The Rene Moawad Foundation celebrated the completion of the “No Child Left Behind” project, a program funded by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) to support Lebanese children and refugees in the Bab al-Tabaneh neighborhood of Tripoli.

The ceremony was attended by head of the Rene Moawad Foundation and former Social Affairs Minister Nayla Moawad, NRC Director in north Lebanon Nusrat Osman Bhik, Bab al-Tabaneh school director Hussam al-Mir, Director General of the René Moawad Foundation Nabil Moawad, President of the Women’s Action Society in Tripoli Mona Kassem, along with a number of local officials and the parents of students.

In his opening speech, Bhik said all countries are required to invest in education.

“Lebanon is home to about a million and a half refugees and as a Norwegian non-governmental organization we are trying to support the Lebanese through our collaboration with the Rene Moawad Foundation,” Bhik said.

“So far, we have provided educational support for 150 children, evenly distributed between Syrian refugees and Lebanese children,” Bhik added.

Director General of the Rene Moawad Foundation Nabil Moawad expressed the foundation’s commitment to supporting the education sector in Lebanon.

“At the Rene Moawad Foundation, we are committed to human development. And this is why we have worked, under the guidance of Minister Moawad, toward the ratification of a law that ensures free compulsory education in Lebanon,” he said.

“We thank the people of Bab al-Tabaneh for welcoming the Rene Moawad Foundation and its activities and we promise you that we will continue to work to achieve our mission despite all difficulties,” he added.