It is a family of five: two teenage boys, a 6-year-old girl, a mother who is under psychiatric treatment for a severe depression caused by the family destitution,  and a father, who is unable to work since 2005 due to an incurable illness “Guillain-Barré Syndrom”.

The family’s house is on the ground floor, and is in a miserable state: the painting on the house’s four walls is coming off, all windows don’t have glasses, and the main door is cracked. Water and mud infiltrate the house during rainy days, soaking the entire floor. During the winter season, the mother puts bed covers on the windows to try to keep off the cold wind and the rain.

The house consists of three rooms: a kitchen, a bedroom, and a small living room.

The five members of the family sleep together in the bedroom. It is a small and narrow room, with barely enough space to contain two beds. The eldest boy sleeps on the wet ground to keep enough space on the old mattresses for his siblings and parents.

The kitchen ceiling is made of a toll board that leaves ample space for rain and insects to come in. The kitchen’s worktop and sink are so old they threaten to crumble at any point. Above them are a few closets -- the family’s only storage space. They contain their food, a few kitchen utensils, and the children’s clothes. The insalubrity of the place presents a serious health and security threat for the whole family.

Because of the living conditions, the children are often sick, missing school and often feeling too tired to play. They lack space to study and don’t have the luxury of any privacy.

This house is next to the building that collapsed in Fassouh, Achrafieh, only a few meters away from the richiest neighborhoods of Beirut. Providing better living conditions for this family can turn their life around.

BASSMA has taken on the task to renovate, repair and refurbish this run-down house.

The project will cost around USD 4,000 and we are counting on your generous contributions to turn the life of the family members.

You can make an online donation or contact us at 01-38 39 38/ 03-068519.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Costs Breakdown:

• Ceiling: 450$ without PVC inside
• Entrance door: 380$
• 3 windows: 750$ (Already sponsored by IC students, thank you!)
• Kitchen closets: 900$
• Aluminium sink: 200$
• 2 bunk beds (& transportation fees): 300$
• Plomber: 600$
• Painting (workers + material & products): 700$