MINI BASMA

Little smile
2006-2007

30 th
anniversary

Gratefulness is the heart’s memory

Theme of the year 2006-2007
 30 th
anniversary

Editorial
This message is for each and every one of you, who make up the larger family of SESOBEL and
of Anta-Akhi (You are My Brother) organizations.

Today, 30 years since the creation of SESOBEL, we pause and reflect upon our many cherished
memories and seek ways of continuing to work together in the future.

When we consider the conditions and the lack of means with which we started, we can rightfully
say that we succeeded in building this family, and perpetuating it, thanks to your individual
contributions. Your individual efforts, in turn, have fulfilled and unleashed the blessings and
intercession of “Sit el-Beit” (The Lady of the House), the Virgin Mary. In other words, we could
not have charted our course together in support of the lives of the children and their families,
through our means alone. Our efforts, as essential as they are, can never be sufficient. The role
of “Sit el-Beit” is vital, essential, and fundamental for the needs of today as well as those of
tomorrow.

Go back in time with me, to 30 years ago… In those days, people viewed our efforts as too
utopian, unattainable, and not realistic. Due to the lack of resources during desperate times, it
was considered a lost and unwise cause, and a waste of time to invest in children that were so
severely disabled. It was seen as too much effort with too many needs, all for nothing.

Now, 30 years later we find that perceptions have changed and new values have enriched our
lives. Hearts have opened up and lives have been transformed. It has been a 30-year partnership,
in which men, women, children, youth, and elderly of good health worked together with handicapped
children. Like a big caravan of life, one can see how these diversities and differences flow
together conceived with love, nurtured with hope, and consolidated by a faith in mankind. Each
human being is indispensable, has a role in this joy, is a source of life as well as a recipient and
giver of a universal love.

Thanks to this partnership we can continue together to write, each their own part, the ongoing
story of this family… A story of faith, loyalty, love, and hopes…
Yvonne Chami
Founder & President
 MINI BASMA 2006-2007
Little smile

Mission
To assist the disabled child so he can live happily.
To support the family and to assist them to prepare for their child’s future
To educate society of the disabled child’s value and to his right to live in dignity.
To lessen handicaps and enable early detection by educating parents, doctors, professionals
and government entities.

Beneficiaries
471 children and young persons who come from 437 families assisted through a holistic approach.

Ages Disability
36.73%

214
191

20.17% 19.75%
15.29%

8.07%
39
27

0- 4 years 5 - 8 years 9 - 16 years 17 - 20 years 20 years & more Physical Mental Invasive other
develpmental
disorder
 Gratefulness is the heart’s memory

Programs
Rehabilitation program : 21.228 Acts
1162 para medical exams check ups, 1072 medical consultations, 330 medical exams, 16905
therapies, 798 parental guidance, 839 technical aids and 22 surgeries.
1- Family reception service 6 – Physical therapy service: 341 persons
- To welcome and support new families: Physical therapy treatment, rehabilitation,
- To diagnose the handicap therapeutic devices, orthotics…
- To detail the necessary follow-up plan. 7 – Occupational therapy service: 103 children
- To guide the child to SESOBEL’s programs Identification of talents and abilities related to
or to other institutions’ programs. working projects.
Parental guidance Rehabilitation and home adjustments to facilitate
2- The outreach program: 65 children the disabled.
To provide medical services, rehabilitation and 8 – Speech therapy: 218 children
social support to children who cannot be part Development of pronunciation and enunciation.
of SESOBEL’s education programs. Family guidance.
3 – Center of Kfarhouna (South Lebanon) : 9 9 – Psychomotricity service: 222 children
children Rehabilitation and family education to promote
This center welcomes disabled children that learning and adaptation in the home environment.
live in the Jezzine district. Services include 10 – Psychology service:
diagnosis, special care, and rehabilitation. - Therapies for children and youth to help deal
4 – Gait and motion laboratory and outreach with the frustrations of a disability.
services: 65 persons - Psychological follow-up for families.
Paid gait analysis and rehabilitation services - Psychiatric consultations.
for private clients who need special follow-up. 11 Technical aids service: 308 children
5 – Medical service : 471 children and youth Positioning, orthotics, devices for walking,
Services cover a large spectrum from diagnosis, handicap adaptations of homes and facilities.
follow-up evaluations, and referral. Those
without the means to seek outside care are
supported by medical volunteers who donate
their time and energy to grateful families.

SOCIAL ACTION
-Assist family members of the disabled child.
-Strengthen family partnerships with SESOBEL.
-Provide family guidance and social support.

With the parents

1 241 individual interventions
61 Group interventions
5 Job training sessions for mothers:
Make-up, facial care, hand work,
nail polish and foot care.
4 outings

With the siblings

13 Group interventions
2 Outings
Education programs: 203 children and young persons
1- The day nursery: 31
2- The physical disability program: 50
3- The mental disability program: 82
4- The invasive developmental disorders program: 40

School and pre-school programs.

