/24-7PressRelease/ - June 16, 2005 - Devastated lands in Southern Lebanon have recently experienced an amazing rebirth, thanks to the efforts of a timeshare charity.
The timeshare charity, Time4sharing.org, completed the final phase in resurrecting the land devastated by war. This area was designated by the United Nations as now 'mine free', and ready for re- planting as part of the UN "Trees Instead of Mines" Initiative.
The mission, executed by community action volunteers who have timeshare jobs, was to re-grow the land and give the caretaking back to the village, as it was previously devastated by war, and to secure an irrigation plan throughout the year.
Time4sharing planted and opened this forest in March, and has now exceeded the mission, as its own goals are to enrich the lives of unfortunate children.
The timeshare charity opened the gates to its own newly built Children's Park in the company of hundreds of children on Saturday, June 11, 2005.
Over 250 Children, thanks to this project, were able to play on the very grounds that were formally mined and bombed.
The First Lady of Lebanon, Mrs. Andr e Emile LAHOUD, personally endorsed the project that was opened with much fan fare hosting more than 650 guests on opening day.
Time4Sharing, the Timeshare Charity for Underprivileged Children, inaugurated the Time4Sharing Children's Park in the Time4sharing Forest of Hope in the village of Hanine, Bin- Jbeil, Lebanon.
This project was possible through the combined efforts of Time4Sharing and United Nations Initiative "Trees Instead of Mines" and many generous friends of Time4Sharing and Municipality of Hanine.
"The message of the project is 'that although Southern Lebanon has experienced tremendous devastation and disaster, which replaced the idea of a normal childhood, life can go on, and joyous spirit of Lebanon can never be laid to rest, because all children deserve a chance to enjoy living" said founder Vivian Boulos Tolan.
With the "Trees instead of Mines" project, we are able to restore the symbol of life to the village, and with the children's park, perpetuate that life onwards with joy and laughter." echoed Vivian Boulos Tolan, founder and President of the children's charity.
The project was executed under tremendous and even dangerous stress as the country has been through unusual and even revolutionary changes in the past few months and weeks.
One example was several bombings in Southern Lebanon made it unsafe at times, and security concerns due to deadly car bombings riddled the confidence of would be sponsors and volunteers. Local elections also provided timing challenges.
"Faith and the Pugnacious determination of our founder ruled the outcome", said Bassam Nakad.
"This was only made possible by the efforts of the community action groups call to action and so many businesses and people coming together for this united effort," She added.
The follow on effect may even be that villages whose citizens may have not spoken to each other for years, could reconcile, and their children might play with the other children from different backgrounds and religions, who may have been at odds during the civil war.
Estimated costs of the overall Forest and Children's park, are above $50,000.00, according to Bassam Nakad, committee member and planning coordinator of the project, and were made up of contributions from a whole spectrum of sponsors.
"Today we are pleased to launch the first "Time4Sharing Fun Park" here, in the southern region of Lebanon, for children, who deserve to feel good, who deserve to have a place to play, who deserve to laugh, to run, to jump, and meet friends.... A place where they can do their "job" best, which is to simply be themselves, and just be kids." said Mrs. Vivian Boulos Tolan, Time4Sharing founder, in the speech delivered at the inauguration ceremony.
"We grown ups, are often all so caught up in the seriousness of the real challenges of life that we often forget and even abandon the child within ourselves that longs to remember and relive a life of joy and hope." She added.
This timeshare charity will celebrate its 5th anniversary in November, 2005, and has concluded over 100 children's events for an estimated 10,000 children from 15 countries, giving timeshare a new name, a new label, a new image in the countries where World Class Vacation Club and Platinum have offices.
Their staff are the core of volunteers and the founders are the owners of these timeshare companies.
"On June 11th 2005, this celebration embraced and united all those present under the banner of hope for a better future for kids today and those of tomorrow." said Boulos-Tolan
"We have created this special place for children, who all hold a special place in our hearts because they are the most precious people on the planet, "
"These children were passed on this day a Baton of the right to have fun, the right to share time, and the right to feel good....a simple list of standards in a playground and an amazing accomplishment under the circumstances of every day these days in this land others call Lebanon and that we simply call home." Said Boulos-Tolan in the inaugural speech which was covered by journalists nationwide.
One year ago, Time4Sharing celebrated International Children's Day and created a Monument of Peace at The United Nations Cultural Palace.
During the ceremony, the personal representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Steffan De Mistura, praised the timeshare charity, and pointed out that the Lebanese flag and the time4sharing peace monument both, had trees, as symbols. As he was in charge of de-mining, he challenged Time4Sharing to create a forest in the region that this de-mining had taken place and symbolically turn empty wholes into new homes for trees.
Filling the holes with life, making it again, whole, sparked a campaign to Return Roots to Lebanon, and thus the planting of the 3,000 trees in the village by time4sharing.org
However, the aim was to bring empowerment to children, as well as the trees, and the community of Hanine.
This was the main reason behind the creation of the Children's Park, thus forming a complete resort for children to enjoy every moment. Time4sharing.org often uses these events to portray the values of timeshare membership which are luxury, fantasy and having fun, and realizing dreams. This luxurious park will echo these values for many years to come.
This event was possible through the efforts of many friends of Time4Sharing from different parts of Lebanon. The friends of time4sharing in this events were :
Kuwaiti Fund for Economic Arab Development
Hanine Municipality
Platinum Resorts International
DEMCO Steel Industries s.a.l
Soci t Libanaise des M taux s.a.l
Bank Audi s.a.l
Al Mashtal s.a.l.
Majama Company Limited s. a. r. l
Unifert s.a.l.
Sukleen
Al-Safadi Foundation s.a.l
Joseph Alam Establishment
AUST University College
L'Ath n e de Beyrouth
Inner- Wheel Beirut Cosmopolitan
Exotica s.a.l
American Life Insurance co. s.a.l
Super Schtroumph
World Class Vacation Club
Khalil Fattal and Fils s.a. l
Coca Cola
Saad Agriculture Est. s.a.r.l
Spinneys
Connex Liban
Nakhal Establishment and Co.
For more information about this and other actions please contact info@time4sharing.org
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