Launching NGOs Training Program in Bekaa

On Friday February 25, The Lebanese Organization of Studies and Training launched in Baalbeck a specific training program for Bekaa NGOs in the presence of Mr Omar Yassin, the Kaemakam of Baalbeck and representatives of more than 40 NGOs from Baalbeck-Hermel region. After the Lebanese Anthem, Mr Ahmad Tfaily from LOST welcomed the audience and explained the program and its objectives.

“The purpose of this program is to empower local NGOs to become active agents and institutions in encouraging positive change in the region” he said.  Mr Tfaily’s welcoming note was followed by a speech delivered by Mr Omar Yassin who stressed the role of civil society organizations in promoting local development. He added “we are always used to creative and innovative programs and activities that LOST is doing in the region, however, this program has a special consideration because it involves more than 40 NGOs in the region. I believe that such projects can have a great impact on human development in Bekaa.”

 The objective of the NGOs Training Program is to empower local NGOs from Baalbeck-Hermel and to develop their managerial and technical skills. The program is made up of six training workshops as follows:

1. How to manage an NGO
2. How to write a project proposal
3. Two workshops on social media training
4. Managing communication and media relations
5. NGO Networking.

Mr salah Zaiter, LOST’s training director lead the first workshop on NGO Management in which he presented to participants different models of management, and he explained how to establish an NGO according to Lebanese laws. Mr Zaiter also distributed to participants different specimen that could be needed to uphold legally an NGO in Lebanon. At the end of the workshop LOST created a blog for the NGOs Training Program.

 The workshop was followed by a lunch at Baytna restaurant. The second workshop will be on Sunday March 6 at 10 am at the center of the Lebanese Youth Network in Ras El Ein, Baalbeck.

Youth are planting trees in Baalbeck

As part of the “Academy of Youth and Municipal Work“ program that LOST is conducting for the academic year 2010-2011 in the region of Baalbeck-Hermel, the Youth Municipalities of Baalbeck, Chmestar, El Fakha  and El Hermel  launched a forestation  campaign in Baalbeck on Saturday 19 February 2011.

Youth from the Academy of Baalbeck decided to launch the campaign in the campus of the Lebanese University-Faculty of Science in Baalbeck with a massive participation of youth from the Lebanese University, youth clubs and the Youth Municipality of Baalbeck. While a group of youth was planting trees in Baalbeck other group was planting in Iaat in collaboration with the municipality of Iaat. More than 75 trees were planted in the same day by more than fifty members of the Academy and their friends.
Such campaign aims at achieving environmental benefits and consolidating youth belonging to their country. “The involvement of youth in public work and their participation in such activities reinforce their patriotism and strengthen their relationship with the community” added Omar Bayan, a youth coordinator in Baalbeck.

Youth participating in the campaign carried different messages and believed that the event was more than planting trees. “I am here today to participate in protecting the environment and I work with other friends in the Academy to strengthen the spirit of cooperation and partnership among youth from different sects,” said Mohamad Othman a young member of the Academy of Municipal Work.
 
“We found out that the more we work together, the better we serve our community” was a statement repeated by many students of the Academy.

Youth from Chmestar visited the Municipality of Baakleen

 As part of the “Academy of Youth and Municipal Work” program that LOST is conducting for the academic year 2010-2011, the Youth Municipality of Chmestar visited the municipality of Baakleen where they met the mayor Dr. Noha Ghasini and other municipality members.

Dr. Ghasini stressed on the importance of local governance to promote balanced development in Lebanon. She discussed with youth the various projects implemented by the municipality in Baakleen such as the waste management plant and the agricultural research center. The mayor valued highly the role of LOST in helping youth to engage in municipal affairs and make them learn more about the responsibilities and authorities of municipalities in managing community affairs.

After meeting the municipality, the youth toured in Baakleen and visited the different sites of the city; they were impressed by the national library of Baakleen where they had the longest stopover.

At the end of this visit, the Director of Beit-Shama Branch Mr. Hussein Yazbeck handed a honoring shield to the mayor of Baakleen Dr. Noha Ghasini and thanked her on behalf of LOST for hosting the youth municipality of Chmestar.