Shining Stars of Hope, an initiative of Lebanon’s Takreem Foundation, helps struggling, forgotten actors and other members of the creative community affected by the country’s economic and financial crises.
The initiative started two years ago as an annual Christmas Eve benefit concert and has since evolved into a year-round, online fund-raising campaign in partnership with the Alexandria Trust, the META Foundation, and other organisations. (Al-Fanar Media is a project of the Alexandria Trust, a London-based nonprofit organisation dedicated to advancing educational access and quality in the Arab region.)
Shining Stars of Hope was organised by Takreem’s founder, the television presenter and social advocate Ricardo Karam. Takreem, which means “respect” or “honour” in English, was established in 2009 with the goal of redefining perceptions of Arab excellence globally.
A nonpolitical, nonsectarian, nonreligious organisation based in Beirut, Takreem Foundation recognises Arab individuals or organisations that have contributed to their communities or excelled in culture, education, science, environmental studies, humanitarian services or socio-economic development.
Al-Fanar Media recently caught up with Ricardo Karam and asked him about the Takreem Foundation and the Shining Stars of Hope campaign. Following is a transcript of that conversation, lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
