Who are we?

We are Enda Nevin, Anne Dalitz, Joaquin Salido Marcos, Ramla Khalidi, Salim Araji, David Krinvanek and Martti Antola. We are a group of individuals all living and working in Beirut and will be taking part in one of the races that make up the Beirut Marathon (8km, half marathon or full marathon) on 11 November 2018. Enda Nevin, in preparation,  will also be hiking the 164 kms from Chammonix in France to Zermatt in Switzerland, commencing on Friday, 7 September 2018

What is the organisation and what does it do?

We would like to raise funds for a small organisation based in Beirut, called Partners Lebanon which was set up by May Nasr a Lebanese singer/songwriter. Partners Lebanon has received a small seed grant from the Drosos Foundation, a Swiss organisation which enables it do the following:

Every Saturday, 100 youth (between the ages of 8 and 16) are taken by bus to a central location in Beirut to take singing lessons in preparation for a final event in February 2019. The youth are from Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine. They practice performing traditional songs by singers from the Arab region such as the Lebanese singer, Fairuz. A professional singing coach has been hired to lead the sessions.

While the youth are learning the songs their mothers take part in psycho social support sessions led by professionals.

The idea is to use the arts as a tool to address some of the prejudices that exist between host and refugee communities living in Lebanon and promote a message of tolerance and togetherness.

What will your money be used for?

The money raised will enable Partners Lebanon:

1. Rent the space for the final event;

2. Hire professional musicians to provide support to the choir;

3. Hire a  sound system for the event; 

4. Purchase costumes for the event; and

5. Provide additional singing lessons to the youth to ensure they are as prepared as possible. 

Any surplus would be used by Partners Lebanon to provide further sessions to the youth after the February concert to continue regular practice sessions and compete in singing events throughout Lebanon, thereby ensuring continuity for this community initiative that is building real relationships and shared experiences and promoting tolerance and togetherness.

No donation is too small. If you can't donate, please share or like to spread the word. This is a great initiative.

FINALLY, KINDLY NOTE THAT THE FUNDRAISING PLATFORM, FREEFUNDER DOES NOT TAKE ANY PART OF YOUR DONATION. INSTEAD, WHEN YOU MAKE A DONATION YOU WILL ALSO SEE A RECOMMENDED DONATION TO FEEFUNDER. THIS CAN BE CHANGED TO ZERO.

HOWEVER, THE ONLINE BANK ACCOUNT WHICH IS LINKED TO THE PAGE, TAKES 6% AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE AND YOU MIGHT CONSIDER ADDING THIS TO YOUR DONATION. 

THANK YOU!