Blessed
(Benevolent Lebanese Evangelical School for Special Education and Development)

Beginnings:
Blessed (the Benevolent Lebanese Evangelical School for Special Education and Development) was founded by missionaries, and was the first school for blind people in the whole of the Middle East.

Activities:

The Bartimaeus Programme for visually impaired people teaches the essential skills of reading and writing Braille, in both Arabic and English, alongside two or more vocational programmes of the students’ choice. The programmes include: music, computer skills, mobility, life skills and vocational training.

The St Luke Programme, begun in 2000, expanded the School's ministry to include children with learning disabilities. Each student is given an individual programme that suits their own needs and abilities and includes a focus on social skills, spirituality, education, music and vocational skills. Staff at the School work in partnership with parents in order to help them observe, learn and reinforce learning and development at home.

Sport is a major feature of life at Blessed, with many students taking part in the Lebanese Special Olympics and some running the Beirut Marathon. These activities are a great opportunity for the students to interact with others, improve their coordination and develop their sense of self-worth.