By Sarah Jennings and Daniella Daou
Typically a withdrawn young man, Andrew was dancing and laughing. His parents were shocked. Their son doesn’t often get to see people, especially after Lebanon’s economic crisis left him without schooling.
Yet for one night, he was the life of the party – the king of the room.
Andrew has Autism Spectrum Disorder, and for a boy who loves routine and order, Lebanon’s economic crisis has dismantled his world. After the uprising in 2019, his dad lost his job, and his mom only has a part time job in the afternoon. This forced Andrew to leave school and his therapy treatments. Not only that, but he stays at home all day and rarely sees people outside his family. When the Smart Kids With Learning Differences (SKILD) volunteers showed up at his door with gifts and cheery smiles, it was a surprise that transformed him from a shy character to one of exuberant joy!