On August 4, 2020, a double explosion of 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate took place in the port of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Nearly 200 people died, more than 6000 were injured and more than 300,000 were left homeless.
In the months that followed, many Lebanese mobilized to participate in the huge solidarity effort to clean up the streets and rebuild the damaged neighborhoods. After a few weeks, a small group of volunteers from OUM AL FADI association noticed that the reconstruction was not enough for all the victims. In particular, many elderly people were exposed to poverty, as there is no pension system in Lebanon. From this observation was born the idea of providing them with food aid and supporting them with regular visits.
With the financial support of foreign donors wishing to help the Lebanese in this crisis, the project TETA w JEDDO ("Mamie&Papi" in Lebanese dialect) was launched by OUM AL FADI to support the elderly. As the months went by, TETA w JEDDO expanded and started to help more and more people with food, visits and financing of specific and concrete help (works, ...).
TETA w JEDDO's aims has gradually evolved. As the months passed, the urgency of the port explosion dissipated. But at the same time, the economic crisis in Lebanon worsened dramatically (three-digit inflation, devaluation of the national currency, Covid crisis,...). The association has therefore adapted and diversified its aid to make it accessible to a wider public, but equally in need.
Today, TETA w JEDDO takes care of elderly people and families in difficulty in several areas of Beirut. It provides assistance to many people in terms of food (regular home deliveries of traditional hot meals, weekly or monthly food parcels depending on the needs and the level of autonomy). Since the end of 2021, TETA w JEDDO also allows people who can no longer afford it to finance their medical treatment or medication. The association also participates in one-off projects such as home improvements or the purchase of important everyday items (lamps, kitchen equipment, etc.).
In addition, true to its initial intuition, TETA w JEDDO continues to organize regular home visits to maintain a strong link with the families it helps and to constantly adapt to their needs.
Our strength is our presence on the ground. Each week, volunteers visit families, spend time with them, note their needs and pray with them.
Every day, team members distribute hot meals to isolated people and food packages to families in need.
We try to create a family environment around people who are isolated or in a precarious situation, in order to provide them with emotional and psychological support.
We believe in the power of communication. We communicate with our beneficiaries on their fears and with our donors on the critical situation in Lebanon and our way of operating, in full transparency.
One of our objectives is to reintegrate people into working life. We wish to perpetuate their situations and improve their living conditions, particularly through micro-projects.
Our presence in the field allows us to best adapt the support provided to each household. We pay attention to each situation so that we can help everyone in the best possible way.
Health Branch Manager
Communication Manager
Distribution Assistant
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Visits Assistant