One Prayer. Many Years.
“Bless my Lord this day.
Grant us the opportunity, energy, strength and patience,
To work and persevere, and earn the blessings from our daily bread.
Grant us the ability to love and forgive all those who do us wrong
And who do not understand us.
Make us constantly think and work
For those who do not have a home, bread and work.
Bless my Lord Al-Kafaàt
That we have founded in Your name,
And Accept my Lord,
Our humble prayer“
August 15, 1957
7am
In a humble apartment in a poor neighborhood in Beirut, Nadeem and three men with special needs start the day by saying this prayer.
Neighbors look at them strangely.
Just who in God’s name would want to dedicate his time and personal wealth to employ, empower, and take care of people with special needs?!
But Nadeem persevered. Such is his Mission.
August 15, 1963
7am
In that same humble apartment in the same poor neighborhood in Beirut, Nadeem is surrounded now by forty workers with special needs – forty!
They begin the day by saying the same prayer.
Nadeem’s social enterprise is now making profit and producing 125,000 leather pieces per year, sold in the most prestigious international shops.
From the proceeds, Nadeem delivers rehabilitation and support equipment to people with special needs.
And still, neighbors look at them strangely.
Just who in God’s name would want to dedicate his time and personal wealth to employ, empower, and take care of people with special needs?!
But Nadeem persevered. Such is his Mission.
February 15, 2019
7am
Al-Kafaàt is the largest nonprofit and non-governmental organization in Lebanon. It delivers every day free rehabilitation services to 1,000 children and adults with special needs, in 10 rehabilitation centers spread in 4 locations.
Nadeem’s prayer is still shared among the entire team – now made up of 400 employees.
And while neighbors welcome and accept us in their hearts, the Lebanese government has not however changed its laws and attitude towards people with special needs. Since December 2017, it has not paid its dues to all rehabilitation centers in Lebanon, making it impossible to pursue delivering free services to people with special needs.
It is 2019. Sixty-two years have passed since the beginning of Al-Kafaàt, and the question remains the same:
Just who in God’s name would want to dedicate his time and personal wealth to employ, empower, and take care of people with special needs?!
But we will persevere. Such is our Mission.
