Abdelfatah Ibrahim, MS International Federation’s regional capacity building manager, recently spent two days in Zahle, Lebanon, with board members and volunteers from the Lebanese MS Friends Society (ALSEP).

ALSEP is taking part in the MS International Federation’s country-focused programme, which aims to build the capacity of three organisations from the Arab region to enable them to increase the support they can offer people with MS in their countries. The other two organisations are MS Care Egypt and Multiple Sclerosis Patients Friends’ Palestine.

To date, a local fundraising consultant appointed by the MS International Federation has worked with ALSEP to develop the organisation’s first fundraising strategy and a grant proposal. At the same time ALSEP have revised their mission and developed their vision and organisational values.

ALSEP’s vision – We walk hand in hand with people affected by MS toward a better quality of life

ALSEP’s mission – ALSEP pledges to serve people with MS in Lebanon by acting on their behalf with the relevant authorities, national and international bodies. We aim to enable and empower people affected by MS to live life to their fullest potential.

Gratitude

The aims of Abdel’s visit were to find out how ALSEP are finding the programme, review the timeline, work on an exit plan and sustainability strategies, and train people in collecting case studies.

Following the visit, ALSEP president Maha Kassouf said: ‘Every time we complete a stage of the capacity building programme designed by the MS International Federation, we renew our gratitude and appreciation for what the MS International Federation offer us and for what we learn through this programme, from skills to professional work of the society, in order to be able to better serve people with MS’.

Later this year, as part of the MS International Federation programme, ALSEP social workers will receive training in working with the MS community. A service that can then be offered to their members in the future.