اشترِك في نشرتنا الإخبارية
"A flame of hope", this is how Terry Bitar qualifies the actions conducted by her NGO "Charity Donation" during the summer of 2020. Concerned about the excruciating situation in Lebanon, the architect and specialist in sustainable development, who is also following an MBA at George Washington University, tells An-Nahar about the tremendous fear and soreness experienced by a large number of Lebanese people and affirms: "People are scared, people do not know what to do anymore, they need hope to keep going and someone to help them directly".
While Lebanon is being hammered by a general political, social, and economic crisis, Terry interferes on the field, with dozens of engaged and motivated youth, to respond to the distress calls of hundreds of families in Lebanon. Starting June 2020, an emergency relief program was implemented by the association that aims at eradicating poverty.
While Lebanon is being hammered by a general political, social, and economic crisis, Terry interferes on the field, with dozens of engaged and motivated youth, to respond to the distress calls of hundreds of families in Lebanon. Starting June 2020, an emergency relief program was implemented by the association that aims at eradicating poverty.
According to the 29 year-old ambitious woman, around 35 actions were held. A thousand families could benefit from the food supplies once a week. Other associations in the Bekaa region also profited from the provisions of Charity Donations and contributed in distributing them. Bitar explains that families register and take their share, and the NGO reports to the donors.
Moreover, during the Covid-19 pandemic, members of the organization visited Rafic Hariri Hospital, and tried to aid nurses and the Lebanese Red Cross.
Grateful to the assistance of USAID, UKAID and the UAE embassy in Lebanon with many projects of her NGO, Terry recognizes their efficient support. For instance, the UAE participated by donating bread and food while USAID assisted with the "Love Bites" project.
Since 2014, Terry strives to find ways to help others in a sustainable form by creating job opportunities. Nevertheless, with the crisis pushing to its edge, she found herself morally obliged to reach out to people by other means, though she reflects that distributing food to the ones in need is neither the solution nor the role of organizations.
Moreover, during the Covid-19 pandemic, members of the organization visited Rafic Hariri Hospital, and tried to aid nurses and the Lebanese Red Cross.
Grateful to the assistance of USAID, UKAID and the UAE embassy in Lebanon with many projects of her NGO, Terry recognizes their efficient support. For instance, the UAE participated by donating bread and food while USAID assisted with the "Love Bites" project.
Since 2014, Terry strives to find ways to help others in a sustainable form by creating job opportunities. Nevertheless, with the crisis pushing to its edge, she found herself morally obliged to reach out to people by other means, though she reflects that distributing food to the ones in need is neither the solution nor the role of organizations.
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Earlier this year, she highlighted the fact that the civil society’s institutions are playing the role of the state while the latter is failing to fulfill its responsibilities.
A year ago, on the 17th of October 2019, a peaceful revolution calling for a real change aroused in the heart of a thousand times murdered and surviving country. Furious with a corrupt political class, protestors considered that the governors and their allies don't represent them. They thronged into the streets to disown rulers that left the youth jobless and thrice the local population abroad. The middle class had never been affected to this extent in the last decade.
After the Beirut massive explosion, individuals and NGOs worked with devotion and solidarity to rescue the victims of this tragedy while the government and the state’s institutions were quasi-absent.
Today, Terry sees that youth volunteers full of enthusiasm are forming a real familial and friendship bond with families in need. "People are relieved when an association helps them", she says.
A year ago, on the 17th of October 2019, a peaceful revolution calling for a real change aroused in the heart of a thousand times murdered and surviving country. Furious with a corrupt political class, protestors considered that the governors and their allies don't represent them. They thronged into the streets to disown rulers that left the youth jobless and thrice the local population abroad. The middle class had never been affected to this extent in the last decade.
After the Beirut massive explosion, individuals and NGOs worked with devotion and solidarity to rescue the victims of this tragedy while the government and the state’s institutions were quasi-absent.
Today, Terry sees that youth volunteers full of enthusiasm are forming a real familial and friendship bond with families in need. "People are relieved when an association helps them", she says.
Back in 2019, when the founder of Charity Donation visited the US, she was offered the key of the United States of America by the President of the Lebanese American Chamber of commerce, Mr John Akouri, who pronounced notably: "Terry, we welcome you to the US and we invite you to use this key in America anytime you come", referring to "the key to our hearts".
