By Amelia Melo & Alexia Hibner, Y11
Some of you may have already heard of a newly founded group on campus: the Xpatria Junior Committee. For those of you who have not, it consists of 8 students across years 12 and 13: Nicholas Melo, Jacobo Nonay, India Tamari, Anya Markovitz, Regina Trevino, Margaux Francioli, Felix Vogel, and Teymour Younes, who share a common goal to raise funds as well as awareness for the current crisis in Beirut. During the summer of 2020, an explosion occurred at the port of Lebanon’s capital city. The horrific incident caused at least 204 deaths, 7,500 injuries, and tremendous amounts of property damage. The tragedy also rendered roughly 300,000 local citizens homeless. Both the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the economic and political strain the explosion has caused have rendered Lebanon’s situation even more dire and in need of serious aid in the form of donations and awareness. In order to gain insight and inform the Ecolint community on the Xpatria Junior Committee at LGB, India Tamari was asked to share her opinions, thoughts, and answer questions regarding their project.
Briefly, what is Xpatria?
In a few words, Xpatria is a Swiss non profit organization which aims to create a trusted crowd donation platform for projects to make a positive impact.
What made you intrigued to work with Xpatria?
After the blast of the 4th of August, I felt it was extremely important to make a gesture, as little as it would to help the people and the place that has shaped the person I am today. Fortunately, one of the founders of the Xpatria approached me and asked if I would be interested in collaborating with them to create a group of junior volunteers who would raise funds and awareness within the Ecolint community.
What motivated you to create this project at LGB?
It is important to note I am not the founder of the Swiss non profit organization Xpatria. I did however collaborate with them to create the junior committee and am currently leading the project within the school’s community.
Can you explain to us what you want to achieve through the Xpatria Junior Committee ?
Through creating the Xpatria junior volunteers committee, my aim is to raise awareness about the ongoing issues that a country has to suffer through, months after the disaster has occurred. It is inevitable that one of the aims is raising as much money as possible to give back to the country. However, it is also about creating a project that will last within the Ecolint community and will later be given to following year groups.
How has helping Lebanon in the explosion aftermath altered your perspective on the less fortunate?
I have always felt the need to help the less fortunate. However, when in front of my own eyes the less fortunate become people I know and who have lost everything because of a corrupt government, then it really shocks and reminds that if you can do something about an issue, then you should. I believe that younger generations are the future of every country and if you don’t get involved as soon as you can, you are letting other people decide on your future’s faith.
What is something new you have learned during this project so far?
For the first time I am leading a project revolving around a humanitarian crisis. I learned a lot about team management, organization but above all adaptability. The COVID-19 pandemic has added many boundaries to crowd funding and awareness. Being able to modify projects and visions has been a very challenging but rewarding experience and reminds me that there is always a solution.
After donating to Xpatria, what are other ways that the Ecolint community can help with the explosion aftermath?
I urge the Ecolint community not to stop talking about what has happened to Lebanon’s capital Beirut. As an international school, we have to stay involved in what is happening in countries even after a terrible incident has taken place. We need to keep the issue alive because no change can come without awareness.
