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Life at Caritas Lebanon
Caritas Lebanon says goodbye to Father Louis Samaha and prepares to welcome Father Simon
Faddoul
After two
consecutive mandates as President of Caritas
Lebanon, Father Louis Samaha is handing over
to his successor. On the 16th February 2010,
Father Simon Faddoul will take over for a
first three-year mandate; he was elected by
the Assembly of Patriarchs and Catholic
Bishops in Lebanon, last November.
Since the beginning of December 2009, all
Sectors, Centers and other structures of
Caritas Lebanon pay tribute to Father
President and officially say goodbye to him,
through various ceremonies that have been
scheduled for the occasion. Father Samaha’s
mandate commenced in January 2004 and is
highlighted by several accomplishments
regarding the reinforcement of the primary
health services provided by the
Medico-Social Centers and the Mobile
Clinics, the support to vulnerable people
through the foundation of three humanitarian
centers (See Details Chapter Activities/
Health and Humanitarian Centers) and the
opening of The Friendship Meal restaurants
for disfavored people, in five areas of
Lebanon. The Evening Studies Program has
been launched also in five cities and
provides children living in difficult
conditions with the right educational
support to facilitate their learning and
their academic success. New socio-economic
development programs, implemented in
cooperation with local and international
partner, mainly target inhabitants of rural
areas, youth and women, in view of stopping
their migration towards the main cities.
Moreover, two other achievements were made
in the frame of Caritas Lebanon support to
young people, the nation’s future. In 2008,
the Youth Center for Dialogue and
Reconciliation was founded in Rayfoun, in
order to provide them with a place to meet
and meditate. Also, inaugurated last fall,
the Higher Institute for Technical Education
offers various
free-of-charge
technical and professional education
that lead to
leading to
official
Lebanese
degrees in
technical education.
A series of seminars set up in collaboration
with Secours Catholique led to the
elaboration of a three-year Strategic Plan
(2009-2011) and constituted by seven
priorities: Health, Humanitarian centers,
Promotion of vulnerable people, Economic
development, Migrant Center, Peace and
Reconciliation, Emergency.
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