Attendees stand for the national anthem during a fundraising event that went toward the building of a new computer center for impoverished kids in Akkar, Lebanon.

DEARBORN — The Lebanese International Business Council is
planning to build a third computer center in Akkar, Lebanon. To raise money for
the new facility LIBC held a fundraising dinner at Byblos Banquet Center in
Dearborn on May 19.

LIBC currently has two computer centers in Lebanon.
According to LIBC President Dr. Ned Fawaz about 900 students graduate from the
centers annually with certificates. The courses teach them how to use search
engines, computer programs including ACCESS, Microsoft Word and Excel among
others. Students are also provided with e-mails.

 Fawaz says many
of the students can’t afford a computer or don’t have access to the internet.
“The computer centers have been great support for the underprivileged
students…They have no internet, no computers and don’t know anything about
it,” he said.

The success of the first two centers prompted the LIBC to
build a third. Fawaz says there is hope for more in the future, and the LIBC is
working on other projects including clinics to support people who can’t afford
medical help from hospitals.

 The overall
goal of the center is to prepare youth for advanced careers. “Without a computer
you cannot have a career. You cannot be in touch with the world.  It’s about challenging yourself to get
a better career,” Fawaz said.

 A man who was
once an aspiring engineer, but couldn’t afford a computer, turned to one of the
centers. Following the courses, he furthered his education at a university, and
graduated to become a distinguished civil engineer in Lebanon.

Houssam Asaad Diab, consul general of Lebanon, said the
country has problems, but they can and must be solved.  “Lebanon went through a tough
period of wars and unrest, which led to the emigration of our nation’s best
educated and professional minds,” Diab said.

 He says the
centers show LIBC has stepped up and agreed to make a change. 

 “Patriotism means more than occasional meetings and
occasional donations. Patriotism means showing our love for our country by
forging real plans that address real issues…,” Diab said.