Lebanon
The Institute de Re-education Audio-Phonetics (IRAP) was founded in 1960 and is a specialized centre for the education of deaf children and adolescents. In 1975 IRAP was recognized by the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior as a non-profit association (license no. 24A/D).
Volunteers organised First Aid and responded to urgent needs following the massive displacement of Christian families from the South in 1985 and their arrival in the eastern region of the country during the war, but the need for long-term work was obvious. As early as 1987 targeted actions began on: education, health and work and the collaboration with AFN began in 1995.
DEFINITION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONTEXT
Currently, the political and social situation in Lebanon is very critical. . The economic crisis, which began at the same time as the war in Syria, has led to the displacement of wealth in the hands of a few and a strong impoverishment of the middle class. Families are facing the greatest difficulties, and their needs are numerous: food, clothing, health, and hospitality. It is estimated that there are over 1.5 million Syrian, Iraqi, and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, making it the country with the largest number of refugees in proportion to its population (1 refugee for every 4 inhabitants). The living conditions of many refugees below the extreme poverty line are added to the need for support of the Lebanese who already bear the deep wounds of the civil war of 1975-90. In this context, education becomes even more of a priority. Many Lebanese children find it difficult to enrol in a good school and young refugees cannot enrol in public schools because the school curricula is different, and the classes are already overcrowded. A system of rotating courses in the afternoon and evening has been created.
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
Aïn, a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Biakout, north of Beirut, is characterized by the coexistence of the Islamic community, mostly Shiite, and Christian. Many families are without a school education and are often broken up due to the absence of a father figure because during the war most of the men were engaged in the army, while now it is common for them to go abroad in search of better job opportunities. Children find themselves saddled with many responsibilities and forced to work at a young age to help support the family. Despite the continuous changes in population, lately mainly due to the search for work, the relationship and collaboration between people of different religions is now deep-rooted.
COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF THE PROJECT
Much of the community development activities carried out in the project take place in the Maison Notre Dame, a community centre inaugurated in May 1987. The prefab consists of two large rooms, two offices, a kitchenette, and a bathroom. The AYADINA embroidery and sewing atelier was started in 1989 for the training of woman and has a staff of 10 people.
IMPLEMENTED ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES
In the Maison Notre Dame community centre:
- • Petit Jardin d’enfants: a kindergarten that welcomes between 50 and 55 children between the ages of 3 and 4, Christians and Muslims, every year; they are looked after by a kindergarten teacher and two assistants; Breakfast is provided throughout the school year, with milk and toast and a full hot meal at lunch. School activities take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Speech therapy sessions are organized according to the needs of each child.
- • Reception and orientation of families: daily assistance reception desk; reception of refugees, accompaniment (social services, hospital check-ups, etc.).
- • After-school care – Tutoring and homework for the holidays: about 40 children between the ages of 8 and 13 attend the after-school programme, from October to June, from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm. The activity is led by 8 neighbourhood college students who teach French, maths, and science.
- • For the little ones there is daily accompaniment according to individual needs. Summer recovery sessions are also proposed.
- • Youth Club: recreational activities for about 30 young people between 8 and 14 years old, led every Saturday by two animators from the neighbourhood.
- • Social Medical Centre: vaccination, help with home care, distribution of medicines, periodic sessions of speech therapy and psychomotor skills.
In the AYADINA atelier:
- • Craft training sessions
- • Possibility of working at home for about 40 women
- • Creation of a network for monitoring job vacancies
BENEFICIARIES OF THE ACTION
In addition to the beneficiaries of the activities that take place at Maison Notre Dame and AYADINA, about 260 children of different nationalities (Lebanese, Syrians, and Iraqis) living in different regions of Lebanon are also supported through the SAD project. These minors and their families, given the vulnerable condition in which they live, receive financial support for school, food and/or medical expenses.
ACTIONS
- • Sponsorship – SAD
This is an ongoing commitment to support a food, school-training and sanitation programme aimed entirely at the individual minor and his or her family, both of which are part of the AFN project.
- • Project Support – SOP
This is an ongoing commitment to support a food, educational, educational and health and hygiene programme aimed at the entire group of minors and their families who are part of the AFN project.
- Donations
These are free-flow payments, in support of a food, school-training and health and hygiene programme aimed at the entire group of minors and their families who are part of the AFN project.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Long-distance support of a child. Please contact the coordinators in your country to confirm the annual amount and payment details
Contacgt page https://afnonlus.org/contatti/#world
- Support for the project. Please contact the coordinators in your country to confirm the annual amount and payment details.
Contact page https://afnonlus.org/contatti/#world
- Donations – Causal reason ‘Lebanon Project Donation’