100 young graduates from economic empowerment project in Akkar

The Local Economic Development Agency in the North (LEDA), in collaboration with the Social Affairs Ministry, UNDP and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Tripoli and North Lebanon, organized last Thursday a graduation ceremony for some 100 young women and men who completed a series of workshops which were organised in Akkar as part of the youth economic empowerment project and implemented in the framework of the Lebanon Host Communities Support Project LHSP. During the ceremony, Simone Bashawati representing LEDA in the north described the initiative as “a wave of bright dreams brought about by a strong and genuine partnership between project sponsors and supporters.” Similarly, Suheir Ghali, speaking for the Ministry of Social Affairs indicated that the project “aims to strengthen stability and boost development in line with the existing programs in the various relevant ministries.” The UNDP representative, Luka Randa, noted for his part that vocational training was not the objective, but the mean for “achieving professional and economic integration of youth.” Randa added that the project which was implemented though the funding of 14 productive initiatives focused on five sectors namely: landscaping, garden and flower maintenance; cheeses and dairy production; hospitality; phone cellular maintenance; and administrative assistance.

Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, September 11 and 14, 2015