Australian Ambassador H.E Glenn Miles Visits LOST to Assess DAP

  On Thursday June 4th, 2015, H.E. Glenn Miles the Australian Ambassador in Lebanon and two of his assistants visited The Lebanese Organization of Studies and training (LOST) at its branch in Bednayel. After a brief introduction about the implementation of DAP, funded by the Australian Embassy in Beirut, the whole team watched a short video in order to evaluate the success of the project.

The main course of the project was to renovate nurseries at 15 public schools in Hermel Caza. The renovation included tables, chairs, painting, carpets and boards. This generous gesture from his Excellency reinforced the trust and confidence in public schools from the parents and students alike. H.E asserted that LOST is a trust-worthy old partner, expressed his appreciation for the work that was done, and promised of more future projects.

Dr. Lakkis and LOST staff were very happy to keep his Excellency for lunch after a fruitful day for both parties.

LOST, UNHCR, and Intersos Capacitating Municipal Police in Mid and West Bekaa

 On June 6, 15, LOST in partnership with UNHCR and Intersos conducted the 3rd of a series of 4 workshops that are being held in Rashayya, the central town of western Bekaa to municipality members and staff of the region.  These workshops aim of building the capacity of municipal police and municipality members in western and Mid Bekaa in the fields of communication skills, emotional intelligence, role of municipal police based on principles of human rights, covering civil, economic, and political rights, and Refugee’s Rights. 

The 32 attendees of the workshop coming from the municipal union of Jabal Al Shaykh were very excited during the training, where they were eagerly asking questions related to their real-time context and paying attention to tiniest details.  After the training, the participants showed interest in getting additional workshops in the future to benefit more from the skills and information of LOST on various topics related to the nature of their work.

LOST and Saints Coeurs, Baallbeck Preach for Women Political Empowerment

A seminar entitled "Women's Participation in Public Life" was organized by the Lebanese Organization of Studies and Training (LOST) in collaboration with Khalil Motran secondary high school (Saints Coeurs) in the auditorium of the high school in Baalbeck on June 2nd, 2015. In the presence of more than 200 participants that range from municipality members, Saints Coeurs administration and staff, school principals and educators, delegates of society associations and interested individuals, Dr. Rami Lakkis, founder and president of LOST, presented a discourse that highlighted the significance of women engagement in public affairs all in all and specifically in political life.

Dr. Lakkis emphasized that participation is a fundamental principle of development. Sustainable human development is to look at people as actors in the process of social change, and not just beneficiaries who receive results without the active participation. He also added that the concept of “participation interlinked with empowerment” is also a part of the development components.

He believed that the participation of women in public life promotes free citizenship, fosters the formation of civil society and gender balance, and contributes to the empowerment of women and thus promoting stability in society. In addition, he stated that women's participation in public work at the individual and social levels increases women’s capacity and positions in all areas and promotes a sense of responsibility, public awareness and faith in their capabilities.

Toward the end of the seminar, Dr. Lakkis opened the space for a progression of related Q&A where the interested audience demonstrated an extraordinary enthusiasm for the point and gratefulness for the new approach. On his end, Dr. Lakkis expressed gratitude toward the audience for their dynamic participation.

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”. 

UNICEF/LOST partnership Embraces “Education for All”

The Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST) and through its partnership with UNICEF is implementing a lot of social cohesion and peace building activities that help the Lebanese community and the Syrian refugees accept each other and reduce tensions between these different constituencies. Moreover, LOST/UNICEF partnership also offers an educational opportunity to Syrian refugees who have been left behind due to a lot of unforeseen reasons.
LOST’s team on the ground is experiencing a lot of success stories where highlighting some of them in can show how beneficial it is to implement such projects  and channel this partnership with UNICEF towards a higher level of intervention .
Abdalla Al Abboud, a 16-year-old Syrian refugee living at an Informal Tental Settlement (ITS) in Ein, retarded and disabled as an aftermath of an auto crash. One day, he showed up at our branch in Ein very enthusiastic to learn and so eager from the beginning to take part of our educational skills program. He called us many times to know when we are going to start our educational skills program in order to join in. At the beginning of the program, he had his grades around 3 out of 10. Now after 3 months in the program, his grades are around 8 out of 10. This pre and post-testing showed a lot of commitment, determination, and improvement on part of Syrian beneficiaries of the program.
Not too far from that ITS in Ein, Somar Al-Ghafri is a 16-year- old student with a disability in Fakiha public location. Somar decided to challenge his disability where he showed a lot of improvement since he first came to our educational facility at Fakiha. His understanding capacity used to be extremely low and couldn’t also read. Now, he can write faster than before. He passed all his exams with high grades especially in French and Arabic.
The above stories make us feel proud of our work because in a way or another we are helping and improving a lot of people’s lives not for the time being, but for a life time.

