On Tuesday, August 4, 2020, at 18:07 Beirut time, a massive explosion shattered the city, leaving at least 220 deaths, 8000 injuries, US$10–15 billion in property loss, and has left an approximated 300,000 people completely homeless.

As a result of this catastrophic event, local and international efforts set up emergency crisis units in response to the immediate and urgent needs of the suffering and helpless community.

Care By CLES, an initiative by CLES to help the families affected by the economical situation in Lebanon, set up a crisis emergency unit to help quickly the affected families. The crisis emergency unit created a database and developed a needs assessment protocol to help as many people as possible.

With thousands of people displaced and with the influx of injuries, home rehabilitation, food, hygiene supplies, and psychological support are mandatory to help people heal faster as they try to recover from the physical and emotional trauma they have been subjected to.

Care by CLES is currently working on:

Offering 4000 vouchers in the month of August to people in need

As an extension to Care by CLES, CLES is giving much needed vouchers to suffering families so that they can spend on their direct needs, be it food, hygiene products, or clothing.

Reinstalling glass for the affected houses of CLES’ children

CLES is sparing no effort in promptly reinstalling the glass for the safety of children.

Providing remote psychological support for children affected by the explosion

CLES’ team of psychologists is offering free online sessions through ZOOM or over the phone to help people cope with the blast aftermath.

To learn more, please check our Facebook and Instagram pages

Latest updates on the response to COVID-19 and the economical crisis

Packages  and vouchers were distributed in:

September 2, 2020  Beirut
August 26-27-28, 2020  Beirut
August 10-11-12, 2020  Beirut
August 3, 2020  Badaro Center
July 30, 2020  Badaro Center
July 28-29, 2020  Beirut
July 20-21-22, 2020  Tripoli Center
July 16-17, 2020   Zahle Center
July 15, 2020  Semkanieh Center
July 13-14, 2020  Zouk Center
July 10, 2020  Saida Center
July 6-8-9, 2020  Nabatieh Center
July 6, 2020  Keserouan
July 4, 2020  Akkar
July 3, 2020   Batroun
July 2, 2020  Souk el Ghareb
July 2, 2020  Ras Beirut
July 1, 2020  Achrafieh
June 30, 2020  Sahel Alma
December 2019 – June 2020 CLES Centres

Latest updates on the response to COVID-19 and the economical crisis

Care by CLES started its 4th distribution of packages on June 30, 2020, and continues the distribution throughout July 2020.

Packages were distributed in:

September 2, 2020  Beirut
August 26-27-28, 2020  Beirut
August 10-11-12, 2020  Beirut
August 3, 2020  Badaro Center
July 30, 2020
  Badaro Center
July 28-29, 2020  Beirut
July 20-21-22, 2020  Tripoli Center
July 16-17, 2020   Zahle Center
July 15, 2020  Semkanieh Center
July 13-14, 2020  Zouk Center
July 10, 2020  Saida Center
July 6-8-9, 2020  Nabatieh Center
July 6, 2020  Keserouan
July 4, 2020  Akkar
July 3, 2020   Batroun
July 2, 2020  Souk el Ghareb
July 2, 2020  Ras Beirut
July 1, 2020  Achrafieh
June 30, 2020  Sahel Alma

What we do

With the help of CLES’s team and personnel, Care by CLES provides tangible solutions and support to Lebanese families in need, mostly around the communities where CLES centers operate.

Through its eight educational centers, CLES provides packages for the affected families. The centers are present in Beirut, Tripoli, Saida, Zouk, Nabatiyeh, Zahle, and Semkaniyeh.

Care by CLES initiative started originally through supporting the direct families of kids who get their special education at CLES’s centers and has grown to reach the surrounding communities.

With the hope to reach out to more families in need, CLES has joined forces with local, national and international NGOs.

Package Content

June / July 2020

  • 2 x  Spaghetti  (250g)
  • 2 x  White Flour  (1000g)
  • 2 x  Chickpeas (1000g)
  • 3 x  Rice  (1000g)
  • 2 x  Red Lentils  (1000g)
  • 2 x  Lentils  (1000g)
  • 2 x  Beans  (1000g)
  • 1 x  Halva  (400g)
  • 1 x  Apricot Jam  (1000g)
  • 1 x  Olive Oil  (0.75L)
  • 1 x Sunflower Oil  (1.8L)
  • 1 x Powdered Milk  (750g)
  • 3 x Sugar  (1000g)
  • 1 x Salt  (1000g)
  • 2 x Processed Cheese
  • 2 x Thyme  (400g)
  • 2 x Vermicelle  (500g)
  • 2 x Coarse Bulgur  (1000g)
  • 2 x Fine Bulgur  (1000g)
  • 1 x Biscuit Box  (85g)
  • 3 x Tomato Paste  (660g)
  • 2 x Tuna Cans  (185g)
  • 1 x Chickpeas Dip  (400g)
  • 1 x Fava Beans  (400g)
  • 1 x Chicken Luncheon  (340g)
  • 1 x  Laundry Powdered Detergent  (3kg)
  • 2 x  Liquid Hand Soap  (500ml)
  • 1 x  Dishwashing Liquid  (1L)
  • 1 x  All Purpose Cleaner  (4L)
  • 1 x  Shampoo  (4KG)
  • 3 x  Toothbrush
  • 1 x Toothpaste  (120ml)
  • 1 x  Sponge

