Farouk Laham
Farouk Laham graduated from the Shafamer Elementary and Secondary Catholic Melkite School in 1944.
In 1955 Farouk started working in Haifa as Cabinet Maker. In 1965 he opened the first furniture store in Shafamer and added new items such as TV and Radios. In 1973 opened a factory for Cabinet Making in Haifa Bay where he employed 15 skilled carpenters.
In 1979 Farouk migrated with his family to Melbourne Australia. In Melbourne he started working as Cabinet Maker and by 1981 bought a kitchen factory and hardware shop known as "Laham's Handyshelf Aust P/L"
In 1982 Farouk established a committee for the Melkite Catholics in the region of Melbourne and built a church so as to unite the Melkites that come from different backgrounds and offer them a place to pray as well as a place of support and friendship.
In 1985 as President of the Committee succeeded in collecting funds to purchase and renovate an already existing Catholic Church and turn it into the first Catholic Melkite Church in Melbourne.
Between 1991 and 2000 established the Melbourne "Friends of Nazareth Hospital" with the purpose to raise funds to help and support the Hospitals in Nazareth.
In 1998 built a Hall for the Melkite Catholic Church for the use of the church functions as well as public use.
In 2000 retired, sold the business and returned to his homeland in Shafamer. In 2004 he joined the St Peter and St. Paul Melkite Catholic Church committee in order to support the local committee of Shafamer and help the community of the town through its church.
In 2005 joined the Friends of the Holy Family Hospital in Nazareth to continue his work in helping the hospital to develop and succeed in its blessed aims