Tahaddi School
Tahaddi is a compassion ministry working in a shantytown of Beirut, located on the road leading to the airport. This ministry reaches out to the needy people in that neighborhood through a dispensary, literacy classes and visiting women's prisons.
As for the education ministry, it provides literacy, wood shop and sewing classes for children from 10 to 13 years of age who have no access to normal schooling. At the end of each school year a summer camp is organized as a reward to all the students.
Apart from the schooling program, there are other activities that include Bible clubs for children, promoting moral and spiritual values in a climate of tolerance, adult literacy classes, and times of exchange, sharing and counsel.
Dar El Awlad
Dar el Awlad (which means The Children’s home in Arabic) is a part of the ministry of Kids Alive International. Kids Alive has been meeting the needs of children-at-risk in Lebanon since 1948. It is divided into two ministries: The home and the school.
As well as providing the children at the orphanage with a home, food, clothes, and a ‘mother’ to care for their day-to-day needs, Dar El Awlad considers it vital to provide the boys in our care with appropriate educational and technical training skills that will equip them either for future employment or in setting up their own business. Unfortunately, the majority of boys arrive at their home several years behind with their education. Many have learning difficulties, emotional or behavioral problems, and are simply unable to cope with the stress that studying in a ‘mainstream’ government school brings.
In 1997, Dar El Awlad began teaching a group of boys in four spare rooms in the orphanage, and in October 1999, they opened a brand-new school building. This aims at helping poor children in the local community as well as boys in the Home. In this school, they provide an education where each individual child can achieve to the best of his or her ability. Dar El Awlad ensures that each of these children is provided with the extra support that they need. Classes are kept to a maximum of ten pupils to ensure that excellent standards of educational and pastoral care are provided to every child.
In the Technology Centre, children are taught practical skills, including woodwork and car mechanics, as apprenticeship is provided for the older boys in the program.
Many of the children in the school come from the residential program but there are thirty places available to children from very poor families in the local community.
Armenian Evangelical School – Torossian
The Peter and Elizabeth Torossian Armenian Evangelical School was founded in 1951, with the mission of reaching the young Armenian community in the Dora-Amanos area and providing them with primary education. The school started its classes in a local apartment with just a few students. In the 1966-67 scholastic year, they moved to its current location, to cater to a larger student body by expanding their educational services till junior high level. Torossian School partners with the Armenian Emmanuel Evangelical Church to cater to the Armenian community in the area.
Armenian Evangelical Shamlian Tatikian School
This school is located in Bourj-Hammoud, a suburb to the north east of Beirut, Lebanon. It began in 1934 with kindergarten and primary classes only. Now it has 306 pupils and kindergarten, primary and secondary classes.
New Marash, the first Armenian street in Beirut, was built in the Bourj-Hammoud area, in 1929. Armenians were the only inhabitants of the street. They arrived from Kilikia, Anadol and other regions, after the genocide in 1915. Little by little, the streets of Bourj-Hammoud were enlarged; people settled in the area and were eager to establish cultural, educational institutions and churches beside their humble residences. The Armenian Evangelical School among others in Beirut was one of the first schools to open. It had a kindergarten and two elementary classes. (The first branch was in Ashrafieh, under the initiative of the New Marash Armenian Evangelical Church). Year after year, the number of classes increased and in 1964 Mr.& Mrs. J. Shamlian and their son Mr. G. Tatikian contributed to the school a new modern building and called it the Armenian Evangelical Shamlian-Tatikian Secondary School. Today, the school embodies the Christian, educational and civic objectives of life. It views the education of the individual learner as a means to develop Christian Armenian citizens capable of serving their country and self-confident adults ready to face the challenges of the twenty-first century.
Cedar Home
Cedar Home is a Church of God extension, non-profit, humane association. It was founded to host deprived children who lost at least one parent due to divorce, separation, or death, and the other parent is not able to provide for them. The children come from different backgrounds and religions. Cedar Home provides a family life for them and meets their spiritual, physical, emotional as well as their mental needs, to grow in a normal environment full of love and compassion, preparing each child to become an important and productive member of society. In short, to give them a better chance for a better future.
The Church of God in Lebanon founded Cedar Home in 1960. Since then, it has depended on donations and support of caring and loving friends for its running cost. Cedar Home has sheltered about 500 orphans during its 40 years, mainly by the service and sacrifice of many people. Special mention goes to Rev. George Bacha and his wife Jacqueline, who devoted many years of their lives to serve these children. The Home has struggled to operate during the years of war and hardship as it changed locations many times and has lacked workers and finances. Today it is still trying to grow by the Lord’s power and the help of loving friends.
Today, Cedar Home works with:
• 26 children in their own environment by providing a part of their education fee thus easing the burden on their parent, and,
• 24 girls aged 3-18, who live as sisters in two homes under the care of Christian ladies who help them through their daily life, and guide them towards living a life of faith and victory in Jesus according to the teachings of the Bible.
The girls go to a close-by school like other children where they receive their education. At home, tutors are provided to help them with their studies. The girls participate in various activities such as youth groups, scouts, camps, etc. that trains and prepares them for life, and also helps them grow and become more confident. There are clubs and groups that visit the girls regularly and provide a time of fun and games.
Greater Beirut Evangelical School (GBES)
In the heart of Beirut City with spacious backgrounds, beautiful greenery and a friendly environment – Greater Beirut Evangelical School (GBES), has been there since 1929. The mission of GBES is to create the appropriate educational, spiritual and cultural environment for the students to develop their learning potential and guide them into self-fulfillment. This is accomplished through attaining high academic standards while simultaneously developing morally and socially.
In addition to fulfilling the requirements of the Lebanese program, GBES provides its students with an all-round education and analytical skills crucial to a smooth transition into higher education.
GBES treasures its students’ talents and aims at developing their artistic potential through art, music and drama.
Nazarene Evangelical School (NES)
The Nazarene Church in Lebanon was established in 1960, in Ashrafieh, a main Christian area of Beirut. Back then, the ministry included three activities: the Church, a secondary school and a seminary.
In 1975, when the civil war began, most of its belongings of the Church were damaged or destroyed and more than 90% of its members left the country. In 1980, the Church slowly came back life as the Church in Sin el Fil building was rehabilitated. Little by little, the Nazarene Church re-launched its ministry.
As for the school, it was established in 1966 and recognized by the government in 1972. Now, it offers education to nursery and elementary classes. The students come from various backgrounds, indeed, 35% of them are Muslims, 10% are Druze, and the rest are Christians from all denominations.
Christian Teaching Institure (CTI)
The Christian Teaching Institute (C.T.I.) is a private organization that was founded by Mr. Emile Moacdieh in 1960 and is dedicated to the service of the education of youth since then. Mr. Moacdieh had a vision of a school that offers a solid education in mathematics, the sciences, the languages and the humanities that is also strongly grounded in faith. The number of students at the CTI quickly outgrew its building, so the school moved to its present premises in 1971, in a pleasant woodsy suburb. The current program of the CTI is challenging. The passing rate in the official exams is exceptionally high. All students are accepted to their universities of choice, and SAT scores are impressive. The students also win many competitions and secure high prizes. Keeping in mind this Aristotle’s quote, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit,” the C.T.I. emphasizes academic excellence, critical thinking, character building and cultural awareness. The C.T.I. produces men and women with high goals, and a sense of civic and moral responsibility. Its mission is to further the academic, cultural and spiritual education of young people.