Connecting Displaced Children with Books in Lebanon
Since the explosion in Beirut in August 2020, which damaged and destroyed many buildings, including schools and libraries, the Lebanese section of IBBY (LBBY) has worked actively with the generous support of IBBY and UNESCO to repair the libraries in more than five public schools. IBBY Canada contributed to this effort by sending parcels of books to those school libraries.
Recently, due to the attacks and bombings in Lebanon along the southern and northern borders, as well as in the Beirut suburbs, approximately 300,000 children and their families have been displaced to schools, mosques, churches, and various shelters. The Lebanese section of IBBY, under the leadership of its president Dr. Shereen Kreidieh*, has been working in collaboration with many NGOs such as the IBBY Children in Crisis Fund and Book Aid International on a project to support displaced Lebanese children. LBBY’s project is aligned with IBBY’s core mission of bringing children closer to books by providing psychological relief and recreational activities to displaced children.
The main goals of this initiative are to
alleviate some of the stress and trauma these children are experiencing;
promote a nurturing and creative environment using books and storytelling;
ensure that children, even in times of crisis, receive emotional support.
With the support of professional psychologists and educators, training sessions were focused on storytelling techniques, principles of bibliotherapy, and addressing the impact of war and displacement on children. Approximately 180 volunteers attended the training sessions, including 130 psychology and social work university students. Already, 280 packages containing books (in both English and Arabic), paper, sketchbooks, crayons, and a bibliotherapy manual have been distributed in several locations to support displaced children during the war.
The Lebanese section of IBBY needs continuing support for this activity. To contribute to the IBBY Children in Crisis Fund, you can donate directly to IBBY or to IBBY Canada via Canada Helps. For donations to the IBBY Children in Crisis Fund, please designate a specific campaign.
Let us keep IBBY’s mission alive all over the world through connecting children to books!
*Thank you to Shereen Kredieh for sharing information with me.
Credit: Lebanese Board on Books for Young People (LBBY)Credit: Lebanese Board on Books for Young People (LBBY)
Submitted by Josiane Polidori, 2nd Vice-President, IBBY Canada
Connecting Displaced Children with Books in Lebanon
Since the explosion in Beirut in August 2020, which damaged and destroyed many buildings, including schools and libraries, the Lebanese section of IBBY (LBBY) has worked actively with the generous support of IBBY and UNESCO to repair the libraries in more than five public schools. IBBY Canada contributed to this effort by sending parcels of books to those school libraries.
Recently, due to the attacks and bombings in Lebanon along the southern and northern borders, as well as in the Beirut suburbs, approximately 300,000 children and their families have been displaced to schools, mosques, churches, and various shelters. The Lebanese section of IBBY, under the leadership of its president Dr. Shereen Kreidieh*, has been working in collaboration with many NGOs such as the IBBY Children in Crisis Fund and Book Aid International on a project to support displaced Lebanese children. LBBY’s project is aligned with IBBY’s core mission of bringing children closer to books by providing psychological relief and recreational activities to displaced children.
The main goals of this initiative are to
With the support of professional psychologists and educators, training sessions were focused on storytelling techniques, principles of bibliotherapy, and addressing the impact of war and displacement on children. Approximately 180 volunteers attended the training sessions, including 130 psychology and social work university students. Already, 280 packages containing books (in both English and Arabic), paper, sketchbooks, crayons, and a bibliotherapy manual have been distributed in several locations to support displaced children during the war.
The Lebanese section of IBBY needs continuing support for this activity. To contribute to the IBBY Children in Crisis Fund, you can donate directly to IBBY or to IBBY Canada via Canada Helps. For donations to the IBBY Children in Crisis Fund, please designate a specific campaign.
Let us keep IBBY’s mission alive all over the world through connecting children to books!
*Thank you to Shereen Kredieh for sharing information with me.
Submitted by Josiane Polidori, 2nd Vice-President, IBBY Canada
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