An-Nahar asks Hariri Foundation, the Catholic Council, the Islamic Association and Fares Foundation about how to obtain a full or partial grant and the relevant conditions.

The grants offered by the Fares Foundation answer the objective for which the Foundation itself was created in 1987, to assist students faced with financial difficulties to continue their university studies and encourage distinguished students. The Fares Foundation General Manager Mr. William Mjalli says in this regard, ‘It stems from our conviction that Lebanon’s first asset is culture. Lebanon cannot offset its limited surface and its restricted number of inhabitants but with innovative and cultural contributions, knowing that, before the creation of the Foundation, former Vice-Premier Issam

Fares used to provide school and university grants directly to a great number of school and university students.’ About the number and value of grants in 2009, he said: “The number of grants did not decrease, but the file of every applicant is thoroughly examined to make sure that the applicant really deserves such a grant and that he is distinguished. As for the amount of the grant, it is decided in the light of the file applicant, the number of beneficiaries varying yearly between 1000 and 1500, according to the number of incoming applications. Therefore, the number of beneficiaries since 1987 to date amounts to around 35 thousand students.” The Foundation focuses on the pure humanitarian role of its grants, which are not restricted to a region, a confession or a community, but encompasses all Lebanese categories, as Mjalli said, according to the set terms and conditions, among which, first and foremost, making sure of the financial situation of the student and a school or university certificate certifying his success.

He concluded that the priority in providing university grants requires continuing the studies on one of the specializations Lebanon needs, not degrees which are overwhelming the market. Therefore, the applicant’s application should fulfill the need of the labor market, not adhere to the world of jobless people.”