Minister of Social Affairs Surprise Visit

The Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs, Dr. Salim Sayegh, surprised us with a visit to our school on Monday 25 October 2010. He was accompanied with a huge delegation from the ministry. Also accompanying him was Miss Lebanon 2010, Martine Andraos. The Human Development and Youth Coordinator of the World Bank for the Middle East and North Africa, Ms. Haneen Sayed, was also among the group. The minister was visiting the West Bikaa region of Lebanon to personally see the work of institutions that are supported by his ministry and to listen to their needs. The director of JLSS welcomed the minister and his accompanying team. He expressed the gratitude of Schneller School for the continued support it receives from the Ministry of Social Affairs. He pointed to the implications of the high-cost-of-living increases on salaries granted twice lately without any increase in the subsidies that the ministry pays to institutions that provide care and education to underprivileged children. He mentioned to the minister and his team the number of staff that were made redundant the last two years as a direct consequence of those government decisions. He asked the minister to convey to the Lebanese government the need to have salary increases matched with equivalent increases in subsidies to prevent the extreme financial difficulties JLSS and other similar institutions are facing. The minister explained the difficulties that the Lebanese government is facing and promised to do his utmost to support all the institutions that are providing care and education to underprivileged children. Dr. Sayegh and his team went around the school visiting boarding homes and vocational workshops.
We express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Sayegh, Ms. Haneen Sayed, Miss Andraos, and all the other members of the group for their wonderful visit.