Peace Building in Lebanon” Project’S Newsletter ISSUE NO12 - QUARTER 2 - 2016
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“Peace Building in Lebanon” project’s newsletter ISSUE NO12 - QUARTER 2 - 2016 WITH THE SUPPORT OF: PEACE BUILDING THROUGH LOCAL LEADERS Newsletter Content The Peace Building in Lebanon project aims at analyzing chosen to work independently on establishing a network the underlying causes of conflicts in different areas in of local associations, empowering the youth and promoting Lebanon, in order to provide a safe, common space for regional tourism. In Bekaa, the established mechanism community groups to discuss their concerns openly, and consists of three committees gathering eight villages from to develop in partnership with the municipality a strategy the Central and North Bekaa: Mediation and Conflict to reducing tensions through the development of the Resolution Committee, Sports and Youth Committee and PEACE BUILDING CONFLICT MAPPING PEACE BUILDING PEACE BUILDING Mechanisms for Social Stability to secure the appropriate Development Committee. In South Lebanon, Old Saida THROUGH LOCAL LEADERS AND ANALYSIS THROUGH EDUCATION THROUGH MEDIA space for local leaders and local communities and to act NGOs have established a network of organizations working as an incubator. in the area to coordinate their efforts. Lebaa and Bablieh are working on Local Village Festivals to bring their residents What’s Better 08 Converging The Violence Free Students and 03 Than Music to Interests of 09 Schools Initiative 14 Media Figures Currently the established mechanisms in Akkar, Menieh- together. Kfarjarra and Addousieh are working on Meet Over? Conciliation: in Mount Lebanon Debate Over the Donnieh, Bekaa, South and Nabtiyeh are tailored to fit the empowering