São Paulo – The Lebanese first lady, Wafaa Sleiman, visited Associação Cedro do Líbano de Proteção à Infância (Cedar of Lebanon Association for Childhood Protection), in the city of São Paulo today (23rd). “I am glad to know that the cedar of Lebanon remains alive as a symbol of the East, from where so many immigrants departed who now live in this friendly country (Brazil),” she stated. The tree is the symbol of the Arab country. Wafaa is accompanying her husband, president Michel Sleiman, in an official visit to Brazil.
The charity, established 63 years ago by Lebanese descendents, serves approximately 2,300 impoverished children and adolescents aged zero to 18. “While in this esteemed association, I feel as if I have not left Lebanon. Here I found that same generous spirit that reflects the wealth and customs of our land. The great accomplishments of this association are an example to us," she said. "Our human and social concerns with poverty and inequality are one and the same. We work in similar ways to educate our children so they will grow up and build a better world,” she claimed.
“We have the same concerns about education, healthcare, sports and culture. There is no question that my visit displays an intention of establishing even closer ties between Brazil and Lebanon,” said the first lady, who visited the main wards of the association, watched dance performances and even attempted a few words in Portuguese, such as “hello!” and “how do you do?” as she hugged the children. A group of children from the association sang the Lebanese hymn, in Arabic, and the Brazilian national hymn, leaving those in attendance deeply moved.
“We were very pleased with the visit of the Lebanese first lady. This is the first time that this has happened in the 63 years of existence of our association,” said the association’s chairwoman, Marly Haddad Cury. “We are proud to be a reference in treating children in a metropolis such as São Paulo,” she adds. Wafaa was accompanied by the first lady of the state of São Paulo, Deuza Goldman, and by the Lebanese consul’s wife, Sana Sayah.
The association was founded on September 5th, 1947. “The idea of protecting poor children came from a group of ladies who used to meet in order to do voluntary work for the least favoured people,” said the chairwoman.
Now, the children and adolescents served by the association receive five meals a day, at nine children education centres, two centres for children and adolescents, one centre for youths, and one computing course. The association also makes available a large recreational space, including a multi-purpose court, playgrounds, a toy area, a library, a theatre, a computer room, an infirmary, and mess halls.
The association has 200 employees and 500 voluntary associates. It lives off of donations by companies and natural persons, revenues from bazaar sales, and a partnership with the Municipal Secretariat for Education.
Schedule
Tomorrow, the Lebanese first lady will visit the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital, in São Paulo, alongside her husband, and on Monday (26th) she will be in Rio de Janeiro, where she should pay a visit to the Santa Marta Residents Association, to make an official donation of five computers.
Contact
Associação Cedro do Líbano
Site: www.cedrodolibano.org.br
E-mail: associação@cedrodolibano.org.br
Telephone: (+55 11) 5891-1707
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
