INTRODUCTION
As a result of the continuous political deadlock and the unstable security situation, the economic conditions in Lebanon deteriorated and the Lebanese families found themselves in front of new struggles. The job opportunities lessened, many found themselves with a very limited salary, and some even lost their jobs. Consequently, the caretaker was unable to provide all of his family’s necessities; the living expenses like the rent and the school tuitions became a real burden. For these reasons, some parents were obliged to take their children out of the schooling system.
Heart for Lebanon sought to intervene in the lives of these families by carrying a part of their load, and chose to target a number of students in various Lebanese schools and offer them scholarships. The students who receive the scholarships will mainly be intermediate-class students who come from different religious and social backgrounds. Therefore, every offered scholarship ensures the return of a child back to school in a safe environment with proper academic teaching and strong emphasis on Christian principles. Moreover, this scholarship will take the student out of a poor desperate environment that is subject to radical influence and bad social behavior.
Throughout the school year 2007-2008, Heart for Lebanon will target 120 students from 8 different schools. The schools are located around Greater Beirut region as follows: Tahadi School, located on the road leading to the airport; Cedar Home in Bsalim; Dar el Awlad in Mansourieh; Armenian Evangelical School- Torrossian located in Dora; Armenian Evangelical School- Marash in Bourj Hammoud; Greater Beirut Evangelical School (GBES) in Ashrafieh; Nazarene Evangelical School (NES) located in Nabaa; and Christian Teaching Institute (CTI) in Horsh Tabet.
The scholarship offered by Heart for Lebanon will not cover all of the annual fees of the students. Instead, the scholarship comes as a part of a partnership between the school, the parents, and heart for Lebanon. Each party will be in charge of paying one third of the total fee.