Training Program Strengthens Rural Municipalities

July 24, 2008

Public Schools Incorporate Information Technology into Classrooms

June 2, 2008

Under the Lebanon Education Assistance for Development (LEAD) program, USAID funded the Learning Enhances Awareness (LEA) training sessions in partnership with the Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF) and local partner IJMA3. As part of the LEA project, the El-Mourabi Fadl El-Moukadam Secondary School for Girls in Tripoli – one of seven schools participating in the LEA project – benefited from the information technology training. Nine students and seven teachers received training on how to use IT to improve students’ learning process. The goal of the LEA project is to introduce information technology into classrooms and encourage teachers and students to integrate IT into their teaching methods. Also under the LEA project, the school received computer equipment to apply the newly taught methods.

School Students Visit USAID-Funded Solid Waste Management Facility

April 22, 2008

Local Agricultural Cooperative Generates Income from Feed with USAID Funding

March 6, 2008

As part of the USAID-funded Landmine and War Victims’ Assistance program in the district of Jezzine, an animal feed mill was established in the village of Azour. The feed mill’s purpose is to cater for the needs of project beneficiaries by ensuring quality animal feed at affordable cost. The cooperative buys raw materials from the local market and processes them in the feed mill – taking into account the right mix for various agricultural needs, facilitates access to feed at a competitive price, controls feed quality and generates income to the cooperative through sales in various villages throughout the district. During the month of February 2008, the cooperative’s income from selling both poultry and goat feed alone reached more than $15,000.

With USAID Funding Municipal Employees Receive Training for Better Efficiency

January 4, 2008

With funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), 24 managers and senior staff representing ten large municipalities participated in a best practices workshop organized by the State University of New York/Center for Legislative Development (SUNY/CLD). The workshop mainly focused on facilitating efficient working relationships among participating institutions. The workshop also explained the Municipal Personnel and Payroll System software application that has been developed under the program. This workshop is part of a series of workshops that help municipalities throughout Lebanon share experiences for better efficiency and to promote the standardization of human resource management.

Tourist Maps of Lebanon Are Now Online

December 17, 2007

Under its tourism portfolio, USAID funded the development of the first interactive mapping website in Lebanon and the Arab world at www.LebanonMaps.net.  The website allows travelers to Lebanon to query a specific tourist attraction and locate it on a map, as well as zoom in or zoom out and obtain customized itineraries and driving directions. Most major and minor tourist sites and lodgings throughout the country are featured on the website, with descriptions, photos and contact information. This project was implemented by SRI International, in partnership with local organization INMA and the Ministry of Tourism.

1,250 Students Benefit from Enhanced Vocational Training Facilities

December 10, 2007

With USAID funding under the tourism portfolio, assistance is being provided to promote the human resources in the tourism, catering and hospitality sectors in Lebanon. Within the context of this program, USAID is extending assistance to Al-Kafaat Foundation, a leading vocational training institution in Lebanon, through the American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA). The program recently completed the finishing of the institution’s on-campus training restaurant – which serves as an on-the-job training facility for students – as well as provided one hundred computers for its graphic design computer laboratory. Furthermore, the program established an office for placement services on campus to help students find gainful employment upon their graduation. Since its inception in January, the office has helped forty-two students find employment. Also, owners of rural cottage inns – who are beneficiaries under a parallel objective in this program – are benefiting from hands-on training at the institutions’ premises. Al-Kafaat graphic design students have been recruited to design the websites and outreach materials for these beneficiaries in order to improve the marketing of their rural establishments.

School Children Learn about Dental Hygiene

November 26, 2007

With USAID funding under the LEAD (Lebanon Education Assistance for Development) program, dental hygiene awareness sessions were held in Chouf, targeting 190 public school students from two public schools. Teachers and health educators from both schools also attended the session, which were conducted in partnership with four dentists from Universite Saint Joseph (USJ). The sessions covered the following topics: the types of healthy foods, the foods that most damage the teeth, how to brush the teeth daily, the development of the teeth and the gum, the importance of fluoride and the measures to prevent cavities. During the sessions, dental hygiene kits – including a toothbrush and toothpaste – as well as educational flyers were distributed to the students.

Landmine and War Victims in the South Raise Goats

November 21, 2007

With funding from USAID, landmine and war victims and their families residing in the Southern district of Jezzine received goats, as part of an income-generating initiative. The goat rearing program has thus far provided four goats to fifteen landmine victims in the area. Goats will be sold for meat as well as used for milk production, with the aim of increasing the goat owners’ household income by about $250 per month. As part of the program, each goat owner receives technical training, veterinary services for the goats, feed for a period of three months and marketing services.

USAID Project Revives Ancient Archeological Sites

November 7, 2007

Within the context of USAID’s rural tourism portfolio, SRI International has installed six information panels in the Sfire Roman Temple located in Dinnieh in North Lebnaon. Each panel provides the historical context and background for the site, as well as three-dimensional drawings that feature how the structure stood two millenniums ago. The project was achieved in partnership with local historians and archeologists and aims to revive Lebanon’s rural areas by promoting long-neglected archeological sites. Similar work was also executed at the ruins of the Roman temple of Maqam Ar-Rab in Akkar.  