Educational and artistic activities: Pottery, handicrafts, acting, music, dance, culinary activities,
sports and choir.
Apprenticeships which can lead to job possibilities.
Social exposure through entertaining activities: Documentary outings, leisure outings, holiday
camps, parties…
Guidance and counseling for the youth, to help them go beyond their difficulties, to talk about
their lives and help them communicate their needs to the outside world.
Educational and Leisure Activities

In the classes Handikraft activities Culinary activities

Christmas Sport Outings

Help through the work center (CAT) : 31 youth

Insure SESOBEL’s youth protected work centers either at SESOBEL or outside locations where
they can reach some degree of personal autonomy.
The CAT of SESOBEL are:
Chocolat factory, sewing, horticulture, laundry, photocopying, shelf stocking, technical aids
confection, sale and pre-press.
Special events

General Assembly
Both SESOBEL and Anta-Akhi’s general assemblies, met on the 19th of January 2007. M. Bertrand
Arnaud, representing the audit firm of Ernst &Young came especially to present a study made by his
firm with several possible financial scenarios if a merger between SESOBEL and Anta Akhi would
occur.

Raffle
The draw for the raffle was held on the 15th of December 2007. Mrs Mona Khoury won the
first prize which was an ATOS-HYUNDAI car. Congratulation!
th
30 anniversary of SESOBEL
Staff, members of the administration board and of the general assembly, and friends gathered
to celebrate the 30th anniversary of SESOBEL and to honor the committed staff with 10, 15, 20 or 25
years, of service for the disabled children of SESOBEL and their parents.

“Child by Child”
In the framework of the “Child by Child” project, launched this year, 14 children of SESOBEL
visited ten general education schools to meet the students, give information about SESOBEL
and promote the rights of children convention and especially the rights of disabled children.

Action in South Lebanon - Kfarhouna

“Post war operation project”
In addition to the emergency action which took place during the war of July 2006 in which
SESOBEL helped more than 660 displaced families, SESOBEL also organized in collaboration
with UNICEF, leisure and animation activities in Jezzine for the children who suffered from the
war. The month long project helped 777 children from 15 different villages in September 2006.
Special integrated class
In collaboration with the Ministry of National Education, SESOBEL implemented an integrated
class project for disabled children at the Jezzine Primary Public School.
“ GE, the mother land ”
Thanks to funds from the Council for Development and Research and the World Bank, a Help
through Work center was fully equipped at Kfarhouna – Jezzine in south Lebanon. This center
is designated for the production of traditional Lebanese culinary ingredients.

Santa Clause’s money box

SESOBEL’s Volunteers Committee organized a campaign called Santa Clause’s money box.
Almost 3,000 boxes were distributed in schools, malls, and stores for SESOBEL fund raising
during Christmas time.

Partage Forum
SESOBEL and Anta Akhi participated in the international forum organized by PARTAGE from the
11th to the 15th of June 2007 in France. Participants came from 19 different countries to
exchange experiences and to have a common reflection on effective programs and policies. A
three day seminar took place in Mont Evry in Sologne during which the partners participated in
workshops on different subjects. The theme for the sponsors and partners on the last day was
“diversity to raise the children of the world in dignity.”
The end of the scholar year party:
From the heart’s memory
With the collaboration of Lebanon’s mobile phone
operator, Alfa, the children of SESOBEL ended their
school year with a play called From the Heart’s
Memory, on the 9th of June 2007, at the Casino du
Liban theatre, in the presence of Madam Ineke
Botter who is the director of Alfa, members of the
administration council, the staff, the parents and the
children of SESOBEL. The audience was fascinated
by the talented children who played with famous
Lebanese actors Wissam Sabbagh and Ziad Saïd.
Mrs Ineke Botter Mrs Fadia Safi
Our RESOURCES

Expenses
12 %

24 %
Protected workshops and production

Family reception, medical follow-up

and rehabilitation

Educational programs and social service

64 %

Income Foreign donations and sponsorship

23 %
11 % 14 % Local donations and sponsorship

Ministry of social affairs contribution

18 % Donations in kind

6% Family and social help

2%
27 % Self-sustaining activities and sale

Family participation

You can help us by:

- The sponsorship of a child
- The sponsorship of an specific program
- Donations
- Help in kind
- Help in service
- Voluntary service
- The purchase of our products:
Chocolate, household linen, Mouneh, Christmas greeting cards, baskets decorated for all
occasions.

Or by participating in our self financing activities:

Rural day- Christmas shop- Easter shop- Dinners- Annual raffle- Cake sale- Brunches-
Cinemas- Santa Clause’s money box.

SESOBEL - Aïn El-rihani, street 11 - Kesrouan

Po Box: 551 Zouk Mikael - Lebanon - Tel: 00961 9 233940/2 - Fax: 00961 9 233943
email :info@sesobel.org - www.sesobel.org