Celebrating 50 and Giving Back
As I celebrate my 50th birthday and cherish the precious moments with my beloved family and friends, I feel truly blessed. I've always believed that true happiness comes from giving rather than receiving. Having you as a close friend is the greatest blessing and gift I could ask for. If you feel compelled to offer something for my 50th celebration, please consider contributing to the campaign below, which supports education in my village by assisting with tuition fees and providing essential financial aid to our local school.
Fayçal EL DARWICHE
WHY DONATE?
The goal of this fundraising campaign is to support the education system in the village of Zefta, Lebanon, as part of the El-Darwiche Foundation for Heritage and Development's initiatives. The funds raised will be matched by the EL DARWICHE family and managed by the foundation to maximize impact, particularly in enhancing the inclusion of vulnerable populations in the education system.
EL-DARWICHE FOUNDATION FOR HERITAGE AND DEVELOPMENT / DAR ZEFTA FOUNDATION OVERVIEW:
“El-Darwiche Foundation for Heritage and Development” or “Dar Zefta Foundation” was established in 2017 with a purpose to accelerate social and economic development in the village of Zefta and its surroundings. The aim is to turn Zefta into a role model village that reinvented itself and repowered its economy by tapping into its local heritage, nurturing local produce, and developing local tourism.
Over the years, the family preserved Dar Zefta, its 100+ year Ottoman house, considered as one of the jewels of heritage in South of Lebanon. Investments over the years in the house and its surrounding contributed to the local economy, preserved the village’s social memories, and helped put Zefta on the local tourism map.
Today, and despite current challenges and security situation, Dar Zefta is much more than a guest house, it is a social movement that preserves the Dar heritage and supports local social and economic development.
ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE:
Since its establishment, the Foundation has completed several important projects:
1. Operation of Dar Zefta as a guest house, with the purpose of attracting visitors and putting South Lebanon on the tourism map, the region becomes an all-year long destination with its enjoyable weather and its stunning natural resources. The project currently employs a dynamic team of 10 direct employees, in addition to another 25 part-time employees. Despite current challenges and war, Dar Zefta remains committed to its employees and its local development targets
2. Launch of La Route des Arts, an itinerary of 18 diverse artists from the South, with most having their ateliers locally. The project offers the opportunity to visit these ateliers, get to know the artists personally and discover their work and their inspiring stories
3. Supporting the Education system in the village, by paying tuition fees and providing the local school with much needed financial support for its normal operations.
4. Beautification of the village: Uplifting the plaza of the village, with 1200 sqm of basalt stone pavement, and the planting of 600 plants and trees including cypress, orange, pine, bougainvillea, jacaranda, and laurel trees. Build-up of retaining walls with local white stone, leveraging local artisans, across the surrounding of Dar Zefta. Early 2000, the family dedicated a parcel for the creation of a public garden (1,200 sqm) and a multi-purpose space for public use (100 sqm for art performances, community events, sports activities, etc.).
5. Acquisition and refurbishment of an Ambulance for Zefta and its surrounding (the nearest cities of Saida and Nabatieh are 15 km away each)
6. Coaching and financial support to the local community, in the fields of media, tourism, healthcare, education, and entrepreneurship
THE FOUNDATION ASPIRATIONS:
Dar Zefta Foundation seeks to launch key initiatives that resonate with its vision to preserve the heritage and culture of the region.
As Dar Zefta Foundation operates at the intersection of culture, arts, and local development, its endeavors can be broadly classified under three categories:
a) Cultural Heritage Revival
- Jabal Amel Discovery Trails
- Rotating Cultural Exhibitions & Heritage Site Revitalization
- Virtual Jabal Amel Experience
b) Creative Community Development
- Set-up Art Residency Programs
- Showcasing Artistic Expression
- Crafts Masterclass Series
- Heritage Craft Marketplace
- Digital Arts Archive
- Local Development and Beautification
c) Community Greening Initiatives
- Elevating Pedestrian Areas
- Revitalizing Traditional Architecture
- Artistic Havens in Public Spaces
- Supporting Education and Capacity Building
THE TEAM
• Bahjat El-Darwiche – Bahjat is partner with PwC Strategy&, leading the Telecom, Media, and Technology practice for Europe, Middle East and North Africa. Graduate of Ecole Polytechnique, France, and Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Telecommunications, France.
• Rabih El-Darwiche – Rabih is a Solutions Advisor at Blue Yonder, based in France. Holder of Industrial Engineering diploma from ENSAIA France, plus Executive MBA with Distinction from ESCP-EAP France.
• Faycal El-Darwiche – Faycal is the founding Partner of Euromena Consulting, a result-oriented management consulting firm serving high-profile stakeholders in the private and public sectors across Europe, Middle East and Africa. Graduate of EDHEC Business School in France.
• Ghada El-Darwiche – Ghada is the manager of Dar Zefta. Ghada holds a Masters in Money and Banking from the Lebanese American University, and an Executive MBA with Distinction from ESCP-EAP France.