Package Content

June / July 2020

  • 2 x  Spaghetti  (250g)
  • 2 x  White Flour  (1000g)
  • 2 x  Chickpeas (1000g)
  • 3 x  Rice  (1000g)
  • 2 x  Red Lentils  (1000g)
  • 2 x  Lentils  (1000g)
  • 2 x  Beans  (1000g)
  • 1 x  Olive Oil  (0.75L)
  • 1 x  Sunflower Oil  (1.8L)
  • 1 x  Powdered Milk  (750g)
  • 3 x  Sugar  (1000g)
  • 1 x  Salt  (1000g)
  • 2 x  Processed Cheese
  • 2 x  Thyme  (400g)
  • 2 x  Vermicelle  (500g)
  • 2 x  Coarse Bulgur  (1000g)
  • 2 x  Fine Bulgur  (1000g)
  • 1 x  Biscuit Box  (85g)
  • 3 x  Tomato Paste  (660g)
  • 2 x  Tuna Cans  (185g)
  • 1 x  Chickpeas Dip  (400g)
  • 1 x  Fava Beans  (400g)
  • 1 x  Chicken Luncheon  (340g)
  • 1 x  Halva  (400g)
  • 1 x  Apricot Jam  (1000g)
  • 1 x  Laundry Powdered Detergent  (3kg)
  • 2 x  Liquid Hand Soap  (500ml)
  • 1 x  Dishwashing Liquid  (1L)
  • 1 x  All Purpose Cleaner  (4L)
  • 1 x  Shampoo  (4KG)
  • 3 x  Toothbrush
  • 1 x Toothpaste  (120ml)
  • 1 x  Sponge

This is how Care by CLES works

CBC team manages a database received from its 8 operational centers. The database is updated through the recent inclusion of eligible families given by local and national NGOs.

CBC team manages a database received from its 8 operational centers. The database is updated through the recent inclusion of eligible families given by local and national NGOs.

CLES gathers donations for Care by CLES initiative. All donations are 100% spent on the packages distributed*.

*CLES centers are free of charge to students as the association is self-funded. All the NGO’s operational costs are covered by the Raymond Debbane family foundation [this allows for every dollar donated to Care by CLES to go directly to the cost of foods and transportation to the centers.

CLES gathers donations for Care by CLES initiative. All donations are 100% spent on the packages distributed*.

*CLES centers are free of charge to students as the association is self-funded. All the NGO’s operational costs are covered by the Raymond Debbane family foundation [this allows for every dollar donated to Care by CLES to go directly to the cost of foods and transportation to the centers.

CBC places an order for food and hygiene parcels from local providers. The parcels are packed in reusable storage bags.

CBC places an order for food and hygiene parcels from local providers. The parcels are packed in reusable storage bags.

Care by CLES approves the list of products placed in the parcels. All items are screened for expiry date, quantities, and accuracy of orders placed.

* Most items placed in the parcels are made in Lebanon

Care by CLES approves the list of products placed in the parcels. All items are screened for expiry date, quantities, and accuracy of orders placed.

* Most items placed in the parcels are made in Lebanon

Once the packages are ready, Care by CLES handles the transportation of goods to the eight CLES centers (or to locations assigned by CLES).

Once the packages are ready, Care by CLES handles the transportation of goods to the eight CLES centers (or to locations assigned by CLES).

Care by CLES team members contact the families on the database to receive their parcels and assign pick up dates.

Families come to the centers (or to locations assigned by CLES) to pick up packages.

*No personal information is shared to keep the privacy of the receivers intact.

Care by CLES team members contact the families on the database to receive their parcels and assign pick up dates.

Families come to the centers (or to locations assigned by CLES) to pick up packages.

*No personal information is shared to keep the privacy of the receivers intact.

Each package (3 parcels) weighs around 70 KGs and contains 6 weeks supply (of families of four) of grains, protein, oil, carbs and hygiene products

Each package (3 parcels) weighs around 70 KGs and contains 6 weeks supply (of families of four) of grains, protein, oil, carbs and hygiene products

Lebanese regions that received the packages

 From December 2019 to July 2020 

Distribution Progress

December 2019
600 packages distributed

February 2020
400 packages distributed

April / May 2020
2,000 packages distributed

July 2020
Distributed packages to 3,000 families

August 2020
Distributed 4,000 vouchers and assessed the damages for the destroyed houses

Scheduled Distribution Until June 2021
Around 13,000 packages

Operations during the coronavirus pandemic

With the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Lebanon has been on lockdown since the end of February. CBC continues its commitment to provide packages to the underprivileged citizens of Lebanon in these dire times of need.

  • Two team members in each of CLES’s centers ( or locations assigned by CLES) are present at predetermined times for parcels pickup.
  • The members will be wearing protective masks and gloves at all times and will follow up on the sanitization measures.
  • Families are assigned dedicated pickup times to avoid traffic and ensure safe and contactless delivery.

Contributors

Care by CLES is grateful to have the support and endorsement of benefactors from the Lebanese diaspora, international NGOs, and benefactors who spared no effort in supporting the mission of this project.

Care by CLES has joined forces with many local and regional NGOs to extend a helping hand and help more families in need across Lebanon.

To date, CLES has collaborated with:

  • Lebanese Scouts
  • Local associations
  • Local Municipalities
  • Local dispensaries
  • Nursing departments
  • Mayors

Special thanks go to each and every team member of CLES for making this initiative happen. The spirit of volunteerism is overwhelming and it shows the professionalism and the giving nature of the team who is acting as true support in these times of need.