The Al-Hadi Foundation for Hearing and Visual Impairment, Language and Communication Disorders held its annual Ramadan iftar, under the patronage and in the presence of the President of Al-Mabarrat Charitable Association, His Eminence Sayyed Ali Fadlallah, and the Friends Council of Al-Hadi Foundation, with the participation of official, religious, political, social and educational figures, alongside benefactors, supporters and friends of the Foundation, in a faith-filled atmosphere reflecting the spirit of the holy month and its values of mutual support and love.
The ceremony opened with a blessed recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by a welcome speech by Zahraa Chebli on behalf of the Foundation, in which she affirmed “the Foundation's humanitarian and educational mission, and its leading role in caring for and empowering children with disabilities and including them in society, through specialized educational and rehabilitation programs”.
The Foundation's choir then performed the Lebanese national anthem and the Al-Hadi Foundation anthem, accompanied by sign-language interpretation, in a moving tableau that reflected the message of inclusion and communication.
The Foundation then launched its Ramadan initiative “Be My Friend 4” under the slogan “Together We Draw a Smile”, an open humanitarian invitation encouraging individuals and institutions to take on supportive roles that go beyond financial contribution to include moral embrace, allowing a wider space of joy to be drawn for the Foundation's children, who need support, rehabilitation and an ongoing therapeutic journey, and opening broader horizons before them”.
Sayyed Ali Fadlallah then delivered a speech in which he said: “Among the most important blessings of the month of Ramadan, and what distinguishes it, is the coming together of individuals, families and communities”, explaining “that this gathering falls within the framework of meetings for goodness and for the advancement of the human being”
. He praised “the invitation to the iftar at the Al-Hadi Foundation for Hearing and Visual Impairment, Language and Communication Disorders, for the opportunity it offers to extend a helping hand to a pioneering institution that has taken upon itself the care of those who have lost their hearing, sight or speech, and of those on the autism spectrum, and their rehabilitation so that they are able to overcome what they face and develop their abilities to be active and participating members of society”.
He noted that “the successes of the Foundation's graduates and their excellence in various academic forums, and the confidence, awareness and insight they possess, are living testimony to the Foundation's role, since these talents, without its care, would have been lost and become a burden on their families and on society”.
He added: “The Foundation's role is not limited to embracing its children while they are with it, but extends to following up with them after graduation in their studies, their work and their private lives, to meet their needs and ensure their ability to manage their own affairs”.
He pointed to “the Foundation's role in the National Committee for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities, and its work with the Ministry of Social Affairs to activate the laws that guarantee job opportunities for people with special needs and to remove the obstacles that prevent their inclusion and their role in society”, calling on “the relevant ministries to shoulder their responsibilities, as this is a right for them and a duty upon the state”.
He stressed that “confronting the challenges buffeting the nation comes through strengthening internal unity and shouldering responsibility”, affirming that “targeting any community or component is a targeting of the nation and its unity, and its repercussions will fall on everyone without exception”.
For his part, the President of the Friends Council of Al-Hadi Foundation, Youssef Hammoud, valued the efforts of supporters and partners, considering that “the initiative embodies a living model of social solidarity and reflects the mutual trust between the Foundation and its host community”.
The ceremony included honoring director Dr. Karim Dakroub and his theater troupe «Khayal», in appreciation of their part in producing the film for the “Be My Friend 4” initiative and their contribution to conveying its message in a creative and moving way.
The evening concluded with a theatrical performance presented by the Foundation's students titled “Together We Draw a Smile”, written and directed by actor Mohammad Fawaani, which highlighted the importance of family cohesion amid the invasion of family values and social bonds by smartphones and social media, in an awareness message that met with a wide response from those present.
In conclusion, the Al-Hadi Foundation renewed its invitation to all members of society to take part in the “Be My Friend” initiative, out of its belief that “together we draw a smile”… and together we make a real difference in our children's lives
