The Youth News

Je ne peux que féliciter tous nos jeunes qui se sont directement mobilisés après la catastrophe du 4 août. Ce sont cette implication et ce dévouement, propres à l’esprit de l’Ordre de Malte, qui nous réjouissent et desquels nous sommes très fiers…

Bravo et bonne continuation, que Dieu vous protège toujours.

Manal Atiyah Abi Abdallah

Introduce yourself.
Hello! My name is Joy Abou Mansour, I’m 28 years old and I’m an architect.

How did you hear about the Youth?
Through a friend, Priscilla Bakalian. I visited a camp in Chabrouh with her back in 2017 and I have been hooked ever since.

What is your best memory?
If I had to pick one, I would say when a magician visited the Down Syndrome Camp in October 2019. I have never seen so many smiles in a room.

The Youth in one word?
Giving.

What makes you come back to our activities?
It’s an indescribable amazing feeling that you can’t experience anywhere else, a combination of an extraordinary family, unforgettable moments and exceptional bonds.

Introduce yourself.
Rabih Dib, 36 years old. Curious-minded marketer and communications strategist transforming the way brands interact with audiences through content.

How did you hear about the Youth?
A long story that lead me to my first volunteering camp through two common friends.

What is your best memory?
Best memory was Christmas camp. I left my family on Christmas day and celebrated one full week with our special guests from Deir Al Kamar.

The Youth in one word?
Rejoin.

What makes you come back to our activities?
The Environment of the Youth and the positive energy which you receive out of the volunteers and the guests. The addiction of giving back, the belonging to the Order of Malta Youth family, the appreciation of being who I am while I’m exposed to different situations in this life and different people.

On Wednesday 16th of September, the club of the Youth of the Order of Malta participated in the e-rally organized by the student’s committee at the Saint Joseph’s university. The club took advantage of this event to meet and welcome the first year students. Masks on, the members of the bureau presented the club’s activities and made it clear that by joining them, they would be joining an amazing and loving family. A brief introduction of the various previous events was made followed by a quick game that challenged the students’ knowledge and quick thinking. After a few laughs, the interested students got to register hoping to participate in many events and become devoted volunteers of the Order.

Audrey Haber, Lebanese volunteer

7 youth volunteers got together at our center in Chabrouh to bake for the guests from the psychiatrist institutions that usual take part in the holiday camps for the differently-abled persons! They were so happy to come back to Chabrouh and share some love! Volunteers took all safety precautions while baking. 150 plain and 100 chocolate croissants were sent to the hospital. Special thanks to Bakalian Flour Mills and Bakalian BakeLab!

In our day and time, Lebanon is facing an unprecedented economic crisis as well as a global pandemic, topped off with high rates of poverty and undernutrition. That is why the Elderly Sponsorship Program – running since 2012 – is crucial, since many families’ food intake depends on it. By digitalizing the food drive, the Youth was able to expand the program’s reach: with a purpose of making donations accessible to everyone on a worldwide scale, JUST HELP facilitates the donation process by allowing transfers in several currencies. Thus, the platform helped to supply monthly food and sanitary packages to many elders and families.

No donation is ever too small. Being part of this project as one of its ambassadors was very rewarding. Receiving donations is one achievement, but being able to give the packages out fills one with great satisfaction. Thanks to over 70 amazing donors and more than 2,000 food products collected, the Youth was able to draw smiles on many faces.

One thing I learnt through camps and activities such as this one is that, no matter how much you give, you’re always receiving more. Witnessing the growth of this program in merely a month made me realize that, amidst all the chaos we are engulfed in, the Youth never ceases to assist the most vulnerable. As the flyer of the Program points out: One Click, One Smile, Big Change.

Sibylle Antaki, Lebanese volunteer

July and August are without any doubt the hottest months in Lebanon and the humidity and pollution in the Beirut area put an extra burden on the daily life of everyone. That’s why the Youth of the Order of Malta did not spare any effort to collect donations for ventilators and water dispensers and bring relief to 20 vulnerable homes in Nabaa. A big thank you to the activity leader, all the volunteers and donations that helped us draw a big smile on the face of the donees.

Felicitas von Campenhausen, German volunteer

On Saturday the 4th of July, a few volunteers gathered to try and alleviate some of the hardships endured by our less fortunate neighbors in the Nabaa area. Fresh fruit and vegetable baskets were delivered early in the morning and the volunteers divided the products to provide families in need. The fresh products were accompanied by the basic necessities one may need in at home to ensure bellies will be satisfied for at least a little while.

Abou El Kouloub’s (Father’s Heart) relentless smile, Tante Marie’s words of wisdom, and Sabah’s continuous sweet “Allah ykhallikon” (God bless you) and “Yaatikon el aafye” made everything worthwhile. With the continuous support of our youth and donors, we can continue to lend a helping hand in these unprecedented difficult times.

Karen Haddad, Lebanese volunteer

What better way to fight the heat of summer than a tasty scoop of ice cream? That’s what we thought too! So, on Saturday 25th of July, we headed to the streets of Nabaa hoping to add a little sparkle of joy in the life of the poor kids living there. I was really excited to participate in this activity since it made me realize that despite the difficult times we are going through, we are still able to share some positive vibes.

As soon as we arrived, kids started rushing to us, screaming all around, each one with its own requested flavor. 2 hours later, 300 ice cream cones were distributed, everyone was extremely happy, the kids as well as the volunteers; smiles were everywhere. Seeing the stars in their eyes while grabbing their cones and sitting away to eat them, was an extreme pleasure for me. True happiness lies in giving to others; and I guess what we’re all searching for is love, appreciation and the feeling that someone is there for us.

I really can’t wait to participate in the coming activities, and to put smiles on people’s face. Lastly, I really encourage every single person to join the Youth of the Order of Malta because it’s an amazing experience to live, without speaking of the amazing people you meet there. Giving happiness to others is tremendously important to our own happiness.

Anna Daou, Lebanese volunteer