"One child, one teacher, one book,
one pen can change the world."
Malala Yousafzai
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Today, more than 78% of the Lebanese population lives in poverty (<$5/day) with an estimated 23% living in extreme poverty (<$1/day) due to the GDP decline and strong inflation.
Since the beginning of 2019, more than 1.2 million children in Lebanon have had their education disrupted by the ongoing pandemic and the deepening economic crisis (Save the Children). |
Families of 200,000 children will not be able to afford school tuition fees in the upcoming academic year (2021-2022). School dropouts will continue to rise as more and more students transfer into an already over-subscribed and failing public schooling system (World Bank).
But we can make a difference, one child at a time. |
The Bank To School InitiativeRunning strong 2 school years in a row
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. Today, the team is faced with additional challenges as peoples’ personal circumstances are worsening, and the number of requests for tuition assistance are increasing overwhelmingly, 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. |
Numbers achieved in 2020 |
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
There are several ways you can help and give a child a chance at a better future:
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Offer Financial Support
A donation of 300 USD* will help cover the tuition contribution of a child for a 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.
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. *In fresh money, or the equivalent in LBP or Lollar at the current exchange rate |
Become a Mentor
In addition to offering financial support, you can choose to establish a mentorship relationship with the beneficiary of your 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.
To express your interest in becoming a mentor, please proceed to the Donation portal where you will be prompted to flag your interest in becoming a mentor. |
2021 DONATIONS
PROGRESS TRACKING
We're 50% there
$50,000 of $100,000 raised (2021-22 academic year)
$50,000 of $100,000 raised (2021-22 academic year)
Progress tracking is not updated in real time
Who is Bank to School
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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 was 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, Youmna, and Karim. |
#BelieveinTomorrowsLebanon
Our 2021 fund raising campaign
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About our NGO partner: arcencielarcenciel is 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 their website at www.arcenciel.org or follow them on social media: |
We thank all our partners
