British Druze Society

Is a registered charity since 1983, established under the Charities
Commission (Charity No. 287598) in the United Kingdom.
Please donate and help us to continue our support to our Druze
brethren in the UK, Lebanon and Syria.

BDS

Britsh Druze Society

The British Druze Society’s mission is the relief of poverty and sickness and the promotion of education amongst Druze people in need in the United Kingdom and other regions of the world. We raise funds from our members by way of subscriptions and through fundraising events and disseminate in-kind (eg. medical and personal supplies) and cash donations for education (scholarships), health and relief purposes.

In the United Kingdom the aim for the charity is to work with and support the Druze community here, arrange social, educational, faith and fundraising events.

BDS Arabic Education 🇬🇧

The British Druze Society it's open our Arabic Educational Programme

Dear Parents and guardians,

It gives me a great pleasure to announce the opening of our Arabic Educational Programme. Achieving this corner stone in our endeavours to serve our Community, I wish to thank our Management Team for their combined efforts in achieving this success story and inaugurating the Programme on time, on the 17th of September 2022.

families to get together and celebrate Eid together.

BDS in the UK 🇬🇧

The British Druze Society is the heart of the Druze community in the United Kingdom

and their bridge to their extended community in Lebanon, Syria and the Holly Land. From this perspective the BDS has invested in empowering Druze identity among community members living in the United Kingdom, mainly through cultural events, such as lectures, gathers and religious holidays. For example, the BDS has invested a lot in meeting the social needs of the community. The annual picnic in the famous Hyde Park during summer has become one of the BDS’s most famous activities, where Druze youth from different background mingle together. The Eid Al-Adha annual dinner is another regular and well attended activity, which the BDS traditionally organises and is an opportunity for Druze families to get together and celebrate Eid together.

In parallel the BDS organises lectures and talks

on different aspects related to the Druze community in the Middle East and abroad. Significant talks organised in the past have been a lecture given by BDS Trustee member Mr Eyad Abu Shakra at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS of University of London) on the geo-political boundaries of the Druze in the Near East.
Another successful lecture was given by Professor Kais Firro of ‘Isfya about the Druze in Palestine. Also organised, in cooperation with the Awareness Foundation, was a book launch for the book “The Druze: a New Cultural and Historical Appreciation Over the Years”.
In the year 2021 we have had a big online success with our live zoom lectures and presentations such as:

  • Sheikh Moustafa Moukarim who discussed religion and spirituality.
  • Dr Makram Rabah  who spoke about developments in the middle east & Druze history.
  • Mr Zaher Molaeb who explained anxiety, psychology and the conscience mind.

The BDS has donated large sums of money to charities in Lebanon and Syria, including the occupied Golan Heights in Syria. Among the leading beneficiaries were: The Druze Foundation for Social Welfare; The Social Action League (Druze University Graduates Association); The Druze Health Foundation-Ain Wozain; The Women Student Home, Beirut; Al-Iman Hospital; Al-Watani Hospital; the Village Welfare Association (“Rabitat Inaash Al-Qaria”); MAP (Medical Aid for the Palestinians); Majdal Shams Clinic, The Golan Heights; and the Druze Orphanage, Abey.

⭐ Board of Trustees ⭐

Nabil Abu Hassan is the newly elected President of the Board of Trustees as of April 2019 and has been involved with the BDS since around the year 2000. He is an entrepreneur, running a trade business supplying healthcare products to west African countries and as a result travels extensively between Nigeria, London and Lebanon.

Nabil Abu Hassan

BDS President
Rabih Hamze was the Board Chairman and BDS President since June 2014 and has now resigned as President and been elected as Honorary Secretary on 1st of April 2019. He was first involved in the BDS in between 2000 and 2004, organizing successful BDS fundraising events with high profile Druze leaders. His vision is to support the Druze community in the UK and abroad. Rabih is also Vice Chairman for the Grand Union Village Community Development Trust and is Head of IT & Technical Operations at secretsales.com.​

Rabih Hamze

BDS Secretary​
Aida Abi Mershed is a member of the Board of Trustees and has supported the BDS since its inception and joined formally as a trustee in the late 1990s. She has over two decades of experience in social development in Lebanon and later in the UK, being a founding member of the Village Welfare Society (جمعية إنعاش القرية) and other Lebanese Druze charities.

Aida Abi Mershed

BDS Board Member
Bayan Awar Sayegh a member of the Board of Trustees. She first joined the BDS in 2000 as a public relations liaison. Bayan is a freelance journalist and TV reporter. She has been living in the UK since 1990.

Bayan Awar Sayegh

BDS Board Member
Has been a great supporter of the BDS since 1984, but officially became a member in 2002. Other than charitable work, she is also successful Business women, specializing in travel, visa service and real state.

Naziha Hassanyeh

BDS Board Member
Imad Dagher is a member of the Board of Trustees since 2016. He is currently completing a PhD in highway transportation. He has a bachelors & MSc in civil engineering. PGCE postgraduate certificate in education MBA Master of business administration

Imad Dagher

BDS Board Member

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Fayez Moukarim Newly appointed member of the board of trustees since January 2020 is following his parents footsteps who also were members 30 years ago. He is a business & aviation graduate who enjoys research in quantum physics and spirituality bringing him to better understand the Druze philosophy. An experienced entrepreneur who wants to add his knowledge to the community.

Fayez Moukarim

BDS Board Member

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