UNICEF reports that one in five families in Lebanon stated their children went to bed hungry in recent weeks. This data, sourced from a recent UNICEF report, notes the immediate nutritional challenges facing households across the country. The agency further documented that approximately 770,000 children in Lebanon have suffered psychological distress over the past six months. These figures show the significant impact of the current environment on the well-being of the youth. Camille Melki of Heart for Lebanon noted the severity of this environment, stating, "We have seen trauma after trauma, which leads to so much hardship, so much brokenness, and the children, the innocent children, are always the ones who suffer the most." Despite these conditions, Camille Melki observed a resilience among the youth, adding, "A lot of those kids themselves become the best heralds of the Gospel to their next-door or next refugee tent child and family, or to their own parents and caregivers."
Rising Educational Financial Burdens
School tuition costs in Lebanon have risen by an average of $1,000 per child as the new academic year commences. Families face significant strain when balancing these costs against basic household needs. The increase of $1,000 per child represents a substantial barrier to accessing formal education for many families. Camille Melki with Heart for Lebanon explained the financial pressure on parents, stating, "With the beginning of the school year, on average, school tuition has gone up $1,000 per child. So if you have two or three children, that’s an additional $3,000…. Basically, all you do is bring in money to pay tuition. So how do you feed your children?" The economic reality forces many parents to choose between educational enrollment and the daily provision of food and other essentials.
Heart for Lebanon operates a Children-at-Risk Program to address the needs of children facing these obstacles. This initiative provides education, counseling, and Bible clubs to participants. The organization monitors the backgrounds of those attending their services to adapt their outreach efforts. Through the Children-at-Risk Program, Heart for Lebanon aims to provide stability and support for children navigating these complex circumstances. According to Camille Melki, "Maybe 60-70% of the children that we serve come from a Muslim background – young kids who maybe have never heard of Jesus before coming [to] Heart for Lebanon. We get the opportunity also to share the Gospel openly, boldly, and clearly with them." The organization continues to focus its resources on providing these services to children from various backgrounds, recognizing the importance of both educational and spiritual support in the lives of the youth they serve.
