Beiruting News

Under the sponsorship and in presence of Belgium's ambassador in Lebanon, Mr. Alex Lenaerts, the President and founder of the Lebanese Center for Specialized Education CLES Mrs. Carmen Chahine Debbane, in collaboration with Saint Vincent de Paul Association, and in presence of the Association's president in Lebanon Mrs. Ella Bitar, the new CLES center was declared officially open in Zouk Mikael on Sunday May 31^st, 2015.

The Center had opened its doors to children suffering from learning difficulties back in September 2014. The CLES centers amount to six today and are available throughout Lebanon in Beirut, Saida, Tripoli, Zahle, Zouk Mikael and Nabatieh.

Presidents and vice presidents of municipalities, school representatives, journalists, social figures and many citizens from Zouk and Kesrouan attended the ceremony that was hosted by Mrs. Juliana Traboulsi Eid, Director General of all CLES centers in Lebanon.

Mrs. Christiane Debbane, Vice president of the National Council of Saint Vincent de Paul in Lebanon and chairperson of the Saint Charbel branch in Zouk Mikael delivered the opening speech and walked the participants across 37 years of the Associations' experience in delivering unconditional support and care for over 150 families to whom the association provides food rations, cloths, medication and hospitalization in addition to the Associations' work in supporting the elderly, the young and providing private lessons to students aged between 6 and 16. She added: "It's only then that we discovered that many children suffer from psychological problems that cause school failure and family disturbances. Therefore, our Association sought the help of CLES and Mrs. Carmen Chahine Debbane who acted promptly and enthusiastically. During the past 9 months, the CLES experts in psychology, speech therapy and motivity diagnosed and assisted over 20 children, hence playing a very positive and efficient role".

In her concluding remarks, Mrs. Christiane Debbane thanked Mrs. Carmen Chahine Debbane and her husband Mr. Raymond Debbane who offered the equipment necessary for the Center's operations. She acknowledged as well the generosity of Father Elie Sfeir for having offered the center's host venue.

Mrs. Carmen Chahine Debbane then delivered a speech in which she thanked Saint Vincent de Paul for being a prototype for active social work. She said: "It's in light of our successful experience with this Association over the past couple of months that we started communicating with other associations which led to the opening of the CLES Center in Kfarjawz Nabatieh in collaboration with the Women Progress Association".

"I cannot but thank H.E Belgium's ambassador for his kind presence and sponsorship as well as all the leading figures from Saint Vincent de Paul, the schools in the regions, the media and each one of you. I would especially like to thank my son Charles who taught me the meaning of being different and my daughter Myrna who reminds me constantly of what is real and important, my brother Director Carlos Chahine who, despite his many occupations, is always here to help and provide creative tools that enable us to explain and understand specific learning difficulties. I would like especially to thank my husband Raymond Debbane, without whom, the Center wouldn't have been able to pursue its journey throughout the years. I wish as well to thank my friends who accompanied me since the beginning and have remained faithful to the cause; and the actors of the play "Chou Bene Mama" who are always present to answer the call and finally allow me to acknowledge the Lebanese and Belgian team of experts for its proven seriousness, commitment and professionalism aimed at developing the means of support that the Center offers to bring hope to the lives of the needy families".

Belgium's ambassador in Lebanon Mr. Alex Lenaerts expressed his happiness to attend the ceremony saying: "Having followed up on all the stages leading to the foundation of CLES and the activities it has undertaken over the years, I cannot but underline the specificities of this Center and its two main qualities: first generosity, CLES being a nonprofit organization, having no political agenda and aimed only at assisting children suffering from learning difficulties; second the expertise that CLES makes available not only in its centers but as well in the many learning support classes that are available in public schools across Lebanese territories".

He added: "Belgium has been keen on supporting the Center since it was established not only on grounds of personal relations but because Lebanon and Belgium share common grounds: they are two small sized countries who nevertheless play an important role in their regions; and the Lebanese and Belgian people are reputed for their warmth and conviviality".

In his concluding remarks, the Belgian ambassador thanked CLES and its team of experts and congratulated them for their efforts wishing them the best of luck in all their undertakings.

The ambassador's speech was followed by the screening of a documentary showing CLES activities in addition to the speech of Mrs. Berthe Akiki, principal of the elementary classes in the Sisters of Charity School in Zouk Mikael who shared her school's experience with CLES: "Three students were diagnosed by the CLES experts and it was a miracle solution for the kids, their parents and the school. Among those cases, that of a sad, depressed, aggressive, chaotic, clumsy, irresponsible child who was unable to communicate, and suffered from rejection. Further to the experts' intervention, that same child became happy, responsible, loved, successful and capable of leadership, all thanks to the proper support offered by the CLES experts in collaboration with the parents and the school".  She added: "this reassuring, amusing and professional Center is needed for the region, the schools and the parents who don't know where to seek help for their children or who cannot afford treatment. We appreciate your efforts and support and wish you all success".

To conclude, the play titled "Chou Bene Mama" (What's wrong with me mum?) was played. Written by Myrna Dahdah, directed by Carlos Chahine, composed by Francis Debbane and starred by Mostafa Hijazi, Jad Khater, Ghalia Saab and Serena Chami, this play is aimed at raising public awareness in four acts producing children who suffer from specific learning difficulties. A cocktail ceremony was held at the end in honor of all participants.