Needham Residents Journey to Lebanon for Save the Children

Recently, Save the Children’s Boston Leadership Council members and Needham residents Joe Ramrath and Zoher Ghogawala traveled to Lebanon along with Sejal Srinivasan, Mahsa Khanbabai and Paige Hornor to witness first-hand the challenges faced by Syrian refugees. These dedicated and passionate advocates traveled across the world learn about the help being provided by Save the Children field workers under extremely difficult conditions.

The mission of the group was to observe the situation in Lebanon and the good works being done by Save the Children in the field. Of particular interest was the Mobil Library purchased with donor funds raised in November at Save the Children’s Boston Leadership Council’s inaugural event, Celebrating a Future for Every Child. The library van carries books, games and learning tools, making it possible for displaced children to continue their education and get back to a place of learning.

Needham’s own Joe Ramrath and Zoher Ghogawala each shared poignant and enlightening reflections garnered from their experience.

Joe found the trip, “life changing” and the plight of refugees in many ways, “overwhelming”. Nevertheless, in the face of poverty, child labor, and limited access to education, Joe was encouraged by the power of the human spirit, evident in the dedication of Save the Children staff and the way refugee children and their parents, despite the incredibly difficult circumstances, are looking forward to a future with help from Save the Children.

Zoher saw firsthand the human cost associated with war. With nearly 1 million Syrian refugees dislocated to Lebanon, housed in tents in the Beqaa Valley, families are holding together trying to scratch out a subsistence on work such as farming, construction, housecleaning and other low paying labor. Zo reports that he has never seen a more dedicated group of people in his life. The power of the human spirit is evident both in the optimism and resilience displayed by the refugees and the passion of the Save the Children staff.

Both Zoher and Joe returned from their trip with a renewed dedication to helping these human beings, trapped in a foreign land without any sign of a political solution.

You can become a part of the story! This fall, meet Joe, Sejal, Zoher, Paige and Mahsa who will provide firsthand insight from their 2019 Lebanon trip. Our travelers will share an informative and engaging media presentation detailing how Boston’s support is impacting and changing the lives of Syrian refugee children.

Please join us at the Downtown Harvard Club on Friday, November 15th for Save the Children’s Boston Leadership Council’s 2nd annual celebration, A Future for Every Child, an elegant centennial reception with food, cocktails and stories from the frontline.

For information on the event please email: Tasneem Ghogawala, Chair of Save the Children's Boston Leadership Council (BLC) at tghogawala@gmail.com

For the past 100 years, Save the Children has been actively working to help those most vulnerable of us all-children. With exceptional people and a time-tested organization, Save the Children is making a difference and invites you to help.

Website: http://www.savethechildren.org/Boston

Instagram: savethechildren_boston

Facebook: Save the Children Boston Leadership Council

Twitter: Save_BLC

For PRESS information, please contact:

Maureen Olsen

mmurphyolsen@gmail.com

857-205-0930.