What We DO

Since 1976, AFEL is an association working for the protection, the education and the insertion of children growing up in a challenged family, children with nothing or nobody to look up to, children who’s parents failed to raise in a loving environment. Often facing abuse, delinquency, struggling with learning and communication, AFEL’s children are on survival mode.

Securing funds to sustain their education, protection, shelter, therapy, nutrition, health is the biggest challenge.

Until today, AFEL has restored more than 5,000 children, giving entire generations the means to become autonomous and responsible adults.

AFEL is the Winner of the Conflict Prevention and Peace Prize in Lebanon 2018, awarded by the Ghazal Foundation for Education, Research and Peace in Lebanon.

Caring and catering for more than 500 children living on the edge, can seem like trying to climb a mountain. One of the most difficult one.

In April 2019, Ghassan Hajjar, a Lebanese athlete, attempted to climb Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth.

This was his fourth summit after Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Elbrus in Russia and Aconcagua in Argentina.

Ghassan is known for his extreme adventures, like the Marathon des Sables 2015 in Morocco’s Sahara when he raised more than $100K for AFEL.

From the Marathon des Sables, the toughest foot race on earth, to Mount Everest, the holy grail. From +40 °C in the desert of Morocco, to -40 °C in the Himalayas Ghassan is up to a double challenge: The physical challenge of climbing the mountain and the challenge of fundraising.

“I dedicate this climb to the rights of 500 abused children sheltered at AFEL”               – Ghassan

Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, often called “Mother Goddess of the Universe” , represents the pinnacle of athletic achievement, and the magnificence of nature, stands at 8,848m above sea level. It overlooks Nepal and Tibet.

Mount Everest is the hardest physical challenge faced by men and women on this earth. Many have tried but few have succeeded in conquering Mount Everest.

Everest is not just a summit, Everest is about dreams, about people coming alive, about people needing each other to climb higher and higher. It took Ghassan two months to climb Everest.

Afel would like to thank the donors around the world who made this possible. Afel would also like to thank their sponsors: Holdal Group, Nasco, Warde, and Printpack for contributing to our cause. All donations helped save abused children, and it couldn’t have been done without the help and support of the community.

Marathon des Sables is an “ultra-marathon” ran over six days, stretching around 250 km, with only one rest day, being ranked by discovery channel as the “toughest footrace on earth in the most unforgiving terrain”. With a long route split over different stages and checkpoints, the journey is changed and customized every year to provide a full experience to the participants. During the day, the competitors fight with every breath to make it through, at night resting in tents in villages to regain their strength for the next trek. This race is made possible with a beautiful team of coordinators, staff support, tents, helicopters, and more, guiding the warriors through their journey.

In 2015, our very own Ghassan Hajjar was the only Lebanese committed to completing the 30th Marathon des Sables on behalf of saving 10 AFEL children.

Ghassan’s values are commitment, challenge, surpassing oneself, performance, survival, ambition, authenticity, resilience, human connections, triumph, memories, and humanity. His values perfectly represent what AFEL instils and makes shine in the youth, nurturing and illuminating their full potential.

Ghassan along with AFEL documented every step of the journey: from planning, to execution, to live updated in the desert. AFEL wished him off to a beautiful start, with full care and even a farewell at the airport. Every day, encouraging words were fed & kind letters were relayed to Ghassan in the desert.

Sometimes connection was lost, and information was not transmitted, but we never lost hope, as we knew Ghassan would come out triumphant in the end! We continued to send our wishes of success to our beloved Ghassan.

Ghassan came through, triumphant and motivated as ever at the end of a six-day stretch. Upon finishing the race, Ghassan sent a beautiful message to all:

“My Race is over … But AFEL children still face their challenges.

For 40 years AFEL has been discretely working and fighting hard to pave the way for thousands of unprivileged young boys and girls.

I may have gone through moments of severe discomfort, suffering and doubt, but that was my own way of showing the daily efforts to run such an NGO and the unchosen type of struggle its kids go through.

It is AFEL that deserves and requires all the attention but mainly your recurrent follow up and support.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have done and all you would still do.

Marathon Des Sables has been a major experience .. a story to tell.

Stay Tuned.

Ghassan”

Along every step of the way, we remember our beautiful sponsors, with which we were able to fund 13 beautiful children’s recoveries:

• Eau Thermale Avene
• Holdal Abou Adal Group
• Toyota Lebanon
• Rotary International
• Societe Generale de Banque au Liban
• Beirut Marathon Association
• Fondation Saradar
• Speed Stick Lebanon
• T. Kahale & Co
• Entire fundraising team

Emergency Relief Plan

Guide for traumatized parents

Stay Tuned for the guides for children and parents.