World Lebanese Cultural Union
Dear Compatriots,
Dear WLCU Officers and members,
After having visited Sydney (Australia) , Argentina (South America), Los Angeles, DC, Boston, New Jersey, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver (North America), the World President of the World Lebanese Cultural Union Mr Anis Garabet and the World Secretary General Mr Georges Abi Raad visited South Africa and Europe between the 24th and the 28th of May.
Boston :
It started with an economical event in Boston where the WLCU co-sponsored the TechLeb06 conference on the 19th of May. The Conference was organized by the MIT Lebanese students club. World President Anise Garabet attended the Conference among other WLCU officials:WSGD Dr Nick Kahwaji, Chairman Khalil Khoury and Executive Director David Abi Chaker of the Economics and Finance Committee. RSG for Spanish America Alberto Chaker, Ibrahim Dagher, Dr Elie Baghdady, Mara Hanna, Carole Sadaka. Details will follow.
to see the photos click on the following link, then on the photo in the middle of the page to enter to the album :
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=hl9myie.v9tk4vq&x=0&h=1&y=-rldxim
South Africa :
Please find hereby Mr Ken Hanna’s report describing the minutes of the visit to South Africa. Mr Ken Hanna is the immediate past president of WLCU Johannesburg Chapter.The official Report in 2 languages will be distributed soon.
The WP and the WSG attended the Regional Council meeting for Europe on Saturday May 27th. It was followed by a dinner where they met with the lebanese community in London. Mr Said Yazbeck (UK) was elected President of the Regional Council of Europe. More details and photos will follow.
The WP Anis Garabet and the WSG Georges Abi Raad ended the first year of their term by visiting all the Continents, reaching out to the lebanese Diaspora and WLCU chapters.
to see the photos click on the following link, then wait for an automatic slide show :
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/igdleb/slideshow?.dir=/3a8cre2&.src=ph
WLCU World Secretariat General
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A World Lebanese Cultural Union Perspective.
By Ken Hanna
Johannesburg Chapter
In a surprise visit to Africa, the World Lebanese Cultural Union President for 2005/2006 Mr.Anise Garabet, of Los Angeles, U.S.A. and his Secretary General , Mr.Georges Abi Raad visited Africa’s heartland and the home of the African Parliament, Gauteng South Africa.
The visit took place from Wednesday 24th May 2006 to Friday 26th May 2006.
His visit was endorsed by the Lebanese South African community and prominent members of the World Lebanese Cultural Union on the Southern tip of the African continent.
Garabet captured the minds and the hearts of Africa’s Lebanese World.
Garabet was exposed to every corner of Africa’s heartland.
Here is his program.
Wednesday 25th May 2006.
Met at Johannesburg International Airport by members of the Lebanese South African Community.
Taken to Benvinuto’s, for a few hours rest,before a very special luncheon with members of the Lebanese South African Community and members of the Lebanese Maronite Missionaries.
Lightning tour of the Lebanese Community Centre, embracing, library, Lebanese Hotel, Lebanese sports club, Lebanese Boys club venue, Conferencing center, Lebanese memorial to those Lebanese members who fell in the second world war, Lebanese sports club.
Given twelve different books on the Lebanese African Families who migrated from Lebanon over 100 years ago.
Private dinner with members of the World Lebanese Cultural Union and members of the Lebanese community, representing recent Lebanese Immigrants, and older, and more settled members of the community
Thursday(Ascension Thursday) 25th May 2006.
Visits Africa’s Largest Lebanese community on the Southern tip of the African continent.
Climbs the mountain together with Georges Abi Raad and more than 300 members of the Lebanese grass roots community and attends holy mass, and breaks bread and share a meal with his African Lebanese brothers and non Lebanese African brothers and sisters and members of other settled communities including Greek and Portuguese.
Wins the minds and the hearts with his simplicity and humanity and his love and dedication for his homeland Lebanon.
Visits places of interest of Africa’s early Lebanese world.
Where they lived, settled and struggled.
Visits the mother complex of the early Lebanese in Africa. Shown the site of the Lebanese School in Africa and the old community center.
Visits a site where the early Phoenician may have visited some 2800 years ago. (Not confirmed) : 300km south of the Zimbabwe ruins considered as a Phoenician site by certain world authorities.
Now to business:
6.00 p.m. : Plenary session with members of the Lebanese South African Community.
Amongst those Present:
Tony Ghossain, a Past President of the World Lebanese Cultural Union , South Africa region.
Jean el Hage, Past President of Johannesburg Chapter.
Ken Hanna, Immediate Past President of the World Lebanese Cultural Union Johannesburg Chapter.
Joe Manache, current Vice President of the World Lebanese Cultural Union, Johannesburg Chapter.
Joe Sham , Current public relations officer of the World Lebanese Cultural Union Greater Johannesburg Chapter.
Greg Cahi, current President of the World Lebanese Cultural Union Pretoria, Africa.
“Bob” Gharzo current Vice President of the WLCU Pretoria chapter.
Dr.Azar Jammine, representing his late father Dr.Emile J.Jammine, one of the founding fathers of the WLCU on the southern tip of the African Continent. Leader of the 1973 delegation to World Congress, Beirut ,Lebanon.
Ralph Shehab, representing his father, Robert Shehab, who is confined to bed and could not attend. Considered to be the father of the WLCU in Africa,
Glen Kairuz, representing his father, Sheikh Youssef Kairuz, a founding father of the WLCU in Africa.
The Plenary session carried on long after the allotted time of 2 hours, as the guests awaited their presence at a gala Hafli.
Present were members of the community who had traveled more than 200 kms to be with the Unions distinguished guests at short notice.
People came from:
Pretoria, Johannesburg, Krugersdorp, Vereeniging, Klerksdorp and Sandton.
Friday:26th May 2006.
Prayer breakfast with members of the Lebanese South African community and ladies of the Lebanese South African Community and members of the Maronite Church of Sandton.
Private meeting. Included were members of the WLCU.
Visit to curio shop to view African home art works .
Private luncheon.
Return to Johannesburg international Airport for flight to London and Paris and the regional congress of the WLCU for Europe in London.
Africa is deeply indebted to The World Lebanese Cultural Union Presidential visit and his Secretary General to Africa.
This is the first time in the movements 46 years history that a President has visited Africa’s Lebanese Heartland.
Thank you.
We are going to miss you very much.
Ken Hanna.
Imm.Past President WLCU
Johannesburg Chapter – South Africa.
In my private capacity.
