The Gift of Self Reliance
Dear friends,
For over 33 years Venture International has built bridges between those in need and those who can help. Our Family to Family program is unique in that it focuses on the entire family rather than a child or individual by helping families in need with day to day challenges. However, we must also be mindful that it is the desire of most people to be self reliant. In this endeavor, we try to encourage and support those who would benefit from skills training.
The Bible has some insightful scriptures on this topic:
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 ...and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Ephesians 4:28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
This month we are excited to feature a new project from our Family to Family ‐ Lebanon facilitator, Karim Anayssi. Karim has been working hard at raising funds for a new skills training center in Lebanon. Here are some excerpts from his proposal:
Introducing Cedar Home for Boys Vocational Rehabilitation Center ‐ Lebanon
Vocational: To offer residential and non‐residential vocational training programs in plumbing,
carpentry, electricity, steel‐work, masonry, and hair‐styling. Courses will combine class theory and
practical hands‐on curriculum taught by skilled tradesmen. Being a Christian organization, we hope
to make disciples of Jesus through this center and provide local and foreign churches with a
ministry opportunity through teaching and mentoring.
Rehabilitation: To rehabilitate Lebanese, Syrian, and other children found in forms of child labor and other deplorable conditions by enrolling them in an apprenticeship program to gain the required experience to be able to join the work force as experienced and dependable tradesmen and contribute positively to their communities. The program will be offered at our campus in the village of Douwar, El Metn, located 40 minutes away from Beirut. The 4 story, 6,500 square foot building offers sufficient space for a dormitory, classroom and workshop facilities.
Education: There are no special literacy programs for working children that would suit their living and working context. Children that have been out of school for more than two years are the ones who are most at risk, as Lebanese laws do not allow them to be redirected to formal schooling and education. This project will support the development of a special literacy and life skills curricula for working children.
Goal: Decrease child labor among Syrian refugee and Lebanese children. Based on ILO, UNICEF and the Lebanese Ministry of Labor, over 100,000 children in the country are victims of child labor and illicit trafficking.
Purpose: Establish a vocational training center, free of charge, with residential and non‐residential programs to train and equip beneficiaries on a diversity of trades and vocations suitable to their talent, capacity and desire. 50 children will be referred by the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Child Protection Court, and local and international NGO's to join our center.
Final Outcome: Develop skilled and trained tradesmen ready to join the work force. Educated professionals with high customer service and communication skills. Reputable, ethical individuals reintroduced to their communities as agents of change.
Upon our request, Karim and his staff were gracious enough to drive out to the Cedar Home for Boys property and shoot us a short informational video. With their help, we produced a short video presentation that can be found by going to Youtube.com and typing Venture International or Cedar Home for Boys in the search box. We will also post this video on our Facebook page.
You may also click here: Cedar Homes for Boys Video.
Please take a moment and watch the aforementioned video presentation. Karim has shared that once they receive 50 percent of the funding they will start the remodeling process necessary on the building they've already secured. If you would like to be part of this life‐changing endeavor, please consider sending us your contribution and designate Cedar Home for Boys in the memo line.
May you and your family be blessed!
Cherrie Dickerson, PresidentVenture International
Instructions for giving:
Online - Go to www.ventureint.org and click on the donation link of your choice. Once there just insert the amount in the contribution line.
By Check - Please write your preference on the memo line.
By Phone - Please call 480 730-2702. If I am not able to answer the phone, please leave a message and I will call you back ASAP. I am able to process credit cards through Venture International's banking portal.
Please consider donating today: