and the self-sustainability of families: “This quarter, our vocational training programmes saw incredible dedication from our participants. Whether learning a new craft or refining a professional skill, these sessions are more than just training: they are a path to a sustainable future”.

In this regard, the report continues, “our beneficiaries have spent countless hours in workshops, moving from theory to practice with grit and determination”, as “the programs focus on practical, market-relevant skills that allow vulnerable youth and adults to improve their family dynamics and economic outlook”.

Programs such as Wings to Fly and Wings provide basic training spaces for access to formal education, while other school support initiatives continue to ensure that vulnerable children have the tools and tutoring they need to succeed, despite the socio-economic crisis.

Other actions in the psychosocial sphere have highlighted the importance of community and non-violent communication through vital sessions involving children and young people. 

In this regard, a number of training and prevention programs have been highlighted, including women’s health care:

• Nadi Al Atfal (The Children’s Club) “Discovering My Feelings” focused on five basic emotions (happiness, sadness, anger, fear and surprise) through stories and games.
• Multaka Al Sabaya (Young Women) developed awareness sessions on sexual harassment and encouraged participation in a community volunteer activity on 20 December.
• Multaka Al Shabab (Youth) promoted sport as a gateway to learning how to regulate emotions, teamwork and leadership development.
• Comprehensive health and women’s empowerment. With the support of Hammoud Hospital, activities were carried out to raise awareness and promote early detection of breast cancer, as well as comprehensive medical care days to assess general health and hormonal balance, and others aimed at empowering motherhood on issues such as self-care, postpartum depression and the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.

The year 2025 ended with a “celebration of life” through football and basketball tournaments and the Rouwwad programme’s Christmas tournament, where “our fields were a testament to the joy of sport”.

The Fratelli Lebanon Project is a joint initiative of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and the Marist Brothers of Champagnat, located on the outskirts of Beirut and Saida (Lebanon), with the aim of promoting the inclusion of the most vulnerable through socio-educational programmes. The Fratelli Lebanon community includes Marist Brothers Jean Aimé Randrianasolo, FMS (Madagascar) and Jude Mary, FMS (Nigeria), Lasallian Brothers Guillermo Moreno, FSC (Spain) and Carlos Pérez, FSC (Mexico), as well as lay Lasallian volunteer Ricardo Vergel from Colombia.