CCCL Patients Pass Official Exams

Young CCCL patient/students celebrate their success

Thirteen patients at the Children's Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL) passed their official exams, thanks to an in-house program that was launched by the center about four years ago in order to allow patients to sit for their exams in a sterile, germ-free environment. Organized in collaboration with the Lebanese Ministry of Education, the program has enabled more than sixty children to sit for the exams.

"We are not children with special needs, but we do possess special qualifications… we fight our illness and overcome it, which has taught us to confront and believe in ourselves and our strength," said Nadin Areij, one of the students who was celebrating her success in a ceremony held at the center on August 12.

The ceremony was held under the patronage of Education Minister Bahiya Hariri in the presence of former Education Minister Khaled Qabbani, as well as Fadi Yaraq, the director-general of the ministry; Salim Zeeny, CCCL's chairman of the board of trustees; Munthir Kuzayli, the director of the American University of Beirut Medical Center; Dr. Miguel Abboud, CCCL's director; and Christiane Makarem, who is the volunteer coordinator for the center.

Of those who took their official exams, six children sat for baccalaureate level exams and seven sat for the brevet exams. Four passed the exams with distinction. The center has treated more than 500 children since it was established in 2002, at little or nocost to the patient.