ABOUT US

Creation of the France-Lebanon Endowment Fund

An initiative of Franco-Lebanese professionals from the French-Lebanese Chamber of Commerce
& the French-lebanese Association of IT Professionals

The Lebanese population has been facing a serious, multifaceted crisis for a year now (since October 17, 2019), on financial, economic, monetary, humanitarian, social and health levels. On August 4, 2020, the consequences of the large-scale disaster caused by the explosion at the port of Beirut added up.

Starting November 2019, actions, by organizations or members of the Lebanese diaspora, intended to help a hard-hit population began to see light. Wishing to complete its economic vocation with a humanitarian and social commitment, the Franco-Lebanese Chamber of Commerce (CCFL), took the initiative to set up an endowment fund.

It represents an intervention tool that offers the advantage of giving donors, that are tax residents in France, the possibility of benefiting from a tax credit, excluding wealth tax.

The CCFL wished to offer other Lebanese associations in France the possibility of joining her as co-founders. The Franco-Lebanese Association of IT Professionals (AFPI) responded positively to this proposal. This possibility remains open to one or two other organizations which express their intention and are co-opted by the board of directors, within six months of the creation of the fund. The primary objective is to bring together the means that allow emergency intervention with people in distress.

Aware of the need to make their action long-lasting, the founders wished to broaden the purpose of the fund to actions of general interest in the service of the common good. The France-Lebanon Endowment Fund (FDFL) is now officially created, the announcement having been published in the official journal on August 1, 2020.

Forms of action to achieve the social object

In particular, and without being exhaustive, the fund may:

grant aid for food or social purposes, in kind or in cash
helping to provide medicines, supplies, small equipment or medical equipment
grant scholarships, honorary loans and guarantees to students;
develop or support professional training for destitute people in need of reorientation
support French-speaking education in Lebanon, in both denominational and secular schools, if necessary through digital access to training
provide support for any operation for cultural, scientific or educational purposes
promote the Francophonie among the Lebanese community

promote Lebanese culture to the French community
participate in the safeguarding of heritage and the protection of the environment
finance studies or actions intended to preserve endangered professions
advise or support individuals to start a business and companies to develop, in areas of general interest
enhance education, Lebanon’s main asset by promoting the knowledge economy
promote the creation or development of companies whose activity is compatible with the purpose of the fund.

A Charter of Values

Along with the development of the statutes, a charter of values was drawn up.
It proclaims the principles which will guide the action of the fund,
supplemented by the commitments of its promoters.
It has four cardinal principles.

Solidarity

Through attention and presence to others, to help maintain or restore autonomy, support social cohesion and weave social continuity

The knowledge

By prioritizing educational and cultural actions, to develop talents, support cultural influence, invigorate relations between France and Lebanon, and preserve heritage assets

Personal fulfillment and economic and social development

By supporting employment and production

Integrity

Through the scrupulous management of the common good

The governance

FDFL is administered by a board of directors made of three colleges with a maximum of five members each.

At launch, the board of directors consists of:

The founders' college

Ms. Josiane Tamer, Treasurer, represents AFPI, and Mr. Camille El Hage serves as Administrator.

The college of partners

It is composed of the company Murex, represented by Ms. Youmna Hélou, General Secretary, and Lois de Courtois, Administrator.

The college of qualified personalities

It includes the following members:

Society Friends

A Friends’ Society, serving as a support and assistance body.

The Friends’ Society aims to mobilize goodwill around the France-Lebanon Endowment Fund, promote its actions to the public, identify and relay to the Fund the needs of society and the projects emerging from it, and suggest possible courses of action to the Board of Directors.