Salam LADC supports vulnerable populations in Lebanon through providing direct aid and facilitating the efforts and initiatives of independent volunteers and organizations.

We provide a platform for international volunteers, grassroots initiatives, and private and institutional donors to coordinate their efforts towards assisting and empowering refugee and other vulnerable populations across Lebanon, whilst also serving as a link to the major local and international actors.

In light of the overwhelming need created by the Syrian refugee crisis, our aim is to provide agile, effective, and non-bureaucratic assistance, which fills the gaps where refugees and local communities do not receive sufficient support.

We strive towards strengthening inter-community dialogue and building bridges between the Lebanese and Syrian communities, and assisting the most vulnerable – regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation

Our mission
We believe in the necessity of inner peace in every human being, peace with one’s self, which is transmitted later on to the near environment and to the far one afterwards.

The social development
We look forward to communities in which its members share in building, where each member has a significant role. As well as, we seek to give the neutral civil community a role in the social development.

Communication
We seek to spread the dialogue and understanding language instead of the language of dispute and violence. We talk a language which is accepted by everyone whether different or not, as long as we don’t have disputes with, and also we talk the language of word instead of sword.

Our History

n January 2016, Martin Kvernbekk and Igor Kubat came to Lebanon after having volunteered in Greece, Turkey and the Balkans for several months in relation to the large scale refugee migration into Europe. After realizing the extent of need for ongoing humanitarian assistance in the countries neighboring Syria they came to Lebanon with the idea of facilitating the arrival of international volunteers to assist the efforts. At the time, the concept of international volunteers working within Lebanon was relatively unknown. Martin and Igor began by initiating an online project to channel funds and awareness towards vulnerable communities in Lebanon. Being able to facilitate international volunteers was the objective, and after a few weeks a close friend introduced them to Joseph Matta, Salam’s director. The vision of Salam and that of the volunteer program were similar, and so Joseph, Martin and Igor joined forces, merging the international volunteer platform with Salam LADC.

Two years later, more than 450 international volunteers have made the journey to Lebanon. In addition, Salam has expanded with four international supporting branches, and more than 20 local members of staff have been hired to ensure the quality and sustainability of the projects. With immense gratitude towards all the people who have taken part in the journey and work of Salam LADC so far, the goal of continuing to be able to support the most vulnerable populations and promote dialogue between communities still stands strong.