Matching Grant for the Lebanese Red Cross

RC Tripoli – Maarad (D-2450) and RC Hollywood (D-5280)
in collaboration with The Rotary Foundation
donated a pick-up truck to FISTA Association

On October 6th, 2004 , the Rotary Club of Tripoli-Maarad (D-2450) and the Rotary Club of Hollywood–USA (D-5280) in collaboration with The Rotary Foundation donated a Pick-up truck to FISTA (First Step Together Association) in Tripoli-Lebanon. FISTA takes care of young persons with special needs. This project was the result of a Matching Grant given to help the association in the transportation of materials and finished products manufactured by the FISTA carpentry workshop.

25 Rotarians from 6 different Rotary clubs of the vicinity visited the workshop where we were welcomed by the president of the association Ms. Sanaa Hamzeh and the manager Ms. Suzanne Jabbour who explained and showed us how people worked and how products are made in this workshop.

\

Then all Rotarians attended a ceremony at the FISTA restaurant where the truck was presented This restaurant is also operated by young persons with special difficulties.

Attending the event were Rotarians from several Rotary clubs: Koura, Zgharta—Zawie, Tripoli, Tripoli-Mina and the representative of RC of Hollywood, Ferris Wehbe.

Ms. Sanaa Hamzeh, President of FISTA association, thanked the Rotary Foundation, RC Hollywood and Tripoli-Maarad for their great support and highlighted the importance of the truck to the vocational center. Then Ms. Suzanne Jabbour, manager of FISTA, presented a briefing on the association activities and achievements.

Rot. Fares Wehbe from RC Hollywood thanked RC Tripoli Maarad who gave him the opportunity to help children and young persons with special needs and expressed his happiness to be involved in such an important project which will facilitate greatly the reintegration of these young men and women into society.

RC Tripoli-Maarad President Fadi Beydoun thanked RC Hollywood and Ferris Wehbe, RC Tripoli Maarad, and especially PP May Monla Shmaytelly and PAG Bashir Zaouk who worked hard to have this project come to life.

Before ending the ceremony and delivering the truck, PAG Bashir Zaouk announced the club's decision to award three persons the Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition for their humanitarian contribution to the community:

Ms. Sanaa Hamzeh from FISTA association
Ms. Suzanne Jabbour from FISTA association
PAG Jamil Mouawad from RC Zgharta-Zawie

Final Report
(pdf)