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said Kibbe who is also the advisor of the
Environmental Pioneers’ Club. “They
collected money during their lunch
breaks from students, faculty and
staff. One of the students even
sold cards in his village Christmas
Bazaar.”
Finally, they proudly handed
IBSAR representatives a check for
LL3,760,000 in a small ceremony
attended by the school’s vice
president, Mishka Mourani and
Middle School director, Wadad al
Hoss. The money is for planting and
caring for 376 trees in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, IBSAR had been giving a
series of lectures and workshops on local
biodiversity and native seed planting at IC –
greatly helping the Pioneers’ cause.
But now it was time to walk the talk. IBSAR
had previously sent out calls to 50 village
municipalities. Twenty-five requested tree
shoots. The village of Shahtoul was one of
them.
And so students spent the day clearing weeds,
digging, planting and mulching.
Locals seemed quite interested in students
showing up in their village and quickly offered
coffee to the accompanying adults.
“You plant them here and there,”guided Emily
Shlehleh as shoots were planted alongside
her home, “and I will water them.”
Even IC’s bus driver got in the act, grabbed a
shovel and gave out instructions.
“I’m a farmer’s boy from Baalbeck,”he said
laughing. “It’s about time these city
kids learn how to plant!”
Finally, it was over. Exhausted students
boarded the bus.
“I just loved putting my hands in the soil,” said
Farah Arabi, 13.
But any talk of planting trees was ceased. The
Pioneers had only one thing on their mind:
lunch.
IC NEWSLETTER -
SPRING 2010 5