World Vision, an international Christian association for development and aid, announced the opening of the Merkezna cultural center for women and youth, while the St. Vincent de Paul Association celebrated the official opening of the local kindergarten… Both the cultural center and the kindergarten are the first of their kind in the camp.
BEIRUT: World Vision Lebanon in collaboration with St. Vincent de Paul of Chahwan hosted the opening ceremony of Kowatouna Mina w Fina (our power from and within us), two community projects in the Dbayyeh Palestinian refugee camp on Friday.
World Vision, an international Christian association for development and aid, announced the opening of the Merkezna cultural center for women and youth, while the St. Vincent de Paul Association celebrated the official opening of the local kindergarten.
Dbayyeh is unique among the 12 registered refugee camps in Lebanon; it is home to roughly 500 families, both Palestinian and displaced Lebanese, and is entirely Christian.
“Here, Lebanese and Palestinians live side by side harmoniously,” said senior refugee program manager Marianne Bitar Karam. “If you ask in the other camps they don’t even know Dbayyeh exists.”
“At the beginning people were confused; it’s very new for them – some thought it was a dental clinic,” said Karam. “Then they realized it was for real, and the reaction has been great.”
The kindergarten, which has been operating since October, offers a nursery and two kindergarten classes, each accommodating 15 children.
Pupils celebrated by performing several songs for the assembled proud parents and visitors before heading over to view the new cultural center, which was rebuilt from the ruins of an old house.
See full story in Lebanon Daily Star</a.
