Let's rebuild our
children's future together

Near or far, invest today in a children's education in Lebanon

"One child, one teacher, one book,
​one pen can change the world."

Malala Yousafzai


​The World Bank estimates that around two in five people in Lebanon will be living in poverty (<$5/day) and
a further one in five in extreme poverty (<$1/day) in 2020 as a result of the current economic and financial crisis. 

School dropout rates are high: only half of children were still in school by age 18 in 2018.
These numbers are predicted to get worse as a result of the situation, as families struggle to make ends meet.

But we can make a difference, one child at a time.

The ​Bank To School Initiative

arcenciel was selected as our on-the-ground partner ​for ​this initiative.

​Since its inception in 1985, arcenciel has been a non-political, non-religious and non-sectarian organization, and strived to help children in need in Lebanon, regardless of their gender, religion or political affiliation. In more recent years, arcenciel has supported the financing of disadvantaged students’ education in Lebanon with ​a focus on primary and secondary year schooling

Providing equal opportunities for all is a high priority, and a vast diversity of Lebanese schools are covered through this program. 
In the 2019-2020 academic year,​ arcenciel sponsored 269 children.
​
Today, the team is faced with an added and difficult challenge.
With peoples’ personal circumstances worsening, the team is overwhelmed
with the high number of requests that it is receiving.
​
We need your help to continue the motto of “no child left behind”.
Now is the chance to invest in a child’s education in Lebanon.
By giving a child a chance at life, you are ensuring that
​​future generations are not lost.
CHILDREN SPONSORED
SCHOOLS SUPPORTED
FAMILIES SPONSORED
AVERAGE TUITION CONTRIBUTION
​(IN USD)*

​For the 2019 - 2020 school year
*per student, by arcenciel

How Can You Help?

There are several ways you can help and give a child a chance at a better future. 

A donation of 300 USD will help cover the tuition contribution of a child for the school year.

Of course, different amounts are also greatly appreciated!
You can also donate on behalf of a friend as a gift; please remember to mention their name and contact information in the Comments box on the Donate page so we can let them know! A gift certificate will also be provided to you.

Finally, those sponsoring the full tuition contribution of a child (300 USD per year) can choose to establish a relationship with the beneficiary of their donation for a more meaningful two-way interaction. Donors and beneficiaries can craft that relationship however they want: regular interactions, coaching, access to online resources or other. Please note that while we will do our best to accommodate your request for a connection, we cannot guarantee the level of engagement of the child.

Once your support has been received, we will get in touch to let you know how your donation has been invested and the impact you have had. ​

Progress Tracking

265 of 300 children sponsored
Progress tracking is not updated in real time

About Bank to School

In early 2020, a few of us started looking for ways to help alleviate the burden of the financial crisis in Lebanon and decided that helping invest in a child’s education is the most sustainable way of doing so. With the currency devaluation and the deteriorating economic environment, families are sadly struggling to keep their children in school. Soaring school dropout rates would not only negatively impact the future prospects of those children, but would also put at risk an entire generation of Lebanese people for many years to come, with disastrous effects on the country. 
​
We then looked for organizations working on the ground which would help ensure the money raised would go towards education and benefit those who need it the most. After speaking to a few organizations, we decided on a small team at arcenciel; they have a long history of  investing in children's education and have developed the capabilities to effectively and efficiently do so. We got to know their assessment process which in turn convinced us that the money went towards the children who truly needed it, regardless of religion, political affiliation, disability, ethnicity or gender. Indeed their reach covers a wide diversity of schools in Lebanon. We were also pleased to hear that donations were paid directly to the school to benefit these children; there was no risk of it being used for anything other than education. That being said the team runs on thin budgets that don't come close to serving the demand for tuition support, and the need has never been greater than it is today!

​And so the Bank To School initiative was born.

​The Bank To School team: Marya, Michele, Paola and Youmna. 

About arcenciel

We are a Lebanese based non-profit NGO, which supports Lebanon’s most underprivileged and marginalized communities, regardless of religion, political affiliation or nationality.

Since its inception in 1985, arcenciel’s mission in Lebanon has been to promote diversity, integration and development through 5 core programs: Agriculture & Environment, Mobility & Health, Responsible Tourism, Youth Empowerment, and Social Support.

​For more information, please visit our website at www.arcenciel.org or follow us on social media:
Additional links
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We thank our partners for your support!