Education is the point at which we decide if we love the world enough to assume responsibility for it and to save it from ruin…where we decide whether we love our children enough to prepare them in advance for the task of renewing a common world.
– Hannah Arendt
Our Projects
Through the charitable donations of generous people like you, we’ve built the Waladi Cultural and Education Centre, a hub of learning and community activity in the village of Bteddine El Loqch in Lebanon. As well, we foster local programs in Toronto, such as the Schools & Community Access Fund at the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art and the Garden Summer Program at the Toronto Botanical Garden.
Our History
Believing that education is a right and not a privilege, in 1989 Simon Kattar, Executive Chef and co-owner of à la Carte Kitchen Inc. in Toronto, with a group of friends set about to improve the lives and educational opportunities of vulnerable, neglected and underprivileged children. He founded Waladi “My Child,” a registered charity dedicated to providing an education to children, both here at home and around the world. The war-torn country of Lebanon was his first project.
To date, thousands of students have benefited from Waladi “My Child” programs in various countries. Our work is changing the lives of these students.
- 1990–1991
- 1991
- 1992–1993
- 1993–1994
- 1994–1995
- 2010–2011
- 2012
- 2014
- 2016
Together with the Uganda High Commission, we made it possible for 750 HIV orphans from the Rikai district of Uganda to attend school.
In partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF or Doctors Without Borders), we helped to educate victims of armed conflict, epidemics and disasters on how to support their own basic health care in spite of social or geographic isolation.
Following a massive earthquake and working with the Armenian community, we funded computers and books for the University of Armenia.
Together with Pueblito Canada, Waladi contributed to the well-being of children in Latin America by providing financial support for the development of daycare centres in the Brazilian state of Belo Horizonte, in addition to its other childcare and education programs.
Provided computer hardware, software and technical support for the Native Canadian Centre’s tutoring program in Toronto.
Waladi set up the Gardiner Museum education and outreach programs in Toronto.
Following the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Waladi teamed up with Schools for the Children of the World (SCW) to help with school reconstruction efforts in Haiti.
In partnership with TBG, Waladi supported the summer camp scholarships for grade 5 and 6 students from high-priority neighbourhoods.
Returning our focus to Lebanon and the isolated villages in the southern district of Jazzin, where many of the children are physically challenged and have special needs, we started building the Waladi Education Centre.
Waladi’s 2016 “Middle Eastern Feast” Gala, held at the Gardiner Museum and co-hosted by Salah Bachir, President of Cineplex Media, and Nada Ristich, Director of Corporate Donations at Bank of Montreal, raised money to continue construction at the Waladi Education Centre in the village of Bteddine El Loqch, Lebanon. Funds were particularly focused on building out the library, research facilities and children’s playground.
Our Galas
In 1989, the Waladi Child Education Fund of Toronto started holding exclusive gala events featuring live music, silent auctions and exquisite food from some of the most celebrated chefs in Toronto.
Through these events we have been able to raise funds in order to support education programs both locally and internationally, helping to improve the lives of thousands of children in Canada as well as in various countries such as Uganda, South Africa, Brazil, Haiti and Lebanon.
97% of all funds raised and donated go directly into projects and programs such as the Gardiner Museum’s education and outreach program and Doctors Without Borders.
Contact Us
66 Roxborough Street West, Suite #2
Toronto, Ontario M5R 1T8
info@waladi.ca
