Posted by Ruth Mathieson
Twelve years ago, Rotarin Al Koudsi, a member of the International Service Committee, returned to Beirut and met another Rotarian, Tony Asfour of the Rotary Club of Beirut Cosmopolitan and a friendship developed.  In January 2018, Tony Asfour invited our Club to donate to a global grant to buy a special machine in ophthalmology to be used at a clinic for the poor at the American University Hospital in Beirut.  The Rotary Club of Belleville, through the International Service Committee donated money and we recently learned that there is a plaque now in the ophthalmology department to recognize our contribution along with other Rotary Clubs -- Beirut Cosmopolitan, Australia, Beirut Cedars, San Mateo California, Reno Nevada, and Guilford U.K.
 
This is not the first time we have joined in partnership.  In January 2016, we donated money for wheelchairs for the Syrian refugees living in camps in Lebanon and in March 2017, we donated special musical instruments for the blind and deaf school in Beirut.
 
Thank you to the International Service Committee for all their work!