Quaker International Educational Trust meets in Brummana
Brummana and its Quaker school
On 18 – 23 January 2023 along with 6 other Quakers, I had the joy of travelling to Beirut, and on then to Brummana which sits above the city, for the 6-monthly meeting of the board of the Quaker International Educational Trust (QuIET). We joined three Lebanese Trustees and together with our Secretary and the school bursar dealt with the key governance issues, to support the work of the school’s Board of Governors during these incredibly challenging times. With inflation at 200%, a collapsing currency and failed political system these are indeed immense.
It is also a school with a long tradition, with Quakers having operated schools, and originally health facilities in this area now for 150 years, through many political upheavals, famines and wars, becoming an important part of Lebanese and indeed Middle Eastern history.
Looking at its current governance arrangement, where a UK-based Quaker charity owns land and licenses a Lebanese Board of Governors to run a 1200 student school, teaching children from 4-18 years old, from Maronite, Muslim, Druze and other communities, it all appears at first sight rather strange. It is a very distinct arrangement. But there are very good reasons for all this, carefully thought out, all aimed at ensuring the sustainability of our students’ education and the long-term protection of the school.
And to me as a Friend, it provides a intense sense of the need to listen carefully and respectfully to all the different perspectives and, with other Friends and friends, find a common direction and accessible language to draw everyone together. We all come from different understandings. Our Lebanese colleagues have experienced challenges in recent years that make those that we have experienced in most of Europe extremely minor. But these young students whose parents have chosen the unique Quaker school near Beirut need an excellent, holistic education and enriching childhoods. And in the middle of the school is a Meeting House, and a small local Quaker community continues to worship there.
And despite this tough environment, moving around the corridors, looking at the bright classrooms, the recently refurbished libraries, joining in the Science Fair where over 170 pupils showed us and their parents their experiments and ideas, we joined in a positive, resilient and caring community.
Certainly there is great pressure on all teachers and leaders. Many families are struggling with fees. The school cannot do many things that it would like. But with great and continuing help from other families, from Old Scholars and from Quakers we are getting through. Families are being helped, and the students are achieving great results.
Over recent years, many Friends have contributed significantly to the bursaries for students, and as we go forward we must continue to do so. We are also establishing an endowment fund, to provide through ethical investment funds for long term support of families. If you would like to hear more please contact me here and I can give you further details on how you might help.
In friendship,
Will Haire
Ireland Yearly Meeting and member of the EMES Executive Committee
