Connect Children Now

Connect Children Now An independent grassroots and rights- based NGO that promotes and protects children’s rights on a global, regional, national and local level.

From Lebanon to Greece: Expanding the Reach of Incredible MeWhat began in Lebanon is now reaching EuropeWe are proud to ...
07/07/2026

From Lebanon to Greece: Expanding the Reach of Incredible Me
What began in Lebanon is now reaching Europe

We are proud to announce the successful launch of the Incredible Me Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) training in Greece an important milestone in the programme’s growing international journey.

The training brought together a dedicated group of frontline professionals whose enthusiasm, active participation, and commitment to learning created an inspiring and collaborative learning environment. Through meaningful dialogue, reflective practice, and shared experiences, participants strengthened the knowledge and practical skills needed to better support children, families, and communities.

This marks the beginning of a comprehensive three-month capacity-building journey, combining intensive face-to-face training, hybrid on-the-job coaching, and an in-person refresher workshop in October. More than a training programme, this initiative is an investment in people equipping professionals with evidence-based knowledge, practical tools, and the confidence to deliver high-quality, child centred mental health and psychosocial support.
Building on its successful implementation across eight countries in the MENA region, including Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, Incredible Me has now expanded to Europe with its launch in Greece. This milestone reflects the programme’s growing international reach and demonstrates how regionally developed, evidence-informed approaches can strengthen local capacities and improve outcomes for children and families across diverse contexts.

At DCI/CCN Lebanon, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to for their trust and partnership from the very beginning. Their collaboration has been instrumental in making this milestone possible and in advancing our shared commitment to strengthening community resilience and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to heal, recover, thrive, and reach their full potential.

27/06/2026

As featured on Dutch television, the DCI/CCN Lebanon psychosocial support programme, Incredible Me, is being recognized for the life-changing impact it had on children during Lebanon's most recent war.

In the darkest moments of conflict, Incredible Me became more than a programme, it became a safe space where children could process trauma, regain their confidence, rebuild their resilience, and begin to believe in tomorrow again.

Every smile restored, every fear overcome, and every dream rekindled is a reminder that healing is possible when children receive the care and support they deserve.

Because every child deserves more than survival. Every child deserves the chance to heal, thrive, and dream again.

Healing hearts. Restoring hope. Building resilient futures.

كما ترون على شاشة التلفزيون الهولندي، يحظى برنامج “Incredible Me” للدعم النفسي والاجتماعي، الذي تنفذه DCI/CCN Lebanon، بتقدير واسع لما أحدثه من أثرٍ عميق في حياة الأطفال خلال الحرب الأخيرة في لبنان.

في أحلك لحظات النزاع، لم يكن “Incredible Me” مجرد برنامج، بل كان مساحة آمنة مكّنت الأطفال من التعبير عن صدماتهم، واستعادة ثقتهم بأنفسهم، وتعزيز قدرتهم على الصمود، وإحياء إيمانهم بأن الغد يمكن أن يكون أفضل.

كل ابتسامة عادت إلى وجه طفل، وكل خوف تم تجاوزه، وكل حلم أُعيد إحياؤه، هو دليل على أن التعافي ممكن عندما يحصل الأطفال على الرعاية والدعم اللذين يستحقونهما.

لأن كل طفل يستحق أكثر من مجرد البقاء على قيد الحياة؛ كل طفل يستحق فرصة للتعافي، والازدهار، واستعادة حقه في الحلم.

نُداوي القلوب. نُعيد الأمل. ونبني مستقبلاً أكثر صموداً للأطفال

23/06/2026

A Young Voice for Peace and Justice in Lebanon

Meet the inspiring Lebanese child, Yusma Hamdan, who, during her visit to the Presidential Palace, had the opportunity to meet First Lady Nehmat Aoun and present her project entitled “Peace and Justice.”

With remarkable awareness and wisdom beyond her years, Yusma raised a crucial issue that many actors involved in peacebuilding, negotiations, and efforts to restore stability in Lebanon have often overlooked: justice. While many speak of peace, few address the fundamental truth that peace cannot be achieved without justice.

Her message was clear and powerful: there can be no sustainable peace without upholding justice and ensuring the rights and dignity of all.

It is deeply inspiring to witness children in Lebanon carrying such a profound understanding of what it truly takes to build a state and shape a better future. They remind us that nations are not built on words alone, but on social justice, equal dignity, and the protection of every individual without exception.

Our children are not only the leaders of tomorrow ,they are already powerful voices for change today.

Investing in Mental Health: Youth Champions Lead Psychosocial Support Efforts for Children Affected by Crisis in Gaza an...
03/06/2026

Investing in Mental Health: Youth Champions Lead Psychosocial Support Efforts for Children Affected by Crisis in Gaza and Lebanon

As conflicts and humanitarian crises continue to affect children across Gaza and Lebanon, the psychological and emotional toll on young lives remains profound. Beyond physical safety concerns, children are increasingly exposed to stress, trauma, loss, and displacement underscoring the urgent need for accessible Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS).

