USAID/OTI and LOST Promote for Social Cohesion through Kicking off “Youth-led Initiative in Northern Bekaa”

On May 5th, 2014, the Lebanese Organization of Studies and Training (LOST) inaugurated a USAID/OTI 5-month project "Youth-Led Initiatives in Northern Beqaa" at LOST premises in Ein in the presence of the governor of Baalbeck, USAID/OTI senior delegation, mayors and municipality members of the targeted villages, school principals and teachers, mucktars, key local figures, local NGO representatives, and more than 100 youth beneficiaries from Labwe, Ursal Ein, Fakiha, and Ras Baalbeck.

This in-kind project aims at supporting the engagement of more than 80 youth from four areas located at the Baalbeck-Hermel district (Ursal, Labwe, Fakiha/Ein, and Ras Baalbeck). These youth will receive trainings in conflict mitigation, needs assessment techniques, social media, and project design and implementation, and then participate in public outreach activities using social media, murals at the targeted areas, and the arts to disseminate peace messages. The youth will also design and implement community projects in the four targeted areas addressing sources of tension and providing tangible community benefits.

LOST’s founder Dr. Ramy Lakkis delivered an introductory speech explaining the objectives and procedures of the project to audience. He clarified that the project develops the interpersonal and intercultural skills of participants and reinforces the conflict resolution skills across and within the Lebanese community. He also spoke about the need of a new generation that can communicate and build strong relationships built on mutual respect.
 The governor of Baalbeck-Hermel, Mr. Basheer Khodr gave a speech thanking LOST for the initiative and showed all support to such activities. He also saluted youth participants for their active participation and showed his willingness to participate in some of the project’s activities.