Sunday, December 5, 2010

400 youth celebrate Independence together

“Independence : Sovereignty and Dignity” was the label of the Independence exhibition which was organized by the Academy of Youth and Municipal Work on December 2, 2010 at Tammouz  Hall - Baalbeck. More than ten youth groups representing eight high schools and two youth municipalities participated in this event. “I felt overwhelmed by this crowd and I really felt exited to be one the organizer of this big event. It is the first time that we celebrate Independence Day outside school. Here, I felt that Independence is a national day” confirmed Mohamad Hassan, a youth club coordinator.
The exhibition included graphics, handicrafts and poems created by students which reflected various meanings of “Independence”. All students signed and carved different opinions and expressions on a big Lebanese Flag expressing their sincere patriotism. “The enthusiasm that we saw here is very rare, it looked like we were in a national competition and everyone is trying to prove how much he loves Lebanon: I am proud to be a member of the Academy” said Ahmad Houjeiry. This ceremony ended by distributing flowers and Lebanese flags to all participants.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Medical English at LOST-Baalbeck

Medical English Class
“Medical English” was something far from reach and LOST made it reachable in Baalbeck. There was no chance in our deprived region to even know that such course exists. However, LOST made it available.
Doctors of different medical specializations are attending an English Medical Course at LOST-Baalbeck. Such course is offered by LOST to help medical doctors enriching their background of medical terminologies and idioms.
Most importantly, this course helps satisfying the communicative needs for doctors.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Integrating Technology in Teaching

“Integrating Technology in Teaching” was the title of a training workshop organized by LOST in Baalbeck. Mrs Claire Ross, the English Project Manager at the British Council in Lebanon addressed the workshop in the presence of more than 30 English teachers from the region. Mrs Ross talked about the importance of integrating technological tools in teaching. She also discussed the significance of using songs, stories and games in explaining grammar and vocabulary lessons. Mrs Ross guided the trainees on how to use online resources especially English websites in teaching.
The workshop ended with an informative coffee break during which teachers shared with Mrs. Ross some problems they face in teaching English.
Ms. Claire Ross was warmly welcomed by LOST teachers and staff and her support was highly appreciated.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

LOST celebrated Independence with the children of the Lebanese Army’s Martyrs

LOST organized a special ceremony on Independence Day to the children of the Lebanese Army’s martyrs at Ras El Ein public garden in Baalbeck in the presence of the martyrs’ parents.
Dr. Rami El Lakkis, the founder of LOST, delivered a speech in which he considered that “this ceremony reflects our patriotism and our respect to the martyrs who sacrificed themselves for protecting the independence of our country”. In his speech, Dr.Lakkis announced that LOST offers free English and computers courses to the children of Lebanese Army’s martyrs. He thanked the Lebanese Army and its Command, the municipality of Baalbeck, the mass media representatives and LAS and LYN which participated in this activity.
Dr. Lakkis’ speech was followed successively with a speech by lieutenant “Mohammad Janbeyn” who thanked LOST for its nice gesture on behalf of the Lebanese Army Command and the martyrs’ parents.
The ceremony included entertainment games, sports, music and theater, and it ended by offering gifts to all children of the Lebanese Army’s martyrs in Bekaa.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

... and Mr. Zein Al Atat will Run for LOST this Marathon

Zein Al Atat visited LOST headquarters in Baalbeck and discussed with Dr Ramy Lakkis and senior executives in LOST the possibility of joining efforts in different projects LOST is conducting this year. Mr. Al Atat will support the participation of more than 2600 runners from Baalbeck Hermel in Beirut Marathon 2010. He also showed deep interest in sustaining needy people from the region through different social and economic programs that will be agreed upon in further meetings and discussions. Mr. Al Atat promised to donate 2500 kits of Zein soap and toothpaste. These kits will be distributed by LOST after the Marathon.
Mr. Al Atat was warmly welcomed by LOST executives and staff and his support was highly appreciated. The meeting ended by taking photos and celebrating the beginning of a promising cooperation in the future.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Massive Participation in Beirut Marathon 2010 from Baalbeck Hermel; More than 3000 persons will break the record

  “The number of participants that will run for LOST will exceed 3500 persons this year; more than 2600 will come down from Baalbeck-Hermel. It is a new breaking record in the Marathon”, said Hussein Yazbeck, director of Beit Shama Branch in LOST.

Participants from almost every high school in Baalbeck-Hermel will participate in this Marathon. “We are very excited, preparing almost everything we can to make this Marathon a very special day,” affirmed Rana Solh from Baalbeck.

LOST will manage to provide every logistical detail to help runners from Baalbeck-Hermel to participate actively and make the Marathon this year a great day.  They will run to reinforce a message that LOST is promoting all times “We live together, We run together!”

