About Johann Ludwig Schneller Schule (JLSS)
History
In 1860 Johann Ludwig Schneller, born in Württemberg Germany, founded
the Syrian Orphanage in Jerusalem. In 1948 Mr. Elias al-Haddad came
to Lebanon with twelve Palestinian school children while Rev. Hermann
Schneller, Johann's grandson, was deported to Australia by the authorities.
In 1951 Hermann Schneller returned to Lebanon and after several
sojourns rented a place in Zahlah, a main city in the Beqaa. At
the end of 1952, he moved with the children into the newly opened
school at Khirbat Qanafar, where to the present day socially underprivileged
youths and orphans are given a home, schooling, and vocational training.
The institute is owned and run by the National Evangelical Church
of Beirut (NEC). The church has carried this responsibility with
the Associated Churches and Missions in South Western Germany (EMS)
since 1972. Other partners and friends locally and abroad help with
finance. The school continued to function through the civil war,
and to this day continues providing care and education for children.
Mission and Ministry
Johann Ludwig Schneller Schule (JLSS) is situated in the middle
of the fertile area of West Beqaa, close to the village Khirbat
Qanafar in Lebanon. It is much more than just a school. At present
about 180 boys and girls aged between 4 and 19 are growing up together
in eight families. About 50% of them are Christians from different
denominations and 50% are Muslims (Sunnites, Shiites and Druze).
The children have also different nationalities, in addition to Lebanese
there are Syrians, Palestinians, Iraqis, Egyptians, and others.
JLSS aims to provide a healthy home to socially and vocationally
underprivileged children regardless of their background, race, religion
– and since 2002: gender. The aim is to equip them with the necessary
means to become responsible citizens in their societies by nurturing
them spiritually, ethically and caring for their academic education
and vocational training. Every morning there
are classes for all children. About 300 boys and girls come from
the vicinity as day-pupils. It takes nine years to reach Middle
Standard. The last four years can be spent either in the so-called
academic section or in vocational training. At present there are
four main workshops: Carpentry, Maintenance, General Mechanics and
Car Mechanics. Since 2002 there is the possibility to study 3 years
car mechanics and general mechanics with a high school degree.
As the boarding department now also includes girls since 2002, it
is aimed to add vocational training facilities for girls. Possibly
in computing, housekeeping, cooking or baking in the school-owned
bakery. In the afternoon there is time for studies,
sports, music, arts, chess, and other leisure activities.
A lot of workers are needed at a place as large as JLSS. About 85
people, educators, teachers, technicians, administrative staff,
cooks, bakers, a medical doctor, counsellor and others see that
the children are not only getting a good education but also enough
wholesome food and clean clothes, and that all machines and the
heating system keep functioning! About 100 acres of
farmland belong to JLSS. Part of the land is used to grow apple
trees, olive trees and a vineyard which is in rent to the famous
Lebanese Ksara wine company. The bakery produces German and Swiss
bread of high quality and has currently undergone major expansion.
Finances
20 years ago the school was handed over from EMS (Evangelisches
Missionswerk Südwestdeutschland, Stuttgart) to the National Evangelical
Church of Beirut (NEC). One part of the costs is carried by the
Social Ministry for the Boarding section. A second part is coming
from school fees of external students but the school is still dependent
on donations from EVS (Evangelischer Verein für die Schneller-Schulen)
in Germany and Switzerland, and churches from UK and other countries,
and worldwide friends and Schneller alumni. A big help for the girls
boarding home came from Rotary Clubs of Zahle-Bekaa, Beirut, Nevada
and the Rotary Foundation.