Day one and two of our working visit to Lebanon.

Beirut 17 and 18 November 2025.

We got up early today, because Transavia has adjusted the flight schedule.

Instead of in the afternoon, we leave at 6.55 am from a rainy Schiphol. That means that we still have a whole day ahead of us in sunny Beirut, after a great flight of 4.5 hours.

Jeannet has to open her suitcase at security because of a suspicious package. There are questions about the switch and the access points that Bart still needs at one of the schools and after it has been determined that they are all used items, she is allowed to walk through.

We are met by Georges and this time Youssef is our driver. Like Afif, the best driver in Lebanon, according to Georges

After checking in at the Commodore hotel in Hamra area, which is familiar to us, we get a visit from Tyre.

                                                                                                Wanssa, Alia, Maro, Zainab en Soha. 

Because we can't travel to the south, they come to Beirut especially to see us and to shower us with delicious homemade products and souvenirs. It is a very nice reunion and we express the wish that we can meet again soon in peace in a.o. Tyre and Majdel Zoun, during a future return trip. Gratefully we say goodbye to each other, but of course not before we have taken a number of photos.

We get back into the van with Youssef and after a time-consuming drive through the busy traffic of Beirut we arrive at the school where we meet Bart and Hagop.
We get a tour and are very happy when we see the big differences with our own eyes and especially when we see the children working so happily and enthusiastically on the laptops we have donated.

  

At the same time, we also realize how much there is still to do and what is still needed to get and keep the system working properly for all buildings.
We end the day with a nice dinner at restaurant T Marbouta in Hamra street, near our hotel.
We end the day with an 11 o'clock at the bar of the hotel and go to bed.
Tomorrow morning Youssef will pick us up at 8 o'clock.

November 18, Day Two

This morning we visited the school in Hadat together with Bart Timmermans.


We were warmly welcomed by the school management and were given an extensive tour. The internet enters this school via a beam connection, but this connection is regularly disrupted by the Israeli drones flying around the adjacent neighborhood. There is no network within the school, so there is still a lot to do here.

At 11 o'clock we had an appointment with the secretary general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former ambassador for Lebanon in the Netherlands, Mr. Abdel Sattar Issa. It was a nice reunion.
His involvement in our foundation does us good.

                           
Then a small lunch on the place d'Étoile, or Neymeh Square. We ate the best Kebbeh, freshly made while we waited.


Then to Bauchrieh, for a good consultation with Sister Rachida and Marie-Jo about the progress of the current project. We were spoiled with coffee, cookies and delicious hot Lebanese sandwiches. We left Bart here, so that he can continue with his work there. He also sleeps in this school these days, in one of the guest rooms.

                                 

Around 16.00 we were expected at the Sisters of the Cross. The same clinic where the Pope will stay and spend the night in 10 days, during his visit to Beirut. We have supported these sisters several times with many different items such as incontinence material.

To our surprise, during this visit we were invited to meet the patients in this psychiatric clinic. First of all, we visited a ward where a large group of young boys live. Then we were received in a large hall with a huge applause by more than 200 adult men and we were addressed and sung to by some of them. Mostly in English. All people with wonderful talents, but whom no one else cares about. Finally, a dozen of them sang for us the song they have specially rehearsed to perform to the Pope in the same place.

It was all joy for them that we were there and we were moved to tears. Of course we couldn't take pictures there. So we asked one of the sisters to take a picture of us while we listened. We will never forget this afternoon! We know again what we do it all for as the Veterans for Lebanon foundation and are grateful and happy that we were able to visit here today and meet all these wonderful people.


We therefore ask for your help to do our work, especially for them, even better. We are going to collect incontinence products, mattresses, special covers and other items again, and a lot is needed for a clinic with more than 800 patients.

Our hope is pinned on you and together with your help we want to load another container with relief goods at the end of January / beginning of February where we also want to specifically help this clinic.



Check out our Facebook page to find out how you can help or donate directly. Or send us a direct email.