Home & bar repairs for Livia, Hussein and friends

Crowd funding for Livia, Hussein and Riwaq

Can you imagine having your entire home and livelihood smashed to tatters in an explosion that flattens more than half of your beloved city? Sadly, that is the horrific reality in Beirut right now. It is heart breaking to see the images of destruction and to see our friends’ lives torn apart. 

We want to support our beloved family over there, Livia and Hussein, whose home and business have been completely destroyed. They are in total shock, having sustained many injuries from flying glass. They are safe and they are alive but have been displaced from their home like 300,000 others. They were in their beautiful bar Riwaq when the explosion took place and watched their livelihood ravaged around them. The whole city is in despair and we would like to offer our support and love in getting Livia and Hussein to slowly rebuild their home and Riwaq. Since most of us cannot get to Lebanon to give hugs and physical support in rebuilding the spaces, the best we can do is to offer what we can financially. 

Having already suffered at the hands of the Covid crisis more or less wiping out tourism and the ensuing economic crash that hit Lebanon hard, this explosion was the final straw in destabilising daily life. It is important to say we did not want to create this page for you to feel sorry for them. We are simply being practical. For sure knowing Livia and Hussein, pity is the last thing they want. But they do need help in facing the daunting and overwhelming task of moving forward from this. And we can help! Far and wide the international community of people who love Liv and Hussein CAN do something to help. 

Below are some triggering pictures of the damage caused to their beautiful home and business. They will need to clean everything out and rebuild the interior, replace their beautiful furniture and art and coordinate replacement of the glass in the windows - all of which blew into the house. 

How will the funds be spent ? 

Half of the funds will go towards home repairs: 
- Woodwork (windows & doors)
- Painting
- Glass for windows
- Home decor
- Rent (2 months) 
- Repair damaged music equipment 

A quarter will go towards supporting the Riwaq community: 
- Staff salaries
- Staff home repairs

A quarter will go towards: 
- Friends who have lost their livelihoods
- Local businesses close to Liv & Hussein (including bars, vet, salon)
- Anti-Racist Movement Lebanon - www.armlebanon.org

Who are we? 
We are a group of friends and family based in London. We are figuring out the best way to get the funds to Livia and Hussein in Lebanon. The funds will likely reach through a combination of Western Union and close friends travelling to Lebanon in the coming weeks. 

Please give what you can. Every little helps. Your support will mean the world to Liv and Hussein who are struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

Sending enormous love and gratitude to those who have read up to this point. Please know that your donation will touch their hearts and is a very real solution to help in these essential repairs. 

Huge love from us, 

Hannah, Alessia, Ed