News updates

Some 220 economic enterprises received financial support from the Economic and Social Development Fund (ESDF) during the second term of the year 2013. These projects which received new ESDF loans had a combined value of LBP 5.4 billions and resulted in the creation of 200 new work opportunities through the job opportunity creation component of ESDF. As a result, a total of 7,444 loans (worth LBP 11 billions) were discharged to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) since ESDF inception in the year 2003 and until June 2013, thus contributing to the creation of 5,039 new work opportunities.
It is to be recalled that the Economic and Social Development Fund was formally set up, within the framework of the European- Mediterranean Partnership, and following an agreement signed in November 2000 between the Lebanese Government represented by the Council of Development and Reconstruction and the European Commission. The Fund aims at fighting and alleviating poverty in needy communities through its work opportunity and local/community development components.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Diyar 20 July 2013

The Youth and Sports Parliamentary Committee organized yesterday a seminar on the ‘Role of Parliament in Creating Work Opportunities for Lebanese Youth’, in collaboration with UNDP. The seminar was divided into 2 meetings; the first discussed the opinions and recommendations of specialist on how to provide assistance to Lebanon in managing its development files. The meeting, which was attended by Lebanese officials and representatives of international organizations, such as; UNDP, ESCWA, UNESCO, ILO and others, discussed ways of helping in creating new job opportunities to Lebanese youth and halt the process of migration. The second meeting included youth and civil society organisations and representatives from the youth committees of various Lebanese parties. The specialist, Hachem Abu Jawdeh, kicked off the meeting with a detailed report and recommendations on the state of the Lebanese job market, and the role of universities in preparing graduates for entering the market. Furthermore, the meeting considered several actions that the Lebanese government can take to halt youth migration.
The President of the Youth and Sports Committee, MP, Simon Abi Ramya, built on the preliminary vision presented in Abu Jawdeh’s report calling for the development of a road map that will act towards creating new job opportunities for the youth. Abu Ramya pointed out that discussions reviewed the current education curriculum looking at the extent to which it is in line with the needs of the Lebanese job market, also calling for the upgrading of the role of the National Employment Office.
Detailed discussions also focused on the role of private universities and particularly that of the Lebanese public university, which must play a key role in preparing for entry into the job markets and in guiding the youth towards vocational training, thus requiring the provision of social protection to the youth population and its integration into the national social security fund.
Source: Al-Diyar 19 July 2013

The Committee of Byblos International Festival inaugurated yesterday at the UNESCO Square in the Old Market of Jbeil, its yearly summer exhibition with the participation of the Mayor of Jbeil, Ziad Al Hawwat, the President of the Festival Committee Latifa Laqqis and leading social figures from the Byblos area. The exhibition includes work of artisans, handicrafts and art products such as sculptures, photography and drawing. Furthermore, the exhibition also includes a section entitled “the Archive – documents making history” displaying valuable historic documents from the archives of Lady Ivonne Sursock Cochrane, and Minister Maurice Gemayel, and organised in cooperation with Phoenix Center for Lebanese Studies at the USEK university (Sacred Heart University-Kaslik).
Source: Al-Diyar 18 July 2013

The Minister of Industry Freij Sabonjian signed yesterday an agreement of cooperation with the syndicate of Lebanese Artisans whereby handing over to the syndicate its recently refurbished exhibition hall located at the headquarters of the Ministry in Badaro. The new hall which will be used as a permanent exhibit of work of women and men crafts people, will provide an opportunity for Lebanese and expatriate tourist to appreciate to local artistic work and handicrafts. It will also enable women and men artisans and crafts producers to market their products, and thus will contribute towards supporting the economy and tourism. The exhibition hall which received support for refurbishment from UNIDO and the Banque Du Liban will open all throughout the week from 10 am to 7 pm. Furthermore, and during the weekends, an open air exhibition will be organized on the pavement adjacent to the Ministry.
 Source: Al-Diyar 18 July 2013

Maaruf Saad Cultural and Social Foundation concluded last week a training course in early childhood education, implemented in partnership with the Arab Resource Collective, and aiming at developing the educational capacity of mothers of children enrolled in the Foundations preschools and from the local community.
The six-month-long course was conducted in Al Mada Center for Learning, Development and Partnership which is affiliated with Maarouf Saad Foundation and located in Saida. Some 25 sessions were organised revolving around the following topics: physical, mental, emotional and social development of the child, the right of the child to play, positive and negative disciplining methods, effective listening, conflict resolution, balanced and healthy nutrition, preventing accidents at home, and effective communication with the child.
At the end the graduation celebration held for the occasion, all participants received a certification which hopefully will boost their chances of finding a work opportunity.

Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Safir, 13 July 2013

Hayya Bina organised a training workshop targeting teachers as part of its English for Women programme.  The workshop was supervised by expert Mohammed al Amine and was held in Debbyeh (Shoof).  Women participants also took part in a number activities related to conflict resolution and as a part of a session entitled women’s participation in peace-making run by Justine Abi Saad.  This workshop was organised within the framework of the continuous training of teachers engaged in its US-funded English for Women programme which the organisations is implementing in 35 different localities of  Lebanon.
Source: Al-Nahar 10 July 2013

The President of the Traders’ Association of North Lebanon, Assad Hariri, discussed yesterday, with the Governor of the Central Bank, Riad Salameh, a new project aiming to set up an incubator for non-educated youth of Tripoli.  This new project arises amidst deteriorating economic developments in Tripoli and within the context of attempts to strengthen economic activities.  The role of the incubator is to train youth and assist them in entering the job market.  A special fund will be crated for the purpose with funding support from the Central and World Banks.  The Governor of the Central Bank indicated his support and promised to work towards overcoming any barrier that such a project would face especially since it carries the potential of mitigating violence that is prevalent amongst many of the youth in Tripoli and to transform them into active and productive elements of society.

Source: Al-Diyar 10 July 2013

Child and Mother Welfare Society celebrated last week the graduation of 36 women and men students enrolled in its nursing and child care schools. The graduation was celebrated at the Hassana Daouk auditorium under the auspices of the National Office for Employment.  Ms. Siham Jbeili spoke on behalf of the organization and shared a brief of its achievements and activities. The Director General of the National Office of Employment, Mr. Jean Abi Fadel, emphasised the importance of collaboration with the association in order to provide the appropriate training to young women and men that will enable them to gain skills that will assist them in integrating the job market.  
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 6 July 2013