Distributed by the www.ArabAmericanNewsWire.com
Michigan Accident Attorney Joumana Kayrouz and Lebanese Officials
announce plans to build Eye Center
Detroit – Prominent Michigan Accident attorney Joumana
Kayrouz and leaders of the Government of Lebanon agreed to build an eye center in
Southern Lebanon that will provide health care services to disabled individuals
facing eye loss and sight issues.
Kayrouz also announced that as a way to give back to her
country she will open a charitable donor’s fund in Lebanon called The Joumana
Kayrouz and Daughters Foundation, to also honor her daughters Stephanie and
Nathalie Shamma.
The announcements came during an 6-day tour of Lebanon where
Kayrouz was invited to lecture to over 400 students, professors and politicians
at Beirut Arab University (BAU) about her personal success and achievements in
the United States, and on the role women in Lebanon can play in strengthening
society.
During the tour, Kayrouz met with Randa Berri, the Second
Lady of Lebanon and the wife of the Speaker of the House Nabih Berri. Also the
head of the Lebanese Welfare Association for the Handicapped, Randa Berri and
Joumana Kayrouz discussed their mutual concern for the plight of disabled victims,
especially children.
“Randa Berri and I spent about 8 hours discussing the
concerns we share to help people in Lebanon, especially those marginalized by
Lebanese society and the Lebanese government. I was beyond being moved by her
commitment, activism, and her ability to overcome challenges over the years to
bring support to people in need,” said Kayrouz.
“We seemed to share so much and I immediately identified
with her commitment to those who need help.”
Kayrouz was led on a tour of the disability center by Berri
and saw firsthand the ongoing needs, including helping people to walk and also
speak for the first time in their lives among many other circumstances. So
moved by what she saw, Kayrouz immediately donated $50,000 to Berri’s center.
The visit concluded with an intimate, private dinner with
Berri at her and Speaker Nabih Berri’s home, where they discussed the need for
the eye center. Berri immediately announced the eye center would be inaugurated
in the name of Joumana Kayrouz. Berri asked Kayrouz to accept an invitation to
travel to Southern Lebanon to officially open its doors when completed.
Kayrouz said the Second lady of Lebanon reminisced that while
she was pregnant she would deliver food and much needed supplies to people in
need in Southern Lebanon during the dangerous times.
“She shared with me how bombs were exploding behind her as
she was driving but she believed that God would get her through it safely
because she was doing His work,” said Kayrouz, who stressed that Berri was an
activist long before she became the wife of a Lebanese politician.
During the trip, Kayrouz met with several high government
and political leaders and gave multiple TV interviews. She also attended the
inauguration of a lecture hall at BAU and was honored to offer the first
lecture.
Kayrouz said she spoke with many students at the BAU about
the challenges they face and one that really impressed her was the concern many
of the young women had about overcoming societal limits on the role of women.
“I told them about my story overcoming the obstacles that
many women face in struggling to be successful in a still male-dominated
society in America and they connected immediately,” Kayrouz said.
“Afterwards, the students spoke about the lack of
scholarships for their education and how difficult it is for women to find jobs
and break through the glass ceiling that holds women down in Arab society. They
said Arab women often only rise to power when they are in partnership with
prominent male figures in their lives, like a father, husband, or brother but
that rising independently on their own merits is difficult.”
Kayrouz said a part-time security guard at the University explained
how she was holding down two other jobs just trying to survive, but wanted
desperately to get a college education to advance her career.
After speaking with the woman, Kayrouz said she decided to
fund her entire education for four years at the BAU.
“I told the students when I spoke that sometimes, you can’t
take on everything but that you could make a difference in the world by helping
someone,” Kayrouz said.
“Mother Theresa once said ‘Never
worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person
nearest you.’ I believe that instead of being discouraged by the challenges, that
we begin by helping someone. I told them I was Grateful to God that He has so
blessed me that I am able to help some others like this student.”
For more information visit www.JoumanaKayrouz.com.
END
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