Education, Empowerment for Refugees
Donation protected
Hi! I'm Ana Kilani, I'm from Russellville, AR and I'm raising funds to volunteer in Sidon, Lebanon from January 5 - March 5 at an education & empowerment center for women and children refugees . I will be spending my days, Monday - Saturday, helping the children prepare to pass the requirments needed to start in the lebanese school sytem. I will dedicate any additional time to training and giving support in the women's center, and doing whatever I can to be of service.
If you know me, you know, for me, this is right, and this is exactly what I am supposed to do. I genuinely appreciate and love hanging out with children, making art with them, exploring ideas with them and figuring out how to best teach them in way that inspires curiosity and understanding. I love attempting to see the world from their point of view, it keeps me brave. While in Lebanon, I will work everyday to bring laughter, art, dance, and sweet giggles into their lives. Yes, I will love them (I don't know them and I already love them unbearable amounts) but if this is the flaw this must be okay. I will keep you guys updated regularly and will be keeping a photo journal on my website. Also, I've got some Perks set up, from pages tearings out of my travel notebook to virtual hugs and HUGE thanks you's! Any contribution is helpful and none too small!!
About the Non-Profit: SB OverSeas
The education and empowerment centers are set up by the Belgian non-profit SB OverSeas . They give remedial education to refugee children ages 6-12 in order to prepare them to pass the requirements needed to get into the Lebanese school system. Not only do the SB OverSeas centers help children, but they help the mothers and women living in refugee camps by teaching them English and new skill sets such as sewing and craftwork.
Many of you are aware of the many thousands of refugees who have escaped the Syrian Civil War and resettled in Europe and Canada; however, the largest number of displaced people is still in the region. Lebanon has absorbed over a million refugees, or more than a fifth of its population.
How it happened:
A few weeks ago I was looking at photographs from the disaster in Aleppo, and it became impossible for me to remember why I wasn't doing something to help. And then I realized, it's because there was nothing to remember, there was no reason, I just wasn't. So I decided to change that:
After some research I came across SB OverSeas, a Belgian NPO creating education and empowerment centers in the Middle East. I found there mission was straight-forward and a worthy cause; giving education, empowerment, and purpose to those who have lost a lot of hope. I decide to apply to volunteer during April-June, but within a few days I recived an email from Michael, the volunteer coodinator, asking if there was any chance I would be able to come in January. SB OverSeas had an unpexceted grant come through and are able to build a 3rd empowerment and education center and are in need of Volunteer to be the ground-breakers in Sidon, Lebanon. I thought about it, and said yes. I spent about 1.5 hours on a Skype interveiw a few days later, and the follow day, I was offered the opportunity to work with SB OverSeas.
After I completed the Skype interview for this opportunity, I wrote Michael (the volunteer coordinator)and said the following:
"I would genuinely love the opportunity to work with SB OverSeas, specifically with the children; my goal will be to relentlessly work to create an engaged, interesting, and collaborative classroom. However, and most truthfully, I hope to enable them as well to smile, laugh, dance, create, and learn through structured play. I understand the work will be challenging, frustrating, and tiring at times, but it is a challenge I would be grateful to take on. "
And this is the truth, I would be grateful to take on this challenge, and beyond humbled by this opportunity.
Thank you visiting my page and please know that no contribution is too small! I am thankful for any help and appreciate it wholeheartedly!
Love,
Ana
Where will your donation go?
1. $950 plane ticket
2. $500 to SB OverSeas to help cover accommodations and food
3. $115 Travel Health Insurance
4. Living Expenses: $300
= $1865
All Images Property of SB OverSeas
If you know me, you know, for me, this is right, and this is exactly what I am supposed to do. I genuinely appreciate and love hanging out with children, making art with them, exploring ideas with them and figuring out how to best teach them in way that inspires curiosity and understanding. I love attempting to see the world from their point of view, it keeps me brave. While in Lebanon, I will work everyday to bring laughter, art, dance, and sweet giggles into their lives. Yes, I will love them (I don't know them and I already love them unbearable amounts) but if this is the flaw this must be okay. I will keep you guys updated regularly and will be keeping a photo journal on my website. Also, I've got some Perks set up, from pages tearings out of my travel notebook to virtual hugs and HUGE thanks you's! Any contribution is helpful and none too small!!
About the Non-Profit: SB OverSeas
The education and empowerment centers are set up by the Belgian non-profit SB OverSeas . They give remedial education to refugee children ages 6-12 in order to prepare them to pass the requirements needed to get into the Lebanese school system. Not only do the SB OverSeas centers help children, but they help the mothers and women living in refugee camps by teaching them English and new skill sets such as sewing and craftwork.
Many of you are aware of the many thousands of refugees who have escaped the Syrian Civil War and resettled in Europe and Canada; however, the largest number of displaced people is still in the region. Lebanon has absorbed over a million refugees, or more than a fifth of its population.
How it happened:
A few weeks ago I was looking at photographs from the disaster in Aleppo, and it became impossible for me to remember why I wasn't doing something to help. And then I realized, it's because there was nothing to remember, there was no reason, I just wasn't. So I decided to change that:
After some research I came across SB OverSeas, a Belgian NPO creating education and empowerment centers in the Middle East. I found there mission was straight-forward and a worthy cause; giving education, empowerment, and purpose to those who have lost a lot of hope. I decide to apply to volunteer during April-June, but within a few days I recived an email from Michael, the volunteer coodinator, asking if there was any chance I would be able to come in January. SB OverSeas had an unpexceted grant come through and are able to build a 3rd empowerment and education center and are in need of Volunteer to be the ground-breakers in Sidon, Lebanon. I thought about it, and said yes. I spent about 1.5 hours on a Skype interveiw a few days later, and the follow day, I was offered the opportunity to work with SB OverSeas.
After I completed the Skype interview for this opportunity, I wrote Michael (the volunteer coordinator)and said the following:
"I would genuinely love the opportunity to work with SB OverSeas, specifically with the children; my goal will be to relentlessly work to create an engaged, interesting, and collaborative classroom. However, and most truthfully, I hope to enable them as well to smile, laugh, dance, create, and learn through structured play. I understand the work will be challenging, frustrating, and tiring at times, but it is a challenge I would be grateful to take on. "
And this is the truth, I would be grateful to take on this challenge, and beyond humbled by this opportunity.
Thank you visiting my page and please know that no contribution is too small! I am thankful for any help and appreciate it wholeheartedly!
Love,
Ana
Where will your donation go?
1. $950 plane ticket
2. $500 to SB OverSeas to help cover accommodations and food
3. $115 Travel Health Insurance
4. Living Expenses: $300
= $1865
All Images Property of SB OverSeas
Organizer
Ana Kilani
Organizer
Russellville, AR
