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A Quarterly Newsletter by the Lebanese Youth of the Order of Malta
THE LEBANESE YOUTH POST #04
January ‘11
A Íecial ‘Thank You’ Ïom all the youth
to Abboud Homsi, our great Santa!
Éditorial
Le Programme de Parrainage: une nouvelle initiative au centre de Ain El Remaneh
Dans leur continuel effort visant à améliorer la qualité de vie
des personnes du troisième âge faisant partie du centre de
Ain El Remaneh, les Jeunes de l’Ordre de Malte ont crée le
programme de Parrainage qui permettra à ces derniers de
rester en contact avec ces familles démunies, être à leur coté
et subvenir à leurs besoins.
Le programme de Parrainage consiste à avoir des binômes de
deux volontaires qui s’engagent à rendre visite aux personnes
âgées une fois par mois, à leur prodiguer de l’attention, à passer
du temps avec elles et à les sortir de leur solitude. Au cours
de leur visite, les jeunes offriront à ces personnes un paquet
contentant de la nourriture ainsi que des produits sanitaires.
Ceci est en grande partie possible grâce aux nombreuses
donations généreuses qui nous ont été faites.
En cas de logements en mauvais état, et selon les besoins et
possibilités, des réparations seront faites par les jeunes afin de
pouvoir rendre leur logement décent et habitable. Également et
selon les besoins, des habits leur seront distribués.
20 personnes sont concernées par cette initiative; et ce
programme ne peut réussir qu’avec la participation de jeunes
volontaires motivés et enthousiastes à l’idée de venir en aides
aux plus démunis.
Nous comptons sur votre participation!
Line Tabet
Responsable du programme de parrainage
“I ask you not what is your color, your language, your race or your religion but tell me what your sufferance is”
AN OVERVIEW OF OUR ACTIVITIES
Chabrouh with kids and kids at heart
A ‘Christmassy’ day in Deir El Salib
By Nicholas Wingfield Digby, British volunteer
By Mia Hochar and Serge Kaldany, Lebanese volunteers
Talking of Faraya: we have just returned from a weekend
in Chabrouh working with the Youth of the Lebanese Order
of Malta to give a group of twenty children from broken
families and/or poor backgrounds two days of pure, unadulterated
fun. They were utterly spoiled with chocolate cakes, exceedingly
good food (even the gourmands among the Lebanese Youth rose
their eyebrows at the quality), a range of extremely well organized
activities coordinated magnificently by the indomitable Fouad
Aoun, and one glorious pillow fight in which even the most stuffy
and mature of the volunteers could not resist taking part. This all
culminated in a present-giving session on Sunday afternoon which
apportioned a spread of different gifts to the children to take back
home, perhaps as a reminder of a fun weekend or maybe as just
another thing to play with. Either way, twenty self-evidently happy
girls and boys were bundled into their snow-beleaguered bus and
sent back to Beirut with smiles and screams of joy, and lots of
thumbs up. So I think that was a huge success and final expressions
of gratitude should definitely be paid to Daniel Hochar who managed
absolutely everything, put so much effort into the weekend’s smooth
organization and from the excellent food through to the summoning
of the quintessential snow plow, he laid the groundwork for success
and steered us around a number of salient crises.
With the Christmas holiday at our
doorstep, the young volunteers of
the Order of Malta met on Saturday
December 18th with Santa Clause and the
boys of Deir El Salib, at the hospital, for
an afternoon filled with happiness and
laughter.
and presents for every boy. We then went on
to do what we do best, whatever they want,
consisting mostly of chilling and laughing
with them, full-on Chabrouh attitude. Every
one of our boys is phenomenal in his own
way, and we all want to make the most of
their company.
