Beit el Baraka was founded in 2019 by Maya Chams Ibrahimchah. The story began with a small group of retirees to whom she was offering food and hygiene products. Later on, she opened a free supermarket where these seniors found love in a secure heaven that catered to their needs.
However, following the 17th of October 2019 revolt, and the 2020 economic breakdown, Beit el Baraka progressively transformed into an emergency relief organization that was adapting to Lebanon’s successive crises. Beit el Baraka no longer only served food to seniors, but also expanded into the medical field, house renovation, and education.
Later on, the organization was registered in the United States and Australia as a secular and non-political nonprofit that serves vulnerable populations of elders and students throughout Lebanon.
To understand why Beit el Baraka needed to expand so quickly to meet rising demand, one must first understand the background and current circumstances of seniors and students: Lebanon has the fastest-aging population in the Middle East and North Africa, with 11% of the population over 65 years of age, 80% of which have no access to retirement pensions. The younger population, aged 0 to 24, accounts for 42% of the overall population, with the region’s highest youth out-migration rate. And private schools are attended by the great majority of Lebanese students whose parents were no longer able to afford the tuition fees. Based on these statistics, Beit el Baraka’s assistance program has to offer a safety net for almost 226,000 Lebanese homes of retirees and students in severe financial difficulties.
Today, Beit el Baraka is training its members who are capable of working, in order to lessen the dependency on charity and promote a socioeconomic model that encourages small businesses and local production.