Target reached!
If we surpass the target, we will personally distribute items to families most in ne...
Healing Beirut's Children
Barnard Gate, England, United Kingdom
Aim
After the explosion that devoured most of Beirut, we need you to help support one of the most vulnerable groups - the children.
My name is Karma Hamady. I’m Lebanese, I live in Beirut, but I grew up in London till my parents moved back in 1995.
Most of you will have heard about the horrific events of 4th August. That day our world turned upside down. A massive explosion - the 5th largest non-nuclear explosion in history - tore the heart out of our city, killing over 200 people, injuring over 5,000 and making 300,000 people homeless. Over 30 are stilling missing.
The damage is incredible.
On top of the explosion, Lebanon, like the rest of the world is suffering from the Covid pandemic.
If that wasn’t enough, our government has spectacularly mismanaged the country’s economy through their ongoing corruption. Our currency has lost almost 80% of its value since October of last year, thousands have lost their jobs and there is no sign of recovery.
Now, I’m going to tell you how you can help.
Lebanon is in a dire state. Specifically, Lebanese children need your help.
My best friend - who’s also Lebanese, and living in the UK - Ruba Asfahani, and I decided to start this campaign where people can buy prints and postcards that I have designed, the funds from which will be hand delivered to Right To Play, a local NGO that focuses on play-based therapy for children suffering trauma from this tragedy. Depending on how much we are able to raise, we will also buy diapers, formula and toys to distribute among the affected families.
Our personal story and connection is long. We’ve been friends since we were three, we’ve both recently become mothers and we both love Beirut.
It’s because of our baby boys that we’ve chosen to help raise funds for Right To Play, a Beirut-based NGO that uses play therapy to help children recover from traumatic events.
I will personally hand-deliver the money to Right To Play.
On a personal note, August 4 was the most terrifying day of my life. My son was playing next to a large balcony window when we heard the first ‘boom’ that shook the building. A few seconds later the shockwave from the bigger blast blew our window to pieces, throwing glass ten feet across our living room and leaving finger-sized shards of glass protruding from our bookcase, flooring and books.
I have had to re-teach my son that clouds are just clouds and not smoke from a burning building, that car horns are not explosions. With time, he’ll be OK. But he’s had it much easier than so many who have experienced this. He still has a house, both his parents are still alive, he was not harmed. Bluntly, and I shudder as I write this, he didn’t die.
So, please, consider a donation, to help those children that were not as fortunate. To help them see clouds as clouds again.
A little about the designs. They all include iconic elements of Lebanese, or Beiruti culture. The text on all of them reads “Bshoofak bi Beirut”, or “See you in Beirut”. It refers to the fact that many Lebanese have left the city because she is often a difficult place to live, but we all retain the love and the need to return, whatever happens.
The yellow design features a classic Lebanese ‘service’, a taxi that the rider often shares with other passengers, it’s the perfect way to meet people in the city. In the background is Beirut’s old lighthouse, a sight that all Beirutis know.
The woman in red is Fairuz. She’s a Lebanese cultural icon like no other, for many her words and songs represent the very soul of the country. Many of the Lebanese diaspora all across the globe listen to her music to reminisce, usually in the mornings.
The blue design is of Beirut’s famous ‘Pigeon Rocks’, a pair of natural rock pillars that sit in a bay just off the coast. You see them when you fly into Beirut’s airport, they’re iconic and every Lebanese instantly knows what and where they are.
“Bishoofak bi Beirut, whatever happens” is more relevant that ever.
Thank you.
This project successfully funded on 17th September 2020