Celebrating Teachers’ day at LOST-Baalbeck

“We highly estimate your crucial role in educating youth and developing our society”. By this expression, The Academy of Municipal Work in LOST addressed the teachers of Baalbeck-Hermel by celebrating teachers’ day on March 15, 2011 Baalbeck. More than 400 teachers attended the celebration in addition to Academy members, friends and parents.The exhibition included different graphics, poems and handicrafts prepared by talented students for the occasion. LAS and LYN youth members participated in this event. Some talented students from LAS presented a catchy musical recital. Moreover, the LYN trainees presented a parade of defensive and combative arts and a wonderful gymnastic show.

The event ended by a splendid folkloric performance presented by Hayakel Baalbeck group.

It was an event to remember. Students were happy mixing informally with their teachers in a very rare occasion. It was a chance to say “thanks” for all teachers whose role is indispensable for developing our society.

Youth are planting trees in Hermel

Despite the cold and rainy weather, young participants of the Academy of Youth and Municipal Work insisted on carrying on the forestation campaign in Hermel. The campaign started in the morning of Sunday the 27th of February with remarkable participation of students’ parents and local inhabitants who showed up to offer help and support. Mr. Mokhles Amhaz , Hermel High school’s director, was planting trees alongside with students.                 
The Youth of the Academy of Hermel enjoyed the participation in the forestation campaign as their friends from LOST did in all branches. Mohamad Jawhary from Kasr- Sahlat Al May high school said “this event is wonderful; it teaches us the real meaning of cooperation”. Rawan Hamadeh, a youth club member confirmed that “this campaign is one of the most remarkable activities that LOST is doing in Hermel. So we, the lovers of environment and trees, thank LOST for this voluntary work which urges cooperation among youth to support and preserve the environment.”
Marleine Dandach from Namouzajiya Technical Institution felt very satisfied to be an active member of her community, she enjoyed planting trees but what she loved most was the sense of cooperation and responsibility that her friends in the Academy were showing during that day. She thanked LOST by saying “I cannot imagine that LOST let us plant 104 trees today.”

Planting trees has a special taste for youth. It helped them work together to protect the environment and serve their community.

Accepting each other by visiting one another

As part of the “Academy of Youth and Municipal Work” program Lost organized the Hosting program for more than 100 youth from diverse villages in Baalbeck-Hermel region. The program started in Baalbeck and it will reach the other three centers of LOST. In this program students visit each other from different sects to break ice and reduce sectarian divide.
This program aims at strengthening the social bonds among youth and breaking sectarian barriers. It assists youth to understand positively the confessional diversity of their country.
“Such activity has a special taste because it helps us accept our friends and partners from other sects” said Omar a youth club member.
Hussein Chouman, a youth coordinator from LOST, confirmed that “it is our mission to strengthen youth relationships, to help them understand each other and eventually empower them to work together to achieve a positive change in our society.”
The Hosting program is continuing throughout the month of March and it will involve more than 30 visits.

The forestation campaign goes ahead in Nabi Othman, Ein and Ras Baalbeck villages

In February 2011, the Youth Municipality of Fakeha started the forestation campaign in Nabi Othman, El Ein and Ras Baalbeck villages with remarkable participation of youth and representatives of actual municipalities.

The campaign kicked off in Ras Baalbeck where the director of Ras Baalbeck high school delivered a speech in which he expressed his gratitude to LOST for organizing this big forestation campaign to achieve environmental benefits and consolidate youth belonging to their community. While a group of youth was planting in Ras Baalbeck, other groups were planting in Nabi Othman and El Ein in the same day.

Abbas Haj Hussein, a youth coordinator from LOST said that this campaign aims at expanding the green areas in Lebanon due to the importance of forestation in purifying air.He added that such kind of activities helps in strengthening the spirit of cooperation among youth.

“This campaign is a chance provided by LOST to serve our community and to prove how much we love Lebanon” said Nibal Harba from the Academy of Youth and Municipal Work.