Beirut, November 6, 2025
In an atmosphere of hope and gratitude, World Vision Lebanon celebrated its 50th anniversary at a special ceremony held on November 5, 2025, at Beit Beirut, under the theme “50 Years of Bold Hope.”
The event was held under the patronage of H.E. Minister of Social Affairs Dr. Haneen Sayed, represented by Ms. Abeer Abdel Samad, and was attended by ambassadors, representatives of ministries and official institutions, donors, international organizations, and local partners.
The ceremony opened with the Lebanese national anthem, performed by the choir of the Lebanese School for the Blind and Deaf, whose moving rendition touched the hearts of all attendees. This was followed by speeches and testimonies that reflected the organization’s journey and its impact on the lives of children and families over five decades.
In her speech, Ms. Heidi Diedrich, National Director of World Vision in Lebanon, said:
“Fifty years of World Vision in Lebanon are fifty years of bold hope. A hope born in the midst of conflict and carried through every crisis since. Through war and peace, despair and renewal, one truth has remained: Lebanon’s children always deserve light. As we look to the next fifty years, we renew our promise, to stand by every child, serve every family with compassion, and believe, boldly, that hope always finds a way.”
Eleanor Monbiot, Regional Leader for the Middle East and Eastern Europe, added:
“All of us working together as one body seek to ensure that every child is given the best possible start in life, building hope and opportunity so they can reach their God-given potential.”
The event also marked the launch of the global “Enough – بكفي” campaign in Lebanon, with Miss Lebanon 2024, Clinical Psychologist and Campaign Ambassador Nada Koussa, joining hands with World Vision Lebanon to raise awareness on child hunger and malnutrition. In her remarks, Koussa said:
“Hunger doesn’t only hurt the body; it hurts the mind, the soul, and the future. The ‘Enough’ campaign is the voice of every child who goes to bed without dinner, and the voice of every mother who dreams of seeing her child grow up healthy. Today, we are saying: Enough of hunger, enough of deprivation, enough of neglect.”
The celebration concluded with a visit to the Storytelling Exhibition on the ground floor, showcasing World Vision’s history since 1975 to the present through photos, stories, and voices from the field.
In her closing remarks, Heidi Diedrich summed up the deeper message of the event, saying:
“Bold hope is not only what we have accomplished, but also about what we are planting today for tomorrow. Because we believe every child deserves to live, learn, and be loved.”
About World Vision Lebanon
World Vision began its operations in Lebanon in 1975, during the civil war, and continues its work to this day. The organization strives to enhance the well-being of children and their communities through community development, emergency response, and advocacy programs. As a child-focused non-governmental organization, World Vision places child protection at the center of its work, implementing projects in multiple sectors including education, protection, food and basic assistance, health, livelihoods, water, sanitation, and hygiene.