TFL

April 23, 2017

INSIDER

Lebanon’s

Cedar of Hope

The Many Faces of Hope
Artist Icon Romero Britto and TEACH FOR LEBANON

Teach for Lebanon is a non-profit organization.
We want to extend our sincerest thanks to Haigazian University for
providing Teach for Lebanon facilities on their campus to accommodate the
numerous students who came from all over Lebanon to participate with legendary
International Pop Artist Romero Britto in a creative paint day adventure in support
of TEACH FOR LEBANON.
Teach For Lebanon aims to eliminate educational inequality while fostering
youth leadership and promoting civic engagement. By providing support and
training on a regular basis, Teach For Lebanon empowers its ‘Fellows’ to become
leaders in their schools and communities. Student achievement is measured by
the change in their attitude and desire to learn and graduate.

INSIDER
“TEACH FOR LEBANON ”
The Voice of Anthony R. Abraham Foundation

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April 23, 2017

We want to extend out deepest thanks to Dr. Youssef El Khalil, the
Chairman of TFL Board of Trustees and the  Senior Director of the Financial
Operations Department at Central Bank, two board members: Dr. Nuhad Dagher
and Mrs. Nada Abou Joude who made the arrangements for us to spend the
afternoon with their students.

The students came from
a variety of social, economic
and ethnic backgrounds
throughout Lebanon, who had
a chance to come hear
Romero’s and my story and
then were treated to the
ultimate historic experience,
painting and collaborating with
Romero Britto.

What made this visit so
emotional for us all was the
knowledge that so many of
these children had lost
members of their family in the war in Syria and some had been indentured into
serves as young boy soldiers, while others became orphans of the war in Syria.
These amazing young students touched our hearts by their passion to embrace
the fresh breathe of colorful creativity binging brushed on the white canvases
they engulfed with a vibrant passion of colors and creativity. It seemed like they
were totally transported to a different reality in time and space. As Romero and I
intermingled with the students we could see the creative enlightenment lifting
their inner spirits and the excitement of their bold paint brushes racing across
the white canvases to create their own masterpieces.

As the day progressed a number of the
boys started to gather around and sing a song
which attracted the other students to gather
and participate by clapping and signing along
with the boys. Than out of nowhere the lead
singer of the group started to break dance and
one after another the original group of boys
took turns showcasing their break dance skills
and moves.

Romero and I were so touched and
inspired by their exuberance and happiness
that I was enlisted to join the group and try my

INSIDER
“TEACH FOR LEBANON ”
The Voice of Anthony R. Abraham Foundation

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April 23, 2017

hand at showcasing my break dancing skill which were truly laughable but
brought tears to my eyes knowing the pain they must have endure to have this
one moment in their life be filled with laughter ,joy and a since of peace, seeing
me make a utter disaster of my break dance dance performance.

It is in these moments when
the question is asked WHY? WHY
HELP?, WHY CARE?, WHY BOTHER?
The answer is very clear, living life
without empathy, compassion,
understanding and a willingness to
share in the blessing we have been
given, no matter the degree of our life
circumstances is soulless. If we
choose to not embrace the spirit of the
meaning of Love than we will parish
into the depths of darkness where
truly we would not have a life worth
living.

We were so inspired by all the staff and leadership at Teach for Lebanon
and to have had the opportunity to explore what Dr. Youssef El Khalil and his
board had created with TEACH FOR LEBANON. We knew that TFL truly was
impacting the lives of these young students who have lived through the heartless
hell of poverty, loneliness, loss of family and the hellish consequences of War.

Today as we were embraced by these students from all different
backgrounds living with physical and mental wounds of war, we were blessed to
have had the opportunity to showcase their talent and see them work together
with their fellow classmates, some individually designing their own artwork while

others utilize the
drawings that Romero
had created on the
canvases for them to
“Brittolize" with their
own style and colors.

What was really
inspiring was how each
student was totally
immersed into creating
their own masterpiece,
they worked so hard in
mixing the colors adding

INSIDER
“TEACH FOR LEBANON ”
The Voice of Anthony R. Abraham Foundation

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April 23, 2017

their own designs and utilizing their hands, fingers and paintbrushes to create
their masterpieces. While all this was going on Romero walked from one canvas
to the other encouraging and participating in adding his own hand to the artwork.
I could walk away with lasting memory’s of how lucky we are that we have not
experienced such horrific nightmares of war living thorough the evils of man’s

inhumanity to each other.

Today I believe Romero
and the young students both
were enriched by the
experience of working
together in utilizing the pallets
of color to bring about a
sense of accomplishment and
creativity. We both believe
that these young students
were inspired and walked
away with a sense that they
for that one fleeting moment
in their lives they participated
in the joys of life which they
will never forget.

We truly left this afternoon
enriched with a greater appreciation of TEACH FOR LEBANON and are so
pleased we had the opportunity to visit with Dr. Youssef El Khalil and his board
members, staff and the students. We received the gifts of humility and
appreciation that we have been blessed with the knowledge that our visit was
enriched by our experience and the experience of TFL students sharing our
wonderment of the joy they received painting with Romero and in playing with the
colors of life in the creation of a pice of art and heartfelt moments in time that

INSIDER
“TEACH FOR LEBANON ”
The Voice of Anthony R. Abraham Foundation

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April 23, 2017
each individual, can make a difference in the lives of those blessed and protected
by God Devine intervention.

We were informed that our visit truly enriched the students and set a new
dimension in their outlook on their life. Nothing more needs to be said other than
go out and empower a stranger and change their life.

We want to again thank you all, those who made this day possible for
allowing us the opportunity to be enriched by the true meaning of Empathy,
Compassion and Love.
GodSpeed!
Thomas G. Abraham

INSIDER
“TEACH FOR LEBANON ”
The Voice of Anthony R. Abraham Foundation

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