For every volunteer who knows the boys,
it’s always heartwarming to see the look on
their faces as we take our first steps into the
rooms. This feeling is mutual: it’s always a
joyful occasion to see our beloved friends;
we speak for ourselves but also for everybody
who helped us during that day when we say
that it might even be more fun for us than
it is for them. The afternoon consisted of
singing and dancing, and a surprise visit of
Santa Clause, who distributed chocolates
There are way too many boys and not enough
volunteers or time to insure that their wants
and needs are taken care of. Unfortunately,
the afternoon ended rather quickly, maybe
too quickly, but as always, we leave with a
smile on our faces and good stories to share
with our family and fellow volunteers. At the
end of the day, even though we were there
to serve them and entertain them it is us
who end up learning what it’s like to see life
through an innocent eye.
Un Noël festif à Chabrouh
Par Joanne el Choueiri, volontaire libanaise
Holiday spirit with the elderly
By John Greerty, American volunteer
Last week I accompanied the Youth Auxiliary of the Order of
Malta of Lebanon on a very enjoyable Christmas lunch with
dozens of local elderly men and women. Although I am no
stranger to the Order’s work, the genuine charity that I have observed
from the Order here in Lebanon in the last month that I have been
living here has truly been beyond comparison. This past weekend was
no exception. The lunch took place in an Order owned and operated
center around 20 minutes north of Beirut with local elderly men and
women, many of whom are struggling with various illnesses.
Our day began around 9:30 when we met several of the elderly
at the Order’ center of Ain el Remmaneh in Beirut. From there,
we traveled together by bus to the lunch location, where other
guests and volunteers had already gathered. The trip allowed
everyone the opportunity to get to know each other better through
conversation and group prayer. Upon arrival, everyone was excited
to see that an amazing lunch spread featuring classic Lebanese
dishes was already laid out awaiting us. Several long tables were
meticulously set. As the guests were seated, volunteers decked
out in white Malta aprons waited on them, bringing appetizers
and drinks. The mood was lively. Before breaking bread, several
of the guests broke out into spontaneous singing that garnered
enthusiastic applause. Many of the guests took individual turns
singing traditional Lebanese songs that everyone seemed to know.
As lunch began, first the guests were served, and then everyone
sat down together for a delicious meal finished off with coffee and
various desserts. After lunch, one of the volunteers took up the
guitar for more singing and dancing while guests and volunteers
alike moved around socializing. Of course, no Christmas occasion
would be complete without an appearance from Papa Noel, and as
the lunch wound down, the big man himself arrived with a sack of
presents and personally handed one out to each and every guest.
The day ended as it began, with everyone wearing a genuine smile
and in a festive and cheerful holiday spirit. This event, along with
others I have attended here in Lebanon, served as a reminder that
although we all face difficulties in life, both the giving and receipt of
charity brings out the actual relativity of those issues. For at least
one afternoon last week, everyone involved felt only the simple joy
and serenity that comes with service to our fellow man, and that is
what Christmas is all about.
Afin de m’éloigner de la routine
pesante du quotidien, j’ai décidé de
participer au camp de Chabrouh du
26 au 30 décembre. L’esprit de Noël dans
le cœur, j’étais enfin en route, ne sachant
toutefois à quoi m’attendre.
J’avais l’impression que tout le monde se
soutenait afin de faire de ce séjour l’un des
plus épanouissant. Les filles semblaient
comblées, ce qui nous encourageait à nous
impliquer et à nous donner encore plus pour
faire perdurer leurs sourires rayonnants.
Un sentiment d’appréhension m’envahissait.
Une fois arrivée, je rencontrais les vingt-trois
filles venues spécialement de Deir el Qamar
afin de partager avec nous, les quelques
volontaires, des moments inoubliables.
Nous prîmes part à de nombreuses activités
divertissantes telles que le fashion show, la
séance beauté, des spectacles hilarants, et
surtout des danses et des chants…
Pour clôturer le camp en beauté, le père
Noël nous a rendu une petite visite. Nous
l’avons accueilli chaleureusement avec un
flot d’applaudissements et de chansons
pleines d’entrain. Après quatre magnifiques
journées, nous nous sommes finalement
quittés avec un petit pincement au cœur,
nous promettant de nous revoir le plus vite
possible.
