The Tahdhib al-Fatat Society at Its Golden Jubilee — A Medal for Its President, Mrs. Zahia Saad

On October 29 last, the "Tahdhib al-Fatat" Society celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its founding. Speakers at the ceremony were the society's secretary and one of its founders, Mrs. Nazik Sarkis; Dr. Fuad Sarruf, vice president of the American University of Beirut; and Mr. Charles Saad, president of the National College in Choueifat. At the close of the ceremony His Excellency the Prime Minister, Mr. Sami al-Solh, decorated Mrs. Zahia Saad, president of the society, and Mrs. Malaka Baroudi, a former president, with the Order of Education, First Class, in appreciation of their commendable efforts.

The story of Mrs. Zahia Saad's struggle goes back to the year 1890, the day she stood, one of four girls, as the first class to graduate from the National College for Girls in Choueifat. The college's founder, the noble Englishwoman of blessed memory, Miss Procter, used to call them "the four pillars of the school" — and her prophecy came true! For Agnes Jureidini married the Reverend Tanios Saad, who became president of the college; Amelia Trad and Bana Malik each founded a girls' school in Choueifat that to this day still nourishes the rising generation; and the fourth of them was Zahia Saad, president of the "Tahdhib al-Fatat" Society and the subject of our talk today.

I asked her: how was your society founded? She told me that Mrs. Agnes Saad, president of the girls' college, God rest her soul, once asked one of her guests, who had a number of sons at the boys' college: Why do you not educate your daughters as well? He answered her: A girl, madam, marries and becomes a stranger's; so it is better for us to spend our money on the education of our sons...

Mrs. Saad added: This story was the first spur to the founding of the "Tahdhib al-Fatat" Society, to concern itself with the education of poor girls — perhaps the mentality of fathers would change, so that they would moderate their fanaticism and rigidity and look upon their sons and their daughters with one eye!

— And do you feel now that these distinctions have disappeared, and that the need for the Tahdhib al-Fatat Society is no longer pressing?

— Yes, answered the venerable president; we thank God that this narrow view, so unjust to the girl, has vanished from fathers' heads, and likewise government schools have spread abundantly in all the Lebanese cities and villages. For this reason the society has decided to turn its efforts to opening a day nursery in Beirut to shelter the children of working women during their absence from their homes, so that the children remain in the charge of an expert nurse and receive the necessary health and educational care.

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If we were to speak of the "Tahdhib al-Fatat" Society, which has worked in silence and devotion for fifty consecutive years, and continued its services even during the two world wars, we would not hesitate to bow our heads in reverence and respect... In what love it has worked, and how its members have gathered around their president, Mrs. Zahia Saad, shouldering their responsibilities heart to heart and hand in hand, believing in their lofty mission!

From the beginning the society had two branches: a branch in Choueifat, presided over for the whole of her life by the society's founder and president of the girls' college, Mrs. Agnes Saad; and the Beirut branch, presided over first by Mrs. Malaka Baroudi, who received a medal, while for the last thirty-five years the presidency has been in the keeping of Mrs. Zahia Saad. Because of her failing health, she has lately ceased her activity in the five societies she served throughout her life, and has remained dedicated solely to the "Tahdhib al-Fatat" Society alone — as if this society had lodged itself in her soul and become one of her very breaths, beating with her so long as there is blood in her veins... And how could the members forsake her? They have grown attached to her and taken her as a symbol of devotion, self-denial, and help for the needy.

The number of members of "Tahdhib al-Fatat" who have served the society has reached 400. Some have departed this transient world; some have emigrated but have kept up their help to the society; and many remain, working in their steadfast silence, holding raffle parties and the annual charity bazaars to provide money enough for the reduced school fees... The number of girls educated at the society's expense has reached some 600; they have gone out into the world and attained good educational positions, or founded families... and thanks to them the level of Lebanese society has risen...

The "Tahdhib al-Fatat" Society continues its activity, though now in a new direction; and would that every women's society in Lebanon might fulfill its mission as completely as this society has fulfilled its own. We ask God to prolong the lives of these venerable pioneering "sheikhas" among the women of Lebanon, for they are a blessing to us, and a torch lighting the road before us as we continue on the path of the public good, the service of society, and the raising of its level.