In rural Lebanon, there is a large number of children living in orphanages who have been either abandoned by their parents or orphaned at a young age. Coming from a poor background, orphans are one of the most vulnerable members of society. USAID provides small grants to local non-government organizations that are engaged in humanitarian and developmental activities such as those benefiting orphans. The program has thus far helped forty-one Lebanese organizations working in the fields of humanitarian assistance, orphan care, medical care, assistance to the disabled, and other social services.

The National Evangelical Christian Alliance Church/Home of Harvest orphanage received a grant to purchase equipment that has become standard to the education of children -- computers and related materials, as well as a winter playground, and kitchen furnishings. A library was also established with a collection of encyclopedias, educational reading materials, and fictional books.

USAID assistance had a noticeable impact on the lives of the orphans residing at the center. Forty-five children now benefit from the enhanced facilities, better quality educational materials and resources, as well as access to information technology. The children are now learning basic software skills on the new computers, which makes them better equipped to face the challenges of today’s world. When the computer library was first installed, the children were so excited that they ran to the computer room, raced to grab a chair, and started clicking on the keyboard even when the computers were shut off.