Today, people who once slept on the streets work there. They make products sold in the market, earn real wages, regain their sense of worth, and lift their heads with pride once again. Later, the project received additional government support 

Years ago, a Canadian man named Marcel LeBrunesold his tech company for over $300 million. People expected the usual scenario: A glass mansion by a lake, a white yacht, a Lamborghini of an indescribable color, and a life measured by Instagram photos. But Marcel LeBrun chose a different path… a path no one could have imagined. He took about $4 million from his own pocket and headed to the city of Fredericton in New Brunswick, Canada, to build something rare in this world: A village of dignity, not pity.

He founded a non-profit project called: 12 Neighbours. The village consists of around 96 to 99 tiny homes, dedicated to people who used to live on the streets or in temporary shelters. But these houses are not “emergency shelters,” and they are not cold walls meant to silence conscience. Each home includes: • A full kitchen • A comfortable bed • A private bathroom • Simple yet elegant furniture • Heating, water, and internet • Solar panels on the roof to reduce electricity costs Most importantly: The homes are permanent, not temporary. And the residents are treated not as a social problem, but as neighbours.

Marcel Labrune didn’t stop at housing alone. In the heart of the village, he built a work and training centre that includes: • A small café • A silk-screen printing workshop Today, people who once slept on the streets work there. They make products sold in the market, earn real wages, regain their sense of worth, and lift their heads with pride once again. Later, the project received additional government support exceeding $12 million to expand the initiative and ensure its sustainability—but the initial spark didn’t come from a government, an international organization, or a fundraising campaign.

It came from the pocket of one man with a living conscience. Marcel LeBrunexplains his philosophy: "I don’t want to give them a fish, nor even teach them to fish… I want to give them a lake from which they can fish with dignity for the rest of their lives." In the world, there are many wealthy people—except those whom God protects—who spend millions on: • A single car that could build a village like this several times over • A birthday party that lasts one night • A handbag whose price could treat hundreds of children with cancer If every billionaire donated just 1% of their wealth to real projects that respect humanity and restore hope, there would be no homeless person on our streets, no child forced to leave school to support their family, and no patient dying because “all the beds are full.”

Marcel Labrune didn’t wait for: • A government decision • A UN grant • Nor media applause. He took the money from his pocket, and built his little paradise on earth, before expecting it in heaven. And indeed, every dollar spent on human dignity weighs more before God than tons of gold spent on luxury and showmanship. The real question isn’t about Marcel LeBrun… The question is about us: When will we build “12 Neighbours”? — A true story. An existing project. An idea that embarrasses a world rich in money… but poor in courage.

- Dr. Mohammad Hamad

The author is a nutritionist from Gaza