What do we do as the VVL Foundation

The VVL, Veterans for Lebanon Foundation converts the bond that Dutch UNIFIL veterans have built with the country into tangible support.
Our projects can be divided into two main pillars: humanitarian aid and veteran and cultural trips.

1. Humanitarian aid projects (shipping containers)

As a foundation, we structurally collect goods and ship them in sea containers directly to specific, local projects in Lebanon. Recently, we sent a container to the port of Beirut with goods for 6 different local projects.

• Medical assistance and care: Shipping of hospital beds, nursing beds and medical equipment.
  
  
• Care and Welfare Sector: collection of medical devices (e.g. incontinence material) for psychiatric hospitals. We also run targeted GoFundMe drives; recently for 100 care mattresses for a psychiatric clinic in Beirut. But also orphanages and Physiotherapy Practices etc.
  
  
• Education and youth: Collection and distribution of school materials, furniture and toys for various school projects such as SSCC-Bauchrieh, Hadat and Batroun.
  
  
• Social shelter and animal welfare: Support for vulnerable groups through local aid organizations and the supply of animal nutrition to local animal welfare organizations.
  
  
• Working visits: Our board members regularly travel to Lebanon at their own expense to participate in and supervise ongoing projects, maintain networks and oversee the distribution of the goods locally.

2. Veteran Care & Return Trips

In addition to direct emergency aid, we as an organization focus strongly on the veterans themselves and promoting mutual friendships.

• Guided return trips: Supporting and guiding former UNIFIL soldiers (sometimes together with their partners or children) who want to return to their former mission area. This often helps veterans to cope with their service in Lebanon (1979-1985).
  
  
• Documentary "in the service of peace": Is a gripping and impressive Dutch documentary. It is possible to have this documentary 'in the service of peace' including a speaker shown, for example at your veterans meeting.
  
  
• Hiking and culture tours: Organization of inspiring walking tours (based on the old military patrols through the Wadis) and cultural tours along historic Lebanese sights such as the temples of Baalbek and the Cedar forest.

Do you agree that the suffering population in Lebanon deserves our support?
Then support us in our mission.