Funded by the German government, the Kingdom of Netherlands and UK Aid, the Skills 2021 program is implemented in partnership between UNICEF and the Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST). The program aims at empowering youth and creating an atmosphere of social cohesion. Because blood donation is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries, 106 volunteers had blood drawn to be used for transfusions, at the Community Farm, Baalbeck in cooperation with the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) from 10:30 am till 3:00 pm.
When asked about her donation motivation, the 35-year-old volunteer Siham Houjairy, said, “If a family member of mine needs blood, these blood plaques may save their life one day.” Another volunteer, Omar Massry, 18 years old, donated a plaque of blood out of his love for the LRC since they help the patients and all people unconditionally. Theresa Habshy, 18 years old, donated blood to save people’s lives. She believes that she might be in need of some plaque in her life’s journey. A Lebanese guy called Mohamad Ghosn, 27 years old, said “My grandmother died during a surgery because of the lack of blood platelets. Since that date, whenever I know about the need for blood donation, I rush to donate.”
Youth, LOST’s employees, and other activists were eager to donate blood for human purposes. Donating blood is a lifesaving act of human care that starts with a person making a generous donation and ends with a vulnerable person being back to life.
