Educational project to build lasting peace in Lebanon

Context

Lebanon is today suffering the full brunt of the fallout from the Syrian crisis. The exodus of Syrians to Lebanon, which the crisis has provoked, has caused an unprecedented increase of 30%, from the end of 2011 to date, of people living in Lebanese territory. This sudden expansion has had a serious impact on the political, economic and social stability of an already weakened country. Because of this, since 2011, the number of people living at-risk has increased by 66% and the unemployment rate has doubled, especially among young people, one third of whom are unemployed. This phenomenon of impoverishment mainly affects Lebanese communities that were already vulnerable before the crisis (particularly affected by 15 years of civil war) to which we must now add Syrian refugees. Violence, sectarianism, radicalism and unemployment have become the common miseries of these populations. Many children and young people are excluded from the education system, and families have no income. Behavioural deviations are spreading through all public spaces and even within families themselves. The regions of Roueisset and Sehailé as well as Hammana where the Soeurs du Bon Pasteur work are particularly exposed to these difficulties.

Objectives

• Help inter- and intra-community social cohesion in Lebanon
• Help educate children and young people in the 3 reception centres of the Congregation of les Soeurs du Bon Pasteur
• Help prevent risk of violence and post-conflict trauma among young people in the Roueisset and Hammana centres
• Promote the development of a safe, fulfilling framework for children and young people in the Roueisset and Sehailé centres
• Facilitate the institutional and organisational enhancement of the Soeurs du Bon Pasteur

Beneficiaries

• 380 children and young people, Syrians and Lebanese, between 7 and 17 years of age, including 150 in Roueisset, 50 in Sehailé and 180 in Hammana
• 150 women, between 19 and 45 years of age
• 250 Syrian and Lebanese families
• 20 employees of the Soeurs du Bon Pasteur

Local partners

In Lebanon, the main task of the Soeurs du Bon Pasteur is to protect young people and promote women by supporting mainly victims of violence and abuse. Their action aims to help and accommodate women and children from disadvantaged backgrounds, who often suffer injustice and moral abuse, bothy physical and psychological. To achieve this, the Soeurs du Bon Pasteur have been active for 120 years in Lebanon, and have opened three centres:

• A social centre northeast of Beirut, in the Roueisset district. This is an historical SBP centre
• An educational centre/school in the village of Hammana, about 35 km east of Beirut
• A shelter for girls in the village of Sehailé, 24 km north of Beirut

Actions

• Organising upgrade sessions and participating in tuition fees and supplies for children
• Organising social, educational and sporting activities
• Raising awareness of children and young people and establishing inter- and intra-community activities 
• Comprehensive care for 50 girls
• Setting up activities aimed at families (housing and psycho-social monitoring, listening activities aimed at mothers, organising conferences and meetings and introducing French and English sessions for women)
• Capacity building of SBP social workers
• Capacity building of the SBP administrative team (fundraising strategy, accounting and financial management, project management, communication and advocacy)

Expected impacts

• 380 at-risk children and young people to have access to and/or be in a position to stay in the school system
• Raising awareness among young people of issues related to violence and intercommunity conflict at Roueisset and Hammana
• 150 highly vulnerable women are emancipated
• The child/parent bond is re-established and protected in 250 families
• 50 young women benefit from a protective framework
• 20 members of the administrative team and social and educational staff are strengthened

Contact

Sabine Mengue Riviere

E-mail: Sabine.mengue-riviere(at)apprentis-auteuil.org

Tel: +33 (0) 1 44 14 60 76

Budget