Spinneys and Rebirth Beirut Light Up Hamra Street
The event opened with a speech by the Founder and President of Rebirth Beirut, Mr. Gaby Fernaine, who welcomed the attendees and praised the resilience of Beirut's residents and their determination to hold on to hope despite all circumstances. He emphasized that this spirit is what drives the association to continue its work. In his speech, he said: 'Every Light we turn on is a new point of hope for this city, and every street we illuminate is one step closer to the beautiful Beirut we love and dream of.' He added that this initiative, which began in May 2022 in collaboration with Medco, has so far succeeded in lighting 152 streets, 11 main avenues, 4 squares, 2 gardens, 2 staircases, and a tunnel in the capital—stressing that the work will continue and will not stop.
On this occasion, Mr. Hassan Ezzeddine, Chairman of Spinneys Lebanon, delivered a speech in which he emphasized the importance of partnership between the private sector and civil society. He praised the 'Let's Light Up Our Community' initiative for helping revive the life pulse of the capital's streets and reaffirmed the company's commitment to supporting such developmental and humanitarian projects.
Beirut Governor Judge Marwan Abboud also spoke, highlighting the vital role of civil society, especially Rebirth Beirut. He noted that such initiatives genuinely contribute to helping Beirut recover. He stated: 'Today we witness how determination and belief in the city can truly bring about real change.'
The event saw remarkable attendance, including official, municipal, and civil figures, most notably Governor Judge Marwan Abboud, newly elected Municipal Council President Mr. Ibrahim Zeidan and council members, along with members of the association's board of trustees, representatives from the Hamra Traders Association, the Beirut Development Committee, civil society organizations, friends and supporters of the street, and representatives from Lebanese media outlets who covered the event and helped convey its message.
The association extended special thanks to Mr. Malek Hejazi for his initiative and on-ground support of the project since day one, and to Ms. Michèle Chammas Gharzouzi, Chief Innovation Officer at Medco, who has been a key partner in this initiative.
At the conclusion of the event, Rebirth Beirut announced that its next stop will be lighting up the airport road—from the ESCWA building to the Middle East Airlines (MEA) headquarters—as part of a comprehensive project approved by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, in coordination with the Governor of Beirut and relevant municipalities, and under the patronage of MEA. The project is expected to be completed within approximately one month.
Rebirth Beirut continues its mission of lighting the streets of the capital, one by one—reviving hope and restoring life to a city that never loses its spark.
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