Lions Club Brussels Heraldic is pleased to share the good news with you that SB Overseas was recently awarded Charity of the Year by Linda McAvan, UK Labour MEP and Chair of the European Parliament’s Development Committee. SB Overseas chairperson, Louma Albik was invited to the UK to present the work that SB Overseas does in Lebanon and Brussels with a special focus on the work we do for women given that it was International Women’s Day.
The annual fundraising dinner, now in its thirteenth year, was held in the Cedar Court Hotel in Wakefield, UK. The event brought together over 250 women from organisations fighting for women’s rights, trade unions and the Labour Party.
At the event, Louma Albik gave an overview of SB Overseas and its work in both Lebanon and Belgium. She recounted the story of Amena, a 70 year old Syrian woman who attends SB Overseas centres in order to learn new skills and also in order to pass on the skills to her six adopted children. She emphasised that education is the key and acknowledged the women’s efforts for change in the room by stating “each one of us here is a candle in the darkness for many women and young girls, and i am sure that every candle can enflame another and together we can give light to the whole world”.
Louma Albik: “ We want to take this opportunity to thank you, our supporters, in helping SB Overseas. Without you, we would not be able to carry on the work we do on the ground in Lebanon and in Brussels in providing education and aid to refugees, as well as empowering refugee women and girls through our activities in the centres. This year, we plan on expanding SB OverSeas even more so we can help a greater number of refugees and it is thanks to your continued help that we can achieve this! “