The Embassy of Netherlands Rehabilitates Water Streams in Hermel

The Lebanese Organization of Studies and Training (LOST) in partnership with the Embassy of Netherlands in Lebanon launched a campaign to tackle issues of infrastructure in the Northern Bekaa as part of a "Social Cohesion" project funded by the Embassy. 

The project studies the underlying causes of tension arising from the huge influx of Syrian Refugees into Lebanon with dire repercussions on the hosting community. It also works on conflict mitigation through analyzing the local community’s common needs and conducting small community projects that address these needs. After an exhaustive needs assessment exercise, project beneficiaries in Hermel initiated the restoration of water streams in Hermel in order to achieve immediate reforms to a network of irrigation water that would help farmers in watering agricultural lands and which affects the city of Hermel in decades. 

The project restored two main streams. The first is located in the east side of the town and the second in the west side. Such locations secure fair distribution in water and benefit for the whole town. The families of Hermel were very grateful for the project implemented and wished for more future projects.

LOST seized the opportunity to thank the Embassy of Netherlands in Lebanon for their continuous effort to support LOST in its endeavors to help reduce tension among local stakeholders and improve their living standard in light of the existing unemployment and deprivation. The Embassy of Netherlands in turn, promised for more future projects that will reinforce peace and prosperity for the whole society.

LOST and UNICEF Initiate 16 Youth-led Summer Camps

On July 4th, 2015, the Lebanese Organization of Studies and Training (LOST) in partnership with UNICEF and in line with its dedication in enhancing livelihood and building capacities of youth,  instigated 16 summer camps (40 adolescents each) to engage youth from both Lebanese and Syrian communities in Baalbeck Hermel Area. 

In order to prepare coaches who will oversee the camps, LOST organized a series of training of trainers (TOT) to 16 trainers who will deliver material on needs assessment and campaigning to camp participants. The 16 summer camps targeting 650 Syrian and Lebanese youth will be structured at 16 villages in Baalbeck/Hermel region and will combine two main components: workshops on community needs and campaigning, and recreational activities. The workshops will cover several topics which may include but will not be limited to community needs and Needs Assessment, and campaigning on issues of interest like environmental protection, health, cleanliness, and hygiene, social cohesion, and GBV Life skills. 

Each camp in a projected area will be concluded in the implementation of a youth-led initiative that deals with the local community's needs. This will interact Syrian and Lebanese youth in serving community. Furthermore, these youth will service the respective society and take out reasons of conflict thus creating a positive atmosphere of coexistence and social cohesion.

These summer camps, each lasts for 2 months (3 days/week) in the summer of 2015, will provide a platform to LOST to promote social cohesion among 650 youth from the two communities where Syrian and Lebanese youth are engaged in identifying local community needs and jointly devising campaigns to tackle these needs.