Keep Celine, Gaelle and Serly in School in Crisis-Hit Beirut

Help Tamar’s Daughters Stay in School in Crisis-Hit Beirut, Lebanon

I’m reaching out with an urgent plea to support a family I hold dear—Tamar Ekshian and her three daughters, Celine, Gaelle (14-year-old twins), and Serly (almost 4 years old)—as they fight to keep their education alive in Beirut, Lebanon. Tamar is the sister of my closest friend, Rosie. This family has become like my own. They’re facing unimaginable hardships. Without your help, these very bright girls risk losing their educational futures.

Tamar and her husband, Ribea, were once a middle-class family with very stable jobs. But Lebanon’s 2019 economic collapse, the COVID-19 crisis, and recent devastating bombing of Southern Beirut has shattered their stability. Tamar’s retail business closed, Ribea’s government job vanished, and now they scrape by on odd jobs, earning about $500 a month.

In Beirut, public schools do not exist. Private schools are the only option. Celine and Gaelle are rising high school sophomores and Serly attends mandatory preschool, a requirement for kindergarten.

We’re raising $7,500 for the 2025–2026 school year to keep all three girls in school:

- Celine and Gaelle’s high school tuition: $6,000

- Serly’s preschool tuition: $1,500

Our long-term vision is to raise $55,000 to support their education through high school, but right now, we’re focused on this year’s urgent need.

Your support can change their lives. Every dollar helps keep Celine, Gaelle, and Serly in the classroom, where they can learn, grow, and build a brighter future. Your donation will make an immediate impact. Please donate today and share this campaign with your friends, family, and networks. Together, we can give these incredible girls the education they deserve.