Boy With a Ball has been working with young people for more than 25 years, helping them fulfill their God given purposes, and teaching them to turn and reach other young people around them. 

Our name comes from a little boy's discovery that the ball he was clinging to as a security object could be used for so much more. We help people use the lives in their hands to love and transform cities.

One of our newest teams, BWAB Lebanon, officially launched in October of 2023. Much of the groundwork and foundation has been laid and as 2025 begins, we are ready! We have begun the ethnographic work of identifying a community and will begin with regular weekly times in the community in March.

As you probably know, Lebanon is embroiled in a Middle Eastern crisis. Even with a temporary ceasefire in place, there are still displaced people who have been unable to return to their homes due to the damage and destruction. Education was disrupted as schools were turned into shelters. Even as schools have resumed, (some online), many children and youth are unable to continue their studies due to the practical barriers they face such as lack of internet access. Youth lack education and skills development and deal with significant mental health issues due to constant instability, and now a war. Even before the war, Lebanon was in the midst of one of the world’s worst crises since the 19th century, with approximately 44% of the population living under the poverty line. All youth are struggling to find hope for the future, especially those who are coming from poverty-stricken communities. Lebanon is home to over 1.5 million Syrian refugees and approximately 300,000 Palestinian refugees. Unable to integrate into the Lebanese education system and workforce, these populations are even more vulnerable. 

As the most recent war ended, the rebuilding, healing, and making up for lost time both in social development and education is a huge undertaking. We have launched in Beirut, focused on reaching Beirut’s youth population by inviting them into a grassroots community development movement we call, “Love Your City.” 

Love Your City (LYC) mobilizes volunteers and staff to identify a city's most challenging neighborhood and launch Love Your City Walkthroughs. Businesses, churches, government agencies, non-profits, and families unite as volunteers or donors. Each week, 1-2 Walkthroughs meet with every resident to understand and identify community challenges. Conversations then focus on helping young people and their families graduate, find employment, and thrive.

Mentoring relationships form, and developmental small groups are launched to support growth in key areas like tutoring, ESL, job skills, women's and men's groups, digital literacy, and financial education. Through mentorship and small groups, young people excel in school, adults secure better jobs, and families strengthen. As this happens, the community begins to transform and leaders are developed intentionally from within the community to lead LYC efforts in their own neighborhoods, so that LYC expands into other communities across Beirut and other parts of Lebanon.)

Thank you for your part in Love Your City and for joining the fight for the next generation here in Lebanon!