|
UNESCO Palace
Accessibility Project
Financing the Project
Donors to the Project
UNESCO Palace
was
built in 1948 to host the Third International Congress of the United
Nations Educational, Scientic and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The
Congress was described at the time as the first appearance of the young
republic of Lebanon on the international arena after its establishment
in 1943. In 1982, when Israel invaded Lebanon, this
government
cultural center was the target of shelling, resulting in the destruction
of the theater and its equipment. The Palace was renovated and reopened
in March 1998 on the 50th anniversary of the original UNESCO Congress.
Since
then it has regained its earlier stature as the primary government
building to host conferences, meetings, and exhibitions, both national
and international.
The renovations of UNESCO Palace were undertaken before the legal
requirements were enacted requiring newly built or renovated public
buildings to be accessible to the physically disabled, and thus no
accommodations were made for the disabled. The Association for Volunteer
Services had arranged to hold its first Volunteer
Opportunities Fair in 1999 before realizing this problem. Since full social inclusion
has been an important
principle of AVS from its beginnings, it did its best to accommodate the disabled
as much as possible at that first Fair by restricting all its
programs to the ground floor. The AVS Board, however, realized it was faced with three
alternatives for the future – 1) Abandon the organization's principle of inclusion; 2)
find a different venue for its programs that would likely be less
respectable and more expensive; or 3) work to have UNESCO Palace become
accessible. Choosing the latter alternative, AVS requested permission from Mr. Muhamed Yusuf
Beydoun, Minister of Education of Education, Youth and Sports, to head a campaign to make UNESCO
Palace accessible to all. In
September 1999 that permission was granted, and AVS assumed the
responsibility to coordinate the structural, financial, and public
relations aspects of the project, in cooperation with the Director of
UNESCO Palace, Mr. Antoine Harb, and four other NGOs: Arc en Ciel,
Norwegian People’s Aid, the South Lebanese Society for the Blind, and
the Voluntary Work Association. Ms. Hayat Osseiran, who was then AVS
Vice President and Assistant Director, served as the Coordinator of the
project. The campaign "All UNESCO Palace for Everyone"
became an important
example of the positive results that can be achieved when organizations,
companies, government, and individuals collaborate for the public good.
The renovations, which were completed in time for the opening of the
Second Volunteer Opportunities Fair in March 2000, include:
v One elevator to reach all four levels of UNESCO Palace
v A specially designed chairlift for access to the stage of the
auditorium
v Ramps on the second floor
v Bathroom renovations on the sub-ground floor west of the stage
v Signs and maps in
Arabic, English, and Braille throughout the building
FINANCING THE UNESCO PALACE ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT
It is estimated that the project would have cost the
government at least $100,000. The required cash outlay was reduced to
approximately
$40,000 due to volunteer efforts and discounts provided to the project.
About $32,000 was collected by March 2003 (the balance covered
by a loan from AVS). We still need to collect about $8,000 to
allow AVS to return this money to its intended purpose - to promote,
facilitate and improve volunteering and community service throughout
Lebanon, and $2000 for needed improvements. Those who
contribute at least $1000 to the project are acknowledged on a plaque at
UNESCO Palace in both Arabic and English, and all who contribute at
least 10,000 liras are listed on our website (below). More
information can be obtained from the AVS Office. Donations to the
UNESCO Project may be made in the same way as donations to AVS, but it
is important to indicate that the donation is being made specifically
for the UNESCO Project. We hope to complete the financial
aspect of the project through two $5000 donations (or one $10,000
donations). If you are interested, please contact AVS (01-800170,
01-797247, or 03-757098 or avs@avs.org.lb).
DONORS TO THE UNESCO PALACE ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT
Donations over $1000 are acknowledged on two plaques in the lobby of
UNESCO Palace (one in Arabic, one in English). Gifts-in-kind are
noted with an asterisk(*):
$5000 and over:
Arab Bank
Mohamad Safadi Foundation
Norwegian People's Aid
*Mr. Abdulwahed Chehab
$3000-$4999:
Banque Audi
*Byblos Bank
*Schindler Lebanon
$1000-$2999
Al-Jarha Foundation
Ali Osseiran
*Arc en Ciel
Fouad Ltier Fund - Rotary Metn
Imam al-Sadr Foundation
Iman el Assad el Khalil
Islamic Emdad Charitable Committee
Jammal Trust Bank
Lebanese American Association, San Francisco
Lebanese Heritage Club, Detroit
Makhzoumi Foundation
Maya and Mana Salim Jabbour
Municipality of Bourj el Barajneh
South for Reconstruction
Donations Under $1000 are acknowledged below:
$500-$999
American Life Insurance Co
$200-499
Municipality of Nabatiyyi
Shabarat Gulf Company/Dubai, UAE
al-Kashaf al-Lubnani - Beirut One
$100-$199
Friends of the Disabled
Gandoline Sweets
$50-99
Anthony Maalouf
Shereen Kalot
Four Points Sheraton
$20-$49
Islamic Women's League
Lebanese University League for the Blind
Patricia Nabti
Salim Naoum Chemali
Salma Baroody
Blaundine Yazbeck
Lara Deeb
Sacred Hearts Association
Under $20 (minimum of 10,000 LL/$6.67)
House of Friendship
Zeina Kobeissi
Com/Families of the Kidnapped and Disappeared
in Lebanon
General Union of Palestinian Women
Hanadi Fawaz
Lebanese School for the Blind and Deaf
Mayada al Khateeb
Paul Abi Rached
Wafica Abou Merhi
Mme. Marie Mansour Khoury
Boutros Hanna Aoun
Christine Sayegh
Dunia Maria Achkar
Gladys Aoun (SeSobel)
May Mezher
Rabih A. Achkar
Saria Nahouli
Primary Companies and Vendors for the UNESCO Project
Mr. Abdulwahed Chehab, Architect
Mr. Ayman al-Hajj, Construction
Mr. Maher Adada, Signs, Plaque, Map
Abillama Group, Carpeting
Schindler Lebanon, Elevator
|