UNICEF New Zeeland Executive Director at LOST to Assess Social Cohesion Initiatives

 

On Tuesday, May 19, 2015, the executive director of UNICEF, NZ, Mrs. Vivien Maidaborn along with Marion Blake, a photographer and UNICEF team Lebanon visited LOST premises in Bedneyel and attended a Merge activity in Hawsh Musraya bringing together more than 100 Lebanese and Syrian youth in a recreational activity.

After introducing UNICEF/LOST partnership objectives and social cohesion approach to NZ senior delegation, LOST introduced two more approaches where Mrs. Blake attended part of a “conflict analysis” workshop organized by LOST and forum ZFD and took part at another workshop on “social cohesion” about Human Rights organized by LOST and the Embassy of the Netherlands. Then UNICEF team headed towards an Informal Tental Settlement (ITS) in Howsh Mosraya to attend a Merge Activity conducted by 35 Lebanese Youth and about 45 Syrian youth in addition to the refugees’ parents, little siblings and residents. The merge program was racing bags between youth participants organized by the Lebanese. LOST then played some traditional Syrian songs and the UNICEF team danced with some Syrian children. Hanadi El Rahim, a 15-year-old Syrian participant also gave a passionate speech greeting LOST and UNICEF for the initiative and stressing the Right to learn for everybody.

Such a visit strengthens this productive partnership with UNICEF and exchanges experience which will in turn improves the quality of services offered to both Syrian refugees and the most vulnerable hosting community who are seeking assistance.  


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Dreams, Aspirations and Progress at Public Nurseries in Northern Bekaa through the Australian Embassy’s DAP

LOST's Newest project came to  marvelous conclusion, thanks to the generous donation of the Australian Embassy in Lebanon through the Direct Aid Program (DAP), Starting April 2015, LOST has implemented the project in Northern Bekaa, specifically in Hermel aiming at performing a refurbishing process to 16 nurseries that had suffered years of underfunding and neglecting.  The nurseries underwent several repairs ranging from painting, placing carpets to changing the tables, desks, and closets.  Each one of these nurseries was renewed according to a needs assessment LOST has done prior implementation.

The classes' new look reflects a more vivid atmosphere where the kids can enjoy school and develop in a safer child friendly environment. Health conditions have always been a mega priority that this renovation secured for the upcoming generations. This is a corner stone in building a brighter future for our upcoming generations; they can be the breath of fresh air this society needs, and we have just got to make sure they are well equipped for tomorrow; all development starts at a classroom.

Two project upcoming events are marked on the project’s calendar for next month. On Thursday May the 28th, 2015 an event will be held in Hermel as a commemoration of the project impact and on June 4th LOST will host the Ambassador of Australia in Lebanon, H.E Mr. Glenn Miles in its Bednayel branch to conclude the project.

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.

Karaoke, Conflict Mitigation Tool in Northern Bekaa

On Saturday April 25th, 2015, the Lebanese Organization of Studies and Training (LOST) organized a “Peak Activity” at Baytna restaurant in Baalbeck bringing together 48 youth (25 Lebanese and 23 Syrian youth from an ITS in Douris/ Balkijian).  The Activity, merely a Karaoke and singing followed by lunch, aimed at merging the Syrian adolescents with their Lebanese counterparts outside the context of the ITS where they, in a very friendly environment, can break the psychological barriers and discover their common interests they share.


The participants showed remarkable cooperation where they sang, and danced together without feeling a difference between the Lebanese host and the Syrian refugee. During lunch, the participants talked, shared stories, and even took selfies to remember this day as a joyful memory.
Such a series of activities LOST is organizing in the field on a bi-weekly basis can thus change the misconceptions that the war in Syria and the phenomena of refugees created in the mindset of young adolescents and show them that pre-judgment is a wrong practice.

Promoting Women Political Participation in Public Life

As part of the “Step towards Municipal Elections”, a joint project funded by the Embassy of Netherlands in Lebanon, the Lebanese Organization of Studies and Training (LOST) in coordination with the municipality of Bedenyel organized a seminar on promoting women political participation in public life on April 2, 2015. 

In the presence of 300 attendees that range from municipal mayors and members, school principals and teachers, representatives of civil society organizations and interested people, Dr. Rami Lakkis, founder and president of LOST, presented a seminar that highlighted the importance of women in society in general and in political life in particular.

Lakkis asserted that Lebanese women do play a significant role in business and the private sector and as increasingly in civil society, advocacy and social services. However, when it comes to their entry into the formal political arena, women’s numbers remain extremely low. Based on that, her participation is very important not only for her as an individual, but for her family and on a larger scale for the society.

He also concentrated on the fact that women participation in the political domain is not, by any means, a gender issue; she is to play a significant role in the community simply because of the positive impact she will have on the community.

At the end of the seminar, Dr. Lakkis opened the room for a series of Q&A where the participants show a great interest in the topic and appreciation for the new approach. On his end, Dr. Lakkis thanked the audience for their active attendance, as well as the Dutch Embassy for their generosity to fund the project.