Marie Giron, a sister from the Chemin Neuf community, is on a mission in Jounieh. In this Lebanese city, the Chnanir community house welcomes young people with disabilities. Marie explains what happens there.
The EPES School — Ensemble pour une Éducation Spécialisée (Together for Specialised Education) — is welcoming around thirty students with disabilities this year, divided into four classes. Children, teenagers and young adults with varying degrees of mental disorders find a suitable environment in which to learn, progress and flourish. They benefit from educational activities tailored to their needs, therapeutic support provided by professionals, and an environment that supports their overall development.
At the heart of the school, a multidisciplinary team works hand in hand with families to enable each pupil to progress at their own pace and gradually integrate into society. Daily life at EPES is filled with simple joys, laughter, wonder, courage… and sometimes tears during more difficult moments that reflect the reality of these unique journeys.
In a country marked by successive crises and still in search of stability, gathering the necessary resources to meet the needs of the school, the children, and their families remains a real challenge. EPES continues to thrive largely thanks to the generosity of its donors and sponsors, who are essential to ensuring the continuity of the pupils‘ education. Sponsorship offers real security to the child and provides concrete help in enabling them to complete their education.
For almost two years, the school has also been running the Lueur workshop, a participatory candle-making workshop that provides professional training. Students make candles that are then sold to the public: a rewarding activity that allows them to acquire skills and connect more with the outside world. And in the run-up to Christmas, the workshop is working flat out to fulfil the many orders!