2006 PROJECTS

St. Luke's Center for the Disabled

Beirut , Lebanon

Establishing a bakery workshop - $6,821

St. Luke's Center has faced many financial difficulties since it was founded in 1964. It was looted twice between 1975 and 1978, during the Lebanese civil war. Beginning in 1979, the center began improving its social service offerings with better trained staff members and better programs. Four years ago, the center moved into a new building, plans for which had been long delayed because of a series of financial and management problems and several bombings. Since then, the center is booming with increased education, recreational and spiritual services and activities.

The center ministers to students between the ages of five and 18 with moderate learning disabilities. It has both boarders and day students that it encourages to be independent, develop personal relationships, educate and support their parents and make the world a better place for them to live and work in.

The new bakery learning center (and a carpentry workshop) will provide skills training to children who fear that they cannot live on their own and will not be able to contribute to society. Center staff members report that the children often ask, ``What will happen to me when my parents die? What would I do with my life, knowing I am useless?'' The bakery learning project will provide the children with the reassurance that God does have a plan for their lives, and they have been equipped to earn their way in the world.