International donors met local NGOs in Baalbeck

The Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training organized a general meeting titled “The strategies of international donors in Lebanon” at the center of the Lebanese Youth Network (LYN) in Baalbeck. Representatives from more than 52 NGOs, 14 municipalities from Baalbeck-Hermel region and 5 international donors attended the meeting.
After the Lebanese Anthem, Mr. Salah Zayter from LOST welcomed the audience and insisted on the importance of such activity in empowering local NGOs to become active agents and institutions in order to encourage positive changes in the region. Mr. Zayter’s welcoming note was followed by a speech delivered by Dr. Ramy Lakkis, the founder of LOST who stressed on the role of civil society organizations in promoting local development. He added that such meeting acts as a framework for international donors and local NGOs to communicate and interact. It helps NGOs to cooperate with international donors to implement new developmental projects at grass-root levels.
Throughout the meeting, representatives from UNDP, OTI Lebanon, ActionAid, Mercycorps and FAO  explained their objectives, scope and schemes of funding and procedures and informed NGOs about different grants available in Lebanon that could be of a special interest to the region of Baalbeck-Hermel.There were two Q/A round table breaks in which representatives from international and local organizations communicated directly.

At the end, discussion focused on the possibility to establish an office for supporting NGOs in the region to achieve the following goals:

• Training NGOs on different managerial and technical skills.
• Communicating with international donors.
• Helping NGOs to write project proposals.

LOST organized such activity in order to help t civil society organizations to benefit from different programs managed by the various international donors acting in Lebanon.

Major Fairs at LOST centers

 LOST organized 3 Major Fairs in its centers in Baalbeck, Ein and Beit-Shama. The three exhibitions were held in March and were attended by more than 2000 students from 48 colleges and high schools in Baalbeck Hermel.

Many colleges and universities from Bekaa participated in the events to explain more about the available majors, admissions and the different scholarship schemes offered to students: AUL, AUST, CNAM (Baalbeck branch), HCU, Islamic University, LIU and The Lebanese Center forEnglish & Computer (LCEC) were there.

LOST usually organizes such activities to help students become more informed about different academic majors and university life in general. These career guidance events are tracked by TOEFL preparation courses that get students ready for TOEFL exams before going to university.

The forestation campaign goes on in West Baalbeck

The forestation campaign that was launched by the Youth Municipality in Baalbeck kicked off in several villages in west Baalbeck.
The students of Chmestar’s Youth Academy planted more than 60 trees in Chmestar where the director of Chmestar public high school thanked LOST for organizing this big campaign to achieve environmental benefits and consolidate youth belonging to their country. While a group of youth was planting in Chmestar, other group was planting in Hawch El Rafka in collaboration with the municipality of the village.
Mr. Riyad Yazbeck, the Mayor of Hawch El Rafka municipality expressed his gratitude to LOST for her nice gesture. He considered that such activities teach the Lebanese youth in Baalbeck-Hermel the real meaning of cooperating together and help them to work seriously to preserve the environment.
At the same day, a group of youth started the forestation campaign in Bednayel Technical Institution where Mrs Mayda Sleiman, the director of the institution participated personally in planting trees. Mrs Sleiman stressed on the importance of involving youth in such public work in order to strengthen social bonds among them and break sectarian barriers.

LOST celebrates Teachers’ day in Ein

The Academy of Youth and Municipal Work at LOST expressed its gratitude to all teachers on their day by celebrating teachers’ day at LOST Ein branch. More than 300 teachers attended the celebration in addition to friends, parents and several social and political figures.

The exhibition included graphics, poems and handicrafts created by students for the occasion. Mr. Nazih Ghadban presented a short movie about “Oud” music followed by a splendid music show.

At the end, Dr. Ramy Lakkis, the founder of LOST handed a honoring shield to Mr. Nazih Ghadban.

It was an event to remember. It had a special taste since students were honoring their teachers who are playing a crucial role in developing local community in Baalbeck-Hermel.

Sports Festival in Bednayel

Under the auspices of LOST, Al Machaal Sport Club in Bednayel launched its four week annual sports festival in Bednayel on Sunday 6 February. The sports activities included Backgammon, Pin-Pong and Chess.
Mr. Mohammed Nour Sleiman, the president of Al Machaal club, thanked LOST for her generous support. He stressed in his speech on the importance of such sports activities in developing youth potentials.
In his turn, Mr. Hussein Yazbeck from LOST said “such activities aim at strengthening social bonds among youth.” Mr. Yazbeck emphasized on the importance of cooperation among different organizations of the civil society in order to develop the capacities of the Lebanese youth in sports, languages, IT and internet.
The event ended by handing cups to the winners.

Honoring teachers at LOST-Hermel

Hermel Branch hosted an eminent ceremony on the occasion of Teachers’ Day. This event was part of the “Academy of Youth and Municipal Work” program that LOST is implementing in its four branches in Baalbeck-Hermel. Several social, political and academic figures attended the event with massive participation of youth and their parents.
The exhibition included graphics, handicrafts and poems created by talented students for the occasion.
The event ended by presenting a short film on social media to spectators and distributing flowers to all teachers.

It was an event of special taste in Hermel. It was a chance to express gratitude to all teachers who play an indispensable role in educating youth and developing society.

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.