Samer, a former Syrian refugee, is a translator in the Netherlands. He credits Christian World Service partner, the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR) Lebanon, for his success.

When war broke out in Syria, Samer’s family fled to Lebanon.  It was a traumatic experience for the eighth-grade student.

“I felt lost and confused with no dreams,” he said. 

The teenager soon dropped out of school but after missing more than a year, he decided to give school another try.  This time he went to the school at the Sidon Centre run by DSPR Lebanon.  He was so impressed by the teachers, he worked hard to catch up on his studies and went on to pass the Baccalaureate exams. This required a trip back into Syria, before studying media and communications at a Lebanese university.

“We owe DSPR Lebanon for our renewed hope.  When I passed the Baccalaureate exam, I felt as though the sun had entered into my life,” said Samer on a recent visit to his family in Lebanon.

Samer speaks for many refugees when he expresses appreciation for DSPR Lebanon and organisations that financially support its work, including CWS.

“You not only funded us but rescued young people who were completely broken with despair and gave them hope to rebuild their lives.  You made them feel that with education and knowledge they will be able to rebuild their homes,” he said.

DSPR Lebanon runs education programmes from preschool to adult literacy classes. Funding has been further stretched because of the downturn in Lebanon’s economy in 2019. 

Executive director Sylvia Haddad is passionate about education and grateful for your support.  She says when the first refugees arrived from Syria, DSPR Lebanon established new programmes at their request.  Many were double refugees from Palestine and Syria who knew from personal experience, the importance of education.   

“To continue our work and service of helping and empowering people to help themselves, we depend on good people like yourselves who help us survive and serve,” she says.

Read the latest Story of Hope, The Sun entered my Life.