In response to these needs, Connect Children Now (CCN), in partnership with DCI Lebanon, Beirut Community Centre, International Medical Corps (IMC), and the World Student Christian Federation, has successfully implemented the "Incredible Me" Training of Trainers program in Gaza and Lebanon.

The initiative aims to strengthen community-based MHPSS capacity by equipping youth leaders with the skills required to support children affected by conflict and displacement. Through intensive training sessions, participants developed competencies in psychosocial support, child-centered facilitation, safeguarding principles, and community engagement.

Over the course of the program, young facilitators engaged in practical learning designed to prepare them to create safe, inclusive, and supportive environments where children can express emotions, build resilience, and begin healing from the impacts of crisis. The training emphasized the importance of early psychosocial intervention and the role of community actors in protecting children's mental health and wellbeing.

Participants from diverse youth movements and organizations demonstrated strong commitment throughout the training process, strengthening both their technical skills and their understanding of the broader protection needs of children in humanitarian contexts.

Reflecting on the importance of community-based response systems, the MHPSS Unit Coordinator at DCI Lebanon emphasized the critical role of local capacity building in emergencies:
“Strengthening community-based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is essential in emergencies. By investing in youth capacity, we are expanding the frontline of care for children affected by conflict and displacement, ensuring support reaches them early, locally, and with dignity.”

The program concluded with a closing ceremony recognizing participants’ dedication and successful completion of the training. Certificates were awarded, marking their transition into trained facilitators equipped to deliver psychosocial support within their communities.

Preparations are already underway for the next phase of the program, which will extend the "Incredible Me" Training of Trainers to Greece later this month, further expanding regional efforts to strengthen youth-led mental health and psychosocial support systems.

This initiative reflects a growing recognition within humanitarian response that investing in youth capacity is essential to addressing the mental health needs of children affected by crisis. By strengthening local leadership, the program contributes to more sustainable, community based approaches to child protection and psychosocial wellbeing.

A Childhood Stolen by War, A Joy We Refuse to SurrenderWar may have robbed many children of security, stability, and the...
02/06/2026

A Childhood Stolen by War, A Joy We Refuse to Surrender

War may have robbed many children of security, stability, and the simple joys of everyday life, but it has not taken away their right to smile, dream, and experience moments of happiness.

Amid displacement, uncertainty, and hardship, countless children in Lebanon continue to be denied their most fundamental rights: the right to safety, shelter, education, protection, and the freedom to play. Yet despite these challenges, their resilience inspires us every day.

In celebration of Eid Al-Adha, Connect Children Now organized special events dedicated to restoring joy and hope to children's hearts. The celebration featured mascot performances, a clown show, interactive games, face painting, and gift distribution, creating unforgettable moments of laughter and happiness.

For a few precious hours, children were able to set aside the burdens of conflict and simply be children.

But children deserve far more than temporary moments of joy.

They deserve peaceful homes instead of shelters.
They deserve family gatherings instead of displacement.
They deserve classrooms instead of uncertainty.
They deserve a future free from fear.

No child should spend Eid away from the warmth of home. No child should grow up surrounded by the consequences of war.

Today, we renew our call to the international community, humanitarian actors, and decision-makers: protect Lebanon's children, safeguard their rights, and invest in their future.

Every child deserves safety.
Every child deserves dignity.
Every child deserves hope.

Save Lebanon's Children. Their future cannot wait.

بعد أربعة أسابيع من العمل والتدريب، اختُتم برنامج تدريب المدرّبين "Incredible Me" الذي نظّمته Beirut Community Centre ب...
26/04/2026

بعد أربعة أسابيع من العمل والتدريب، اختُتم برنامج تدريب المدرّبين "Incredible Me" الذي نظّمته Beirut Community Centre بالتعاون مع Connect Children Now وWorld Student Christian Federation، وبمشاركة عدد من الحركات الشبابية.

امتدّ البرنامج على أربع جلسات تدريبية تفاعلية، هدفها تمكين الشباب وتنمية مهاراتهم القيادية وتعزيز دورهم في إحداث تغيير إيجابي في المجتمع.

ركّز التدريب على إعداد مرشدين قادرين على الدعم النفسي الاجتماعي للأطفال النازحين، من خلال خلق مساحات آمنة تساعدهم على التعبير عن أنفسهم والتخفيف من الضغوط النفسية، إلى جانب تمكين المشاركين من التفاعل السليم معهم وتقديم الدعم النفسي والاجتماعي المناسب.