Water Establishment Improves Financial Practices

November 1, 2007

With USAID funding, employees at the South Lebanon Water Establishment are receiving technical assistance on new financial methods as part of the Lebanon Water Policy Program (LWPP). The program developed a Financial Cost Recovery software program for the Establishment to better monitor its revenues, expenses and cost recovery. This tool will also allow the Establishment to grow into a viable entity with both capable management and technical staff. The LWPP program provides continuous supervision and on-the-job training to the employees who are responsible for the update of the financial model. 

USAID-Funded Program Improves Banana Production

October 25, 2007

With USAID funding, the Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF) is currently improving banana production in Saida, South Lebanon. Within the context of this project, CHF introduced the concept of the net house for growing bananas, in order to protect them from adverse climatic conditions. The net house technique enables farmers to produce 8 tons of banana bunches per 1,000 square meters, as compared to 2.5 tons in open fields. The selling price of bananas has also increased as a result of the project because of early harvesting and proper post-handling, reflecting a 14% increase in net profit. The project also features training on harvesting and post-harvesting techniques targeting farmers and growers. As of September 2007, 190 tons of bananas have been produced, generating $103,684 in total sales. The project has also created 209 jobs and trained more than 530 persons on various related subjects.

Lebanese Students Have Better Learning Environments

October 15, 2007

The U.S. Government is responding to the specific needs of public schools throughout Lebanon, by providing them with renovation works, computer and science laboratories and extracurricular activities. The First Intermediate School for Girls in Zgharta is one of 263 public schools that are currently receiving USAID assistance under the LEAD (Lebanon Education Assistance for Development) program. Established in Zgharta since 1962, the school accommodates 268 young girls coming from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. The school’s physical structure was in dire condition, with the staircase constituting a hazard to the children.  With USAID funding, the Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF) repaired the school’s staircase, painted the school’s external façade and did maintenance works in the restrooms.

Lebanese ICT Firms Access International Markets

September 25, 2007

With U.S. Government funding through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), twenty Lebanese companies specializing in information and communication technology (ICT) participated in the much-awaited regional exhibition GITEX (Gulf Information Technology Exhibition) in Dubai on September 8-12, 2007. The yearly exhibition is a golden opportunity for ICT companies worldwide to market their products and technology solutions to potential buyers from the Gulf and worldwide. To maximize the participating companies’ benefit from the exhibition, two experts representing international markets were available on site to provide technical assistance on international marketing strategies and exporting techniques pertaining to the ICT sector. Participation to the GiTEX 2007 came as a follow up to last year’s participation, which resulted in 3,000 contacts for Lebanese companies, as well as over $1 million worth of international orders.

Lebanese Students Explore Cedar Forests

September 7, 2007

Children from two schools in Barja, part of the 200 public schools being upgraded by the U.S. Government, took a field trip to Lebanon’s famous cedar forests in Barouk and Beit Eddine. In addition to enjoying a day outdoors, they learned about the ecology of the cedar forests and native plants and animals.

Expert Food Tasters Give High Marks to Lebanese Mezze

August 29, 2007

More than 150 visitors attended a Mezze Festival in Zahle, Lebanon, on July 29, 2007. Visitors watched a mezze tasting competition, and bought food and crafts from small local and regional businesses. Twelve contestants from across Lebanon competed in the tasting for the awards of best traditional and innovative mezze. The jury consisted of an executive chef, restaurant entrepreneur and other food experts.

Prospective Guides Trained for Lebanon Mountain Trail

August 17, 2007

Fifty prospective local guides for the newly marked Lebanon Mountain Trail learned proper guiding skills in two outdoor workshops in July. Their enthusiasm and the commitment of villagers along the trail demonstrate the determination of Lebanon’s mountain communities to conserve their unique natural and cultural heritage.

Lebanese Companies Participate in 53rd Annual Fancy Food Show in New York

August 7, 2007

Tourism in Lebanon Goes High Tech with Hand-Held GPS Guides

July 25, 2007

Soon visitors to Lebanon will be able to use hand-held GPS devices to find tourist sites and neighboring businesses throughout the country. These PDA Guides have 11,000 destinations programmed into them, complete with maps, route plans, estimated times to arrival and information on businesses in the area. Seventy of them will be distributed to hotels and other tourist organizations to loan, free of charge, to tourists visiting Lebanon.

Trainers Prepared to Teach Safe Food Handling Techniques

July 12, 2007

About 40 trainers from across Lebanon attended a course in food handling and quality control sponsored by the U.S. Government. The course covered topics ranging from harvesting techniques and food safety to market preparation. The trainers are now qualified to train others in the techniques, spreading the know-how throughout the country.

Rebuilt Bridge Re-establishes Link between Villages in Western Bekaa

June 25, 2007

The U.S. Government finished rebuilding the Nahr Al-Shita Bridge in the Western Bekaa’s Markaba region in May 2007. The bridge, situated on the Litany River, is an important link between villages. It was destroyed during last summer’s conflict.