Matching Grant - Physiotherapeutic Center in collaboration with the Lebanese Red Cross

In the region of Zgharta there are a lot of disadvantaged people who cannot go to a physiotherapeutic center because they are poor and they cannot afford to pay expensive fees.

For this reason, the Rotary Club of Zgharta-Zawie raised funds to provide a fully equipped physiotherapeutic center to the Lebanese Red Cross department of Zgharta Zawie. This organization is very well known in Lebanon because they take care of underprivileged people and are interested in giving them the best service at the lowest price.

Once the project was established, they took full care and responsibility of the provided material.

The staff of this organization offers their services free of charge. They are volunteers and for this reason they can keep the prices as low as possible in a manner to cover the charges and provide the center continuity regardless to any benefit.

They treat both old and young people. The cost of private hospitals is very high, so the services offered are very appreciated by the inhabitants of the community. The center receives on a daily basis from 30 to 40 persons. All of them are of very low income. All those who are using this center are very happy with the benefits of this program.

Rotarians of our club have visited the Red Cross offices several times to study the project. They have kept in contact with the staff to ensure that the program is run well. Rotarians worked hard to make sure that the machines donated to the center are of very good quality. The president of the municipality, the head of the Red Cross in Lebanon and other members attended the center's opening. During the ceremony, the Governor of the District talked about what Rotary does all over the world. The event was also publicized throughout the area of Lebanon. It was a wonderful opportunity to inform the Lebanese community about the Rotary and what Rotarians are doing for peace and the understanding in the world.

Rotarians outside the Project country:

Ferris Wehbe from the Rotary club of Hollywood visited the project site several times. He met with the board of Directors to develop a clear idea about how the project was managed.

Donors included:

Fares "Ferris" Wehbe
Debbie Wehbe
Laila Wehbe
Nadia Wehbe
Ethan Higuera
Eric Higuera
Tony Franjieh
Gene La Pietra