Capacity Building and Youth Engagement in Ursal

The Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST) has always been committed to playing a vital and important role in building local capacity and enhancing youth engagement in the process of building bridges of co-existence and non-violent conflict transformation among various stakeholders throughout the Baalbeck-Hermel region, especially in Ursal and its surrounding, one of the most underprivileged areas that has received a lot of attention after the Syrian crisis. 

In Ursal, LOST and for 3 consecutive years has been implementing a capacity and skills building program of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) staff in northern Bekaa. As part of this program, an English training session respecting pedagogical objectives is being given to MSF staff, mostly who are doctors and nurses in order to develop, improve and expand their knowledge and capacities in English so that they can communicate better within the working environment.
In addition, LOST with the partnership of OTI/USAID is implementing a project entitled "Youth Led Initiatives in Northern Bekaa" for high school students by organizing workshops on conflict mitigation and social media in addition to the implementation of youth-led community projects. The project covers four areas (Ursal, Labwi, Ein and Ras Baalbeck). These training sessions and community projects will help in promoting peaceful coexistence and reducing tensions between local stakeholders in the targeted villages thus tackling negative stereotypes and prejudices against “the other”.