NNA – “SMART Center” for Media and Advocacy organized a “Spelling Bee” competition funded by the U.S. Embassy in Beirut at the American Corners in Zahleh and Baakline. The competition brings together eight public and private school students in grades six, seven, and eight, from different regions and religious beliefs, to compete in a spelling bee with words and terms in English that promote citizenship, human rights, and peace. Read more here.
On the occasion of Human Rights Day, the Abaad Association launched “Marriage is not a game,” with the support of UNICEF and European Union funding: a sensitization clip against child marriage, highlighting its effect on communities in general and on the girls more specifically who not only get into marriage ignorantly, but also get pregnant and have children of their own. Read more here.
In Lebanon, women continue to outnumber men in universities but are underrepresented in the workplace due to social norms, discrimination by employers and an inhospitable economy. In fact, studies show that social norms limit women’s professional activity and prefer having them stay at home, rather than have a career. Read more here.
Human rights organizations are aiming to put an end to many violations that are taking place in the country while focusing on the status of victim migrant domestic workers. Most of these women are forced to work, live in dreadful conditions, and suffer from abuse by their employers. Read more here.
The Forever Lebanon group organized, in collaboration with the Jezzine Municipality and the leadership of the army, an environmental day, which served for the opening of the “Forever Jezzine” project. 300 cedar trees were planted as part of its “green forever”. Read more here.
Lebanon, which is hosting more than 1.1 million Syrians according to the UN Refugee Agency, has warned of “catastrophe” unless the gap is filled. In fact, $64 million are needed to fully reinstate the Syrian refugee food program. To raise this fund, the UN’s World Food Program has launched a public appeal, calling individuals, corporations and governments to donate money to save the situation. Read more here.
LiveLoveBeirut in collaboration with JoueClubLiban launched a campaign as a response to a reaction on social media: a picture of an “underprivileged child” staring at kids on a school trip moved people on social media. The initiative consists of giving away gifts from JoueClubLiban to children in need whose pictures are being shared by users under the hashtag #welivetolove. Read more here.
Throngs of people celebrated the Feast of St. Barbara, knocking on doors and singing songs dedicated to this occasion although devotees are dwindling year after year (…) Maalouf lamented the demise of the old St. Barbara Day customs. “Unfortunately, this holiday lost its appeal and real meaning when it turned into a transient occasion with each person celebrating it in their own way.” Read more here.
Lebanon is seeking to improve services provided for people with special needs and physical handicaps as part of a strategy aimed at facilitating their integration in the society and the workforce. Numbers show that the disabled face a mortality rate that is 2 to 4 times higher than for the total population in times of crises. Therefore, plans are being discussed to upgrade services offered for them . Read more here.
Lebanon was deprived for over 40 years of more than 35% of its existing green space. In response, nature lovers as well as entrepreneurs are introducing the culture of ecotourism to the country. However, unfortunately people are interested in ecotourism because it is now considered a global trend, and it only appealed to the Lebanese who like to stay in vogue.
Read more here.
Voices From the Periphery
leo bites 