Lebanon Camp 2023

OMV Lebanon Camp 2023

Week 1: Saturday 24th June - Sunday 2nd July - £550
Week 2: Saturday 1st July - Saturday 8th July - £550
Both Weeks: Saturday 24th June - Saturday 8th July - £600

For every volunteer that signs up, another Lebanese guest can have the best week of their year. Be the difference to someone’s life. You will get more than you give. Volunteers can sign up for a single week or for both.
2022 was a tumultuous year for many of us across the world and Lebanon has been particularly affected by this. Yet in the Faraya mountains, the Order of Malta’s centre at Chabrouh continues to provide a week of respite, dignity, and (just as significantly!) fun for our Lebanese guests who come from care homes in Beirut, and for the British and Lebanese volunteers who care for them.
Volunteers are paired with an individual guest, and language barriers are quickly broken down by the joint effort of our Lebanese volunteers and through other methods of communication. A week of activities and contemplation follows in the beautiful Mediterranean setting.
The pandemic has seen the OMV’s return to Lebanon delayed but we are certainly back this year.
Please find below the basic information you need to know before applying to join us in Lebanon this summer.

Costs:
The cost of attending the Lebanon Camps is £550 for one week, and £600 for both weeks. This price includes flights, travel insurance, food, accommodation and transport within Lebanon.

If you wish to travel independently then the cost is a lot less per week. This price includes: food, accommodation, and transport within Lebanon. It does not include flights, travel insurance and personal spending money while in Lebanon. All other costs are covered by fundraising for the project by both the British and Lebanese Associations of the Order of Malta Volunteers.

Volunteer requirements:
Minimum age - All volunteers must be 18 or over. If you are not yet 18, you must be in year 13 at school and turn 18 before 23 June 2022.
First Aid Training - Volunteers must have undertaken First Aid training, either by attending the OMV training day, which will be on Monday 29th May at the London Oratory School, or by independently organising recognised training through the Red Cross or St John's Ambulance.
DBS checks - All volunteers must have valid DBS clearance through BASMOM or other entities but with "enhanced" clearance, which the Lebanon Camp organisers will need to see. These forms will be completed at the OMV training day, which will be on Sunday 28th May at the London Oratory School. Please note that if you do not have a valid DBS form before the trip you will be unable to go.
Safeguarding - Please note all volunteers will need to take a safeguarding test ahead of the activity. This is an online test and will be circulated to you closer to our departure date.
Passports - As soon as an application has been accepted, all volunteers are required to supply their passport details. Anyone who has travelled to Israel should contact the Lebanon Camp organisers, as they will NOT be allowed to enter Lebanon if they have an Israeli travel stamp in their passport.

OMV Training Day:
The OMV Training day is Monday 29 May 2023 at the London Oratory School, Seagrave Road, SW6 1RX (nearest tube: West Brompton).
This is compulsory for ALL volunteers. If you have any questions or will not be able to attend the training day, please let the Lebanon Camps organisers know when you submit your application.

Bursaries:
The bursary scheme was created to ensure that the most experienced helpers can continue to volunteer after they are no longer supported by school, parents or guardians to pay for the cost of the pilgrimage. We consider your experience in OMV activities, your income and other relevant skills. If you would like to apply for a bursary for this years trip, please email lebanon@omv.org.uk as soon as possible.
The OMV, as a charity, has a limited bursary fund and awards are made at the committee’s discretion.
If you are less experienced, or a first time volunteer, the bursary system is not closed to you, however we would strongly advise you to seek financial support from your school, university, parish or workplace.

Lebanon Launch
The OMV are excited to launch our Lebanon Camps bookings opening on Friday 17th March 2023 with celebratory drinks and canapes at the Brompton Oratory from 7pm. You are warmly welcomed to join us and meet volunteers who will be going to the OMV Lebanon Camps this summer, volunteers who have been previously and meet the organisers, Ollie Ryan Tucker and Emily Byrne. This event will also be a fundraiser for the activity with a £15 entry and a raffle, with a chance to win a discounted ticket to  Lebanon as well as other fabulous prizes.

For more detailed information about the Lebanon Camp please open the document at the bottom of this page or contact the organisers, Ollie Ryan Tucker and Emily Byrne, at lebanon@omv.org.uk
Yalla everyone...get booking!
Please note, the majority of our communication is through email. Please only sign up to this activity with an email you check regularly and have access to outside of school/university/work. 
 

Further Information:

• LebanonProjectInfoDocument2023 (0.26 MB)