Teach For Lebanon

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-proGit 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 Ali Dimashkieh - Founder, Salyne EL
Samarany- Chief Executive OfGicer, Dr. Lina Harati - Education Manager, Dahlia Rizk-
Public Relations Manager and the directors of the board at Teach for Lebanon 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
t h e u l t i m a t e h i s t o r i c
e x p e r i e n c e , p a i n t i n g a n d
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 with their passion to embrace the fresh breathe
of colorful creativity while being brushed on the white canvases; which they
engulfed with a vibrant passion of colors. 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 hand
at showcasing my break dancing skill which
were truly laughable but brought tears to my eyes knowing the pain they must have

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

2

April 23, 2017

endure to have this one moment in their life be Gilled 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 Mr. Dimashkieh 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

c l a s s m a t e s , s o m e
individually designing
their own artwork while
o t h e r s u t i l i z e t h e
drawings that Romero
h a d c r e a t e d o n t h e
canvases for them to
“Brittolize" with their
own style and colors.

What was really
inspiring was how each
s t u d e n t w a s t o t a l l y
immersed into creating
their own masterpiece,
they worked so hard in
mixing the colors adding
their own designs and utilizing their hands, Gingers and paintbrushes to create their

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

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April 23, 2017
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 horriGic nightmares of war
living thorough the evils of
man’s inhumanity to each
other.

Today I believe Romero
and the young students both
w e r e e n r i c h e d b y t h e
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 Gleeting
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 Mr.
Dimashkieh 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 each

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

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April 23, 2017
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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