واختُتمت التجربة بأجواء مليئة بالفرح، حيث عبّر المشاركون عن استفادتهم الكبيرة واكتسابهم مهارات عملية تمكّنهم من مرافقة الأطفال النازحين بوعي ومسؤولية. يتبعها توزيع شهادات مشاركة.

#لبنان

After four weeks of dedicated work and training, the “Incredible Me” Training of Trainers program, organized by Beirut Community Centre in collaboration with Connect Children Now and the World Student Christian Federation, and with the participation of several youth movements, has successfully concluded.

The program consisted of four interactive training sessions aimed at empowering youth, developing their leadership skills, and strengthening their role in driving positive change within their communities.

The training focused on preparing facilitators capable of providing psychosocial support to displaced children by creating safe spaces where they can express themselves and relieve psychological stress. It also equipped participants with the skills needed to engage with children in a healthy and supportive manner, and to deliver appropriate psychosocial care.

The program concluded in a joyful atmosphere, with participants expressing how much they benefited from the experience and the practical skills they gained, enabling them to support displaced children with awareness and responsibility. Certificates of participation will follow.

17/04/2026

must be fiercely protected in times of war; they deserve not only safety and , but the fundamental right to grow, dream, and thrive in a nurturing , away from , destruction, and violence.

Her Voice Beneath the Bombing: Women Displaced, Yet UnbrokenNot only children suffer in war.More than 620,000 women have...
15/04/2026

Her Voice Beneath the Bombing: Women Displaced, Yet Unbroken

Not only children suffer in war.

More than 620,000 women have been forced to flee once again ,leaving behind their homes, their memories, their sense of safety… everything.

For many, the choice was unbearable:
Run under falling bombs… or stay and risk death.

Today, countless women are living in overcrowded shelters where dignity feels like a luxury. Entire families share single rooms and classrooms. No privacy. No rest. No true sense of safety.
Sanitation is poor. Conditions are harsh. Fear is constant.

And yet they endure.

Amid this reality, we created a small space of relief: a psychosocial support session and Women’s Circle a place where displaced women could breathe again… speak freely… and let their pain be heard.

They shared stories of fear, loss, and exhaustion.
But they also shared something stronger: resilience.
A quiet, unshakable belief that this darkness will not last forever.

A powerful moment came when the Mayor of the town, joined the session not to speak, but to listen. To stand beside these women and affirm that their voices matter, and that action will follow.

For many women, this was the first moment in days they felt seen.
The first moment they felt heard.

And sometimes, in the midst of war…
being heard is where healing begins.

Because even beneath the sound of bombs their voices rise.
And they are unbroken.

For the second time in just two years, children are being forced to relive some of the darkest days of their lives.In mo...
04/04/2026

For the second time in just two years, children are being forced to relive some of the darkest days of their lives.

In moments like these, joy is not a luxury it’s a necessity.

Through a special theatrical performance, director and stage actor Charbel Bahri created a space where children could laugh, play, and simply be children again even if only for a little while.

Across the shelters where our teams are present, their laughter filled the space, and their smiles said everything words cannot a powerful reminder that even in the hardest times, children still deserve joy, comfort, and hope.

Every smile restored is an act of resilience. Every moment of joy is a step toward healing.

Help us continue creating moments like these.

When Childhood Carries the Weight of WarWhat does fear look like through a child’s eyes?Sometimes… it looks like a drawi...
01/04/2026

When Childhood Carries the Weight of War

What does fear look like through a child’s eyes?

Sometimes… it looks like a drawing of a bleeding heart.

From the very first day of displacement, CCN/DCI was on the ground reaching collective shelters across 16 locations in Mount Lebanon, Beirut, and the North because when children carry trauma, waiting is not an option.

Through our “Incredible Me” programme, our mental health specialists created safe spaces where children could begin to breathe again… to feel again… to slowly come back to themselves.

But the reality they face is heartbreaking.

Children forced into overcrowded rooms with strangers.No school. No privacy. No space to play.No time to heal from past wars before a new one begins.

Some children couldn’t speak at all. Others withdrew completely. And some told their stories through drawings too painful for words.

One child drew a heart bleeding to show the pain of losing loved ones.

This is the weight our children are carrying.

And yet, even in the midst of fear, something powerful happens when they are given care, patience, and a safe space to express themselves. Slowly, their walls begin to soften. Their voices return. Their pain, though still present, becomes shared and therefore lighter.

Because no child should have to carry this alone.

We remain committed every single day to helping children find calm in chaos, healing in heartbreak, and hope in the middle of uncertainty.

As one child said, in words that echo far beyond the shelter walls:“Nothing is more precious than peace.”

Address

Hamra, Cairo Street , Adib Rbes Bldg. , 1st Floor
Beirut

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Connect Children Now posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category