L’ambiance d’enthousiasme et d’échanges
mutuels qui régnait nous a permis de mieux
connaître et comprendre les filles. Chaque
moment de la journée s’avérait être plus
enrichissant que le précédent.
LES JEUNES À L’ORDRE
“The Lebanon Project” awarded in Berlin
On November 18th 2010, the German and Lebanese youth of
the Order of Malta were awarded the “Golden Victoria” prize by
the Association of German Publishers for “The Lebanon Project”.
The prize honored the wide-ranging efforts of the youth with the
disabled boys of Deir el-Salib and the Chabrouh camps.
The Lebanese youth were represented by the members responsible
of the organization of the camps: Patrick Jabre, Tania Arwachan
and Carl Madi. A very touching laudatory speech was given by
Reinhard Zinkann, owner and chairman of Miele, who expressed
his admiration towards the commitment of the young volunteers of
the Order. Very prestigious guests were present at the ceremony,
such as European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso,
awarded with the “European of the Year Golden Victoria”; German
president Christian Wulff and German national football team’s
coach Joachim Löw.
Spiritual Meeting in Rome
By Coralie Zaccar and Lélia el Khazen, Lebanese volunteers
T h e 5 t h S pir i tu al M e e tin g f o r
Young Members of the Order was
inaugurated by a wonderful mass
attended by young members from over 20
countries. The Order of Malta’s spirit was
immediately resented through the devotion
and willingness of each member to help
the sick and poor through their various
actions and spiritual activities. The theme
of the retreat revolved around obedience –
Obedience in the light of St. Ignatius, the
Virtue of Obedience, and Obedience in the
Vocation and Vows of Justice.
The retreat was marked by the coming of His
Most Eminent Highness Fra Matthew Festing
– Grand Master of the Order who discussed
“Young Members of the Order and Vocation
to Justice”. Other highly interactive sessions
were held with H.E. Jean Pierre Mazery –
Grand Chancellor of the Order and H.E Fra
John Dunlap- Member of the Sovereign
Council around the Spirituality of Young
Member in the Order. The retreat provided
for spiritual practices whereby “Lauds” –
morning prayers, “Angelus” – afternoon
prayers, and “Vespers” evening prayers were
recited daily. A moment for silent prayer
was also included. In addition, we had daily
Sponsored by:
masses and some were especially emotional
such as Saturday mass celebrated in the
Crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica and Sunday
mass celebrated at the SOM church: The
Palatine Chapel. The highlight of the retreat
was the presentation on The Order of Malta’s
activities in Lebanon by Lelia El Khazen –
President of the Youth of the Lebanese
Association of the Knights of Malta. The
session started by showing a movie of
HMEH Grand Master’s visit to Lebanon;
movie being brought by the latter himself
who has a special sympathy for Lebanon.
A presentation then followed detailing the
Chabrouh camps, Caravan Project and other
activities of the youth. The newsletter along
with a one page brief was distributed to all.
The audience was impressed by the richness
and diversity of the activities and was
enthusiastic to visit Lebanon to learn more.
They were also eager to use Lebanon as a
model for their country and send delegates
to participate in the activities.
It was also very interesting to get immersed
in the history of the SOM by visiting the
various key sites in Rome- Villa Malta for a
reception offered by HMEH, SOM Church for
Sunday mass, and SOM embassy for a visit.
A special ‘Thank you’ to
“The Lebanese Youth Post” is designed by
Tania Arwachan, a member of the Youth Committee.
This issue is printed by Aleph Printing Press
www.commercialinsurance.com.lb
For further information, contact: Centre de l’Association Libanaise des Chevaliers de Malte, Aïn el-Remmaneh, Liban – [email protected]