Eastwood International School welcomed Lebanese actress and author Razane Jammal for a special on-campus reading of her new book, Lulu & Blu, bringing together more than 100 students for a shared moment focused on friendship, empathy, and emotional expression.
Amin Khoury, the Founder of Eastwood International Schools, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, which reflects the school’s educational approach since its establishment in 1973, an approach centered on core principles, most notably emotional stability, emotional awareness, and maturity in thinking and expression. He stated, “A child’s psychological well-being and personal development are just as important as academic achievement. We do not aim solely to graduate students who excel academically, but to nurture individuals who possess wisdom and the ability to face life’s challenges with confidence and resilience.”
Mr. Khoury concluded by highlighting the motto of the collaboration, “If you can dream it, you can make it,” emphasizing that believing in a dream is the first step toward turning it into reality.
Razanne Jammal expressed her immense pride in collaborating with Eastwood International School, a partnership built on shared core values: building a child’s character, strengthening self-confidence, helping children express themselves and their emotions in a healthy way and enabling them to navigate life’s different situations.
She emphasized that children are greatly influenced by their surroundings, highlighting the importance of encouraging them to believe in their dreams and in themselves, and to trust in their ability to make them a reality.
She added, “When I first started writing, I never intended to publish the story, I was writing for the child within me. Later, I decided to turn it into a children’s book because I believed in its message, without expecting such a positive response.”
Lulu & Blu is a story about friendship and the role communication plays in helping relationships exist, grow, and heal. Through storytelling, the book gives children language for emotions and encourages understanding, connection, and empathy.
She also noted that this book marked the starting point for the creation of the Storyland app, a <a href="https://menainsights.com/bluefive-capital-launches-aircraft-leasing-platform-bluefive-leasing/”>platform where children can develop their imagination by creating their own stories and listening to them narrated in the voices of loved ones.The visit forms part of a wider initiative at Eastwood guided by a simple belief: when children feel safe to express what they feel, they are better able to connect with others and build meaningful relationships.
The reading reflects Eastwood’s broader approach to education, where emotional wellbeing and personal development are considered essential to learning.