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Mrs. May Khalil supports Women’s Empowerment Program in Baalbeck

Mrs. May Khalil
President of Beirut Marathon Association



Mrs. May Khalil the president of Beirut Marathon Association supported and funded special English and IT training courses for more than 40 women in Baalbeck. This course is part of the Women’s Empowerment program that LOST is managing in its four branches in Baalbeck, Ein, Beit Shama and Hermel. LOST would like to greet and thank Mrs. Khalil for its generous support.

Honoring Mrs. May Khalil and Dr. Zuhair Chokr

Dr Lakkis
honoring Mrs Khalil and Dr Chokr
Sunday October 10 witnessed the honoring of two Lebanese great figures; Mrs. May Khalil, the president of Beirut Marathon Association and Dr. Zuhair Chokr, the president of the Lebanese University. The event was conducted in Baalbeck and was attended by more than 400 academic, political, social and municipal figures.

The special event started at 12:30 pm with the Lebanese National Anthem followed by a warm welcoming speech by Mr. Hussein Yazbeck, the director of Beit Shama branch in LOST, who launched the Beirut Marathon participation campaign in Baalbeck Hermel. Dr. Ramy Lakkis, the founder of LOST then declared that “this year the participation of Baalbeck-Hermel is going to be massive.” He added that “we took the occasion of this honoring event to announce that the participation in the Marathon this year is dedicated to support an IT and career guidance program that will target 600 Lebanese University students. The program will start on November 13 in all LOST branches in Baalbeck, Ein, Beit Shama and Hermel.”

Dr. Lakkis’ speech was followed successively with a speech by Mrs. Khalil and Dr. Chokr. Mrs. Khalil thanked LOST and Dr. Chokr for the great efforts that they are doing for the Marathon and called for a substantial participation on November 7 to make this day a “national day”. In his speech Dr. Chokr thanked LOST and said “I think that LOST, Mrs. Khalil and Beirut Marathon Association that deserve to be honored today for the great achievement and contribution that they are doing for the Lebanese youth in our days.” The event ended by handing two honoring shields to Mrs. Khalil and Dr. Chokr.



Sunday, September 19, 2010

Women’s Empowerment kicks off on Wednesday Sept. 22

Women’s Empowerment program will kick off on Wednesday 22 September. A new training program that LOST is conducting this fall. Eighty women in all LOST branches will attend special English classes and computer basics training. Each twenty women will be grouped in one class for two months. This program will help participants enroll in other business management courses that are continuously offered at LOST. 
Women’s Empowerment program this year would not have happened without the generous support of Mrs. Rabha Eidi who visited LOST last summer and met executives and senior staff there. Mrs. Eidi is a native of Lebanon, living in Toledo, OH since 1965. Since 2001 she contributed to many successful programs to help Lebanon. She became actively involved with two non-profit organizations to help Lebanon (Dar Al Hanan and Sadr Foundation). She currently is the International Director for Sadr Foundation U.S.A and Canada. In 2009, Mrs. Eidi received the “Expatriates Medal” from the General Directorate of the Lebanese Ministry Foreign Affairs.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

A Life Changing Step

     “I’ve always believed that I have a role play in my life” said Sabah the determined mother and housewife. She continued talking about her decision she once made to change her life. So, she has thought a lot how to leap the first step in the long way which wasn’t paved for her. She was fought by her fellow-women “who were only used to gossiping, visiting each other without thinking how to take advantage of their time and to be productive members in society.”
   
    Sabah lived a dream that tickled her imagination day and night, and began blooming when she told her understanding husband and sons who agreed to support her. “I wanted to have steady steps and to have a unique role and make a difference in my life as a mother and as a citizen. I realized that I had  to learn English to help my sons to be successful in their studies especially  they were at crossing roads in their life. This is the way that led me to know LOST  and its staff who helped me to make my dream come true.” 


     “ At first, I took two English courses that gave me the chance to meet new people who I permanently compared myself to, and I secretly decided to be  good at computer as Suzan, one of my ambitious classmates, and to do a teaching course as Ola, another young fresh-graduate student who wanted to be a professional English teacher.” Yes, believe or not, Sabah has done both courses and she has been one of the brilliant students in her classes. She has never been absent only when she had lung surgery. You know what? A week after she left the hospital, she was in her class asking her teacher to make-up what she had missed.


     “LOST is the right place that I recommend to everyone I like. My husband and sons are proud of my achievement there, and they tell our visitors about my commitment and devotion of doing a very good job. Ah, I forgot to tell you, my son is doing an English course at LOST to improve his English because he wants to pass his high school official exam after he failed last year. The good thing is that I can help him at home  now since I took the same course.”