Who are you trying to help? What issue are you trying to address?

The Association for the Care of People with Epilepsy in Lebanon (ECAL), an NGO established in 2001, is the only association that targets people with epilepsy living on the Lebanese territory. ECAL’s mission is to support patients medically and socially, help them become more active & financially independent and less stigmatized.

Because donations are not enough to provide the intended support all year long, ECAL has launched a number of programs and income generating activities: patchwork and stitching; designing and making tableaux from cocoons; drawing on glass; doing rope artwork; making accessories from beads; and making, wrapping and decorating chocolate, and has trained epileptic people, their parents, and others to perform those tasks.

ECAL provides all the materials required, sells the produce, gives a percentage of the profit to workers and spends the rest on supporting patients’ medicaments. However, still the income does not match with the fixed costs since the number of patients has been increasing at a fast pace; consequently, ECAL’s total income falls short of the expected support earlier each year.

To cover up for ECAL fixed expenses, it was decided that a Language Center (LC) is an income generating project that will cover up for the needed funds.

What is your project and how will it help?

Center for Linguistic Excellence is an income generating project dedicated to equipping learners with foreign language skills and at the same time improving their cultural competency for them to pursue excellence and commit themselves to lifelong learning. In so doing, we seek to strengthen not only individualism but group and team spirit, too, to promote learners’ abilities to interact effectively in a variety of social and academic environments, to communicate with the larger community to further cultural dialogue, and to be prepared for their future careers.

SERVICES that the Center offers:

- 4level Intensive courses in one or more of the following languages: English, French, Arabic for Non-Native Speakers (TAFL).

- Online intensive courses for learners who finish the beginner-level and prefer to resume online.

- Remedial English courses to prepare college entrants to pass the English Entrance Exam offered by different universities.

- Tailored language courses for learners pursuing their postgraduate studies.

- TOEFL preparatory course.

- Teacher Training workshops for practicing as well as in-service teachers interested in upgrading their performance level and keeping up with recent trends in education.

- English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses (Law, nursing, Business students, etc.) so they would use the language more professionally and more responsibly in their careers.

- Teaching Methodology & Classroom Management courses so BA graduates who have not attained a Teaching Diploma will have an extra chance for a teaching career in their field of specialty.

FACILITIES: Interactive classrooms with
- Smart Boards
- Laptops
- iPads
- Video Library, e-contents, and e-Book Library
- Advanced language programs
- Language Lab for writing, reading and remediation
- Computer labs for online Intensive courses
- Classrooms fully equipped with multimedia: LCDs, OHPs, laptops, CD players and tape recorders.

Success Indicators:
adopting student-centered, communicative, and interactive approaches to teaching; equipping classes with the advanced technological tools (Smart Boards & e-content); and running ideal classes (20 students per class); not to mention offering job opportunities for qualified teachers, reducing the tuition on learners, and most importantly raising ECAL’s income to support the People with Epilepsy in Lebanon.

How can other people partner with you on your project?

People interested in partnership with the Center for Linguistic Excellence directly and the Association for Care of People with Epilepsy in Lebanon indirectly may contribute in many ways:
1. fund the project that will support ECAL
2. help in equipping all the classes in the center
3. support by buying a bus to facilitate transportation
4. equip one class with special tools to ensure safety of epileptic patients while studying

Please detail the resources that you need.

Type of equipment or program prices in USD
5 smart boards (one per class) : 10,500
15 laptops for the language lab. : 15,000
30 iPads : 4,500
Teacher Training : 1,000
Rent (first year only) : 6,000
Expenses one year (electricity,water,etc.) : 3,600
Promotions and ads : 1,000
Desks : 1,000

Please contact us for a detailed budget.

TOTAL COST : USD 59,350