Location: Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
Director: Rev George Haddad
Founded: 1952

How it all started
The School was founded in 1952 but its story goes back to 1860, when a bloody persecution of Christians broke out in Lebanon. A German Pastor named Johann Ludwig Schneller took ten orphans from Lebanon and Syria to his home in Jerusalem. His son, the Reverend Theodor, and then his grandson, the Reverend Hermann, continued the work until 1948, when the property was confiscated by the Israeli army and Hermann was deported to Australia. The orphanage moved to Lebanon and, on Hermann Schneller's return, soon moved into the newly opened school at its current location in Khirbet Kanafar, in 1952. The orphanage and school continued to function through the civil war and to this day continues to provide care and education for needy children.

Current activities
The School strives to help the children entrusted to its care to grow intellectually, psychologically, ethically, and spiritually into young men and women who will be responsible members of the society. This is done through giving socially under-privileged youths and orphans a home, schooling and vocational training.

The Home: At present, about 170 boys aged between 5 and 18 are growing up together in eight 'families'. Two house mothers live with and take care of each of the younger families, and one house father takes care of each of the older families. The house parents work hard to bring up the children in accordance with ideals of peace and religious tolerance. This makes it possible for children of different backgrounds to live together in harmony and peace. The children go home during the holidays but there are usually some boys who remain at the Schneller home, due to their family situations.

Girls' Boarding Section: For the first time in its 50 year history, girls were able to become boarders at the School in October 2002. To be a child from a poor family is already a disadvantage but, as a girl, this often additionally means no access to education, becoming even more marginalised and not being able to become a fully-developed person or a full member of society. However, thanks to a grant made possible by BibleLands' supporters, this new boarding section at the School has ensured the future of girls' education in this region. The School has already started to look even further ahead — to provide secondary education and vocational training for them ten years from now, so that they can become fully responsible and independent members of a new post-war Lebanese community.

The School: Every morning there are classes for all the children. As well as the boarders, about 320 boys and girls come from the surrounding area as day-pupils. The children learn all the usual lessons in Arabic, and English is introduced early, followed by German. Each year, around 200 children apply for admission to the School and the decision to accept them is made according to need. Whilst the School is open to children of all faiths, it has its own chapel and Chaplain, and holds regular morning assembly and church or Sunday school.

Vocational training: The students' last two years at the School can be spent in either the academic section or the vocational training section. Currently there are four main vocational workshops: Carpentry, Maintenance, General Mechanics, and Auto Mechanics. Vocational training in carpentry, plumbing, and electrical installation are also available for those who have completed their fifth year.

Lebanon is peaceful now, after 15 years of bitter civil war, but many people still bear physical or emotional scars and the gap between rich and poor is wider than ever. There is a great need for healing and reconciliation. With your help, the work of Pastor Schneller will continue as a symbol of Christian love for children of any religion who need education and shelter.