(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — 64 students of Lebanese descent will have an opportunity to travel to Beirut, Lebanon as part of the Maronite Foundation Academy, an initiative aimed at introducing young Lebanese immigrants to their country of origin, from August 2 until August 17.
Selected candidates undergo online sessions that build their knowledge about Lebanon and the Maronite heritage. After successfully completing their online courses, the selected candidates have an opportunity to travel on a two-week trip to Lebanon, all expenses covered by the Maronite Foundation.
During their stay in Lebanon, the candidates will get to bond with their roots and get further in touch with the history of Lebanon and the Maronite Heritage through various site visits and seminars, given by prominent figures.
“Your hard work on the online courses and the family referrals paid off! I was especially happy to read your insightful answers to the questions about the Lebanese culture!” wrote Nada Salem Abisamra, the director of CLFW, on Facebook.
The winners include:
| Name | Country |
|---|---|
| Maria Sofia Gomez Mansur | Argentina |
| Janet Mitre Canaan | Argentina |
| Clara Inés Antonio | Argentina |
| Laila Roxina Moliterno | Argentina |
| Arz Charbel Juri Gallar | Argentina |
| Rhonda Hawach | Australia |
| Natalie Spiridon | Australia |
| Monica Aoun | Australia |
| Gebran Habib | Australia |
| Pascale Esber | Australia |
| Rita Mikhael | Australia |
| Sandra Kaltoum | Australia |
| Charbel Doumit | Australia |
| Tanya Raffoul | Australia |
| Shawn Torbey | Australia |
| Jacob Kahwaji | Australia |
| Andre Rizk | Australia |
| Yussif Sharbel Santiago Seleme | Bolivia |
| Tatiana Azzi | Brazil |
| Felipe Torres Waked | Brazil |
| Liliane Abdalla | Brazil |
| Pedro Augusto Lara El-Corab | Brazil |
| Eli Khouri | Brazil |
| Rebeca Bayeh | Brazil |
| Pauline Trad | Canada |
| Michael Kmeid | Canada |
| Marc Abi khalil | Canada |
| Tatiana Saliba | Canada |
| Wendy Sfeir | Canada |
| Christine Nassif | Canada |
| Ziad Wehbé | Canada |
| María Fernanda Sade Morán | Chile |
| Yuseff Amin Henriquez Saker | Colombia |
| Jose Khalil | Colombia |
| Sharpel Petri | Cyprus |
| Salvador Pichardo Yapur | Dominican Republic |
| Maria Jose Reshuan Landivar | Ecuador |
| Luz Gabriela Rodriguez Dager | Ecuador |
| Christina Mehanna | France |
| Gilberto Najera Abraham | Mexico |
| Yamel Kahwagi Abraham | Mexico |
| Estefania Farah Isper | Mexico |
| Odeth Rico | Mexico |
| Juan Ramon Kuri Azar | Mexico |
| Ada Chikhani Ahued | Mexico |
| Lorena Manira Ghiglione Fadlala | Paraguay |
| Jussef Hende | Peru |
| Angela Witherden | South Africa |
| Maria Teresa Lahoud | Spain |
| Mario Gebrayel | UK |
| Cecilia Alem Garcia | Uruguay |
| Jonathan Boukarim | USA |
| Hannah Mery | USA |
| Anastasia Tannous | USA |
| Julie Daccache | USA |
| Veronica Waked | USA |
| Rita Saikali | USA |
| Jeremy Allam | USA |
| Marwa Nouhra | USA |
| Fadi Talj | USA |
| Jihan Nicholas | USA |
| Shedhy Maksoud | Venezuela |
| Stefania Requejo Wavra | Venezuela |
| Jorge González | Venezuela |
- Re-connect the ties between the Maronites in Lebanon and their fellow Maronite diaspora across the globe.
- Strengthen the Maronite Heritage and legal citizenship affiliation to the land of Cedars.
- Promote Lebanon as the spiritual motherland of Maronites worldwide.