OFFRE JOIE The Joy of Giving

Founded in 1985 by lawyer Dr. Melhem Emile Khalaf, Offre Joie is an independent Lebanese non-governmental humanitarian organization. Q & A with Offre Joie What is the vision of Offre Joie? Offre Joie started during the Civil War, when some of us realized we had to do something to counter the conflict. The best way […]
Dining in the Dark

Accepting an invitation to dine in the dark gives the writer new insight. Article by: Yara Zgheib Where is the salt? First question of many that catapults through my mind. I reach my hands forward, slowly, hesitant, feeling the tablecloth in front of me. My fingers touch something tubular. Two. Glass. The top feels like […]
Lebanon’s Superheroes: Marc Torbey

A Lebanese hero reflects on the work of Offre Joie, an NGO he credits with saving him. Article by: Maryam Ghaddar Sometimes it takes stepping out of the shadows and into the light for a person to become the hero the world needs. Sound familiar? It should. It’s about the scene in “Superman” when Clark […]
IDRAAC Hosts Symposium on Suicide in Lebanon: Suicide Attempts Estimated at 2%, Close to Global Average

IDRAAC (Institute for Development Research Advocacy and Applied Care) in association with the Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology at the St Georges Hospital University Medical Center and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Balamand organized a symposium title: “Suicide in Lebanon: Where Are We?”. Results from the studies that were discussed during […]
IDRAAC’s Labor of Love for Mental Health

A devoted NGO works behind the scenes to build Lebanon’s mental health infrastructure – with legislation, awareness campaigns, advocacy, education, training, care services and, supporting it all, research. One in four Lebanese will have a mental illness, during their lifetime, according to a 2008 L.E.B.A.N.O.N. (Lebanese Evaluation of the Burden of Ailments and Needs […]
Building Towers: Cancer Survivor Lucie Youssef Sassine’s Story of Strength, Determination, and Success

Photo by: Naji Abi Nader Civil engineer Lucie Youssef Sassine had dreams of returning HOME to Lebanon to build towers and raise her children. An unexpected diagnosis stirred a strength in her to overcome the challenges she faced and to thrive once again. Lucie Sassine shared her experience of coming HOME to build towers […]