Our story
“All the stories in the world consist essentially of 26 Letters”
In 2015, Janira, a 19-year-old Spanish exchange student in Beirut, came across the boy that would change her life forever. Salah was thirteen years old at the time and his harsh environment, marked by the Syrian war, and his family’s migration to Lebanon had pushed him into the clutches of child labor. From the moment they met, Janira and Salah instantly became friends.
Janira meets Salah
Salah becomes our first student
Our story began when Salah asked Janira for English classes. She started teaching him through improvised English lessons, which soon turned into something unimaginably appealing to other children. Unexpectedly, more and more children turned up every morning. As the numbers grew, a beautiful idea took shape: creating a free school for all.
Today, we have an incredible committed group of volunteers, students and collaborators who support us daily. The project is no longer just about teaching English, but also about creating a safe space where everyone is welcomed – no matter their background, religion, identity or orientation.
Salah, Janira and 26 Letters grow
26 Letters was born out of unconditional love between two strangers
It started because of one single boy, but it is continuing because of all the incredible children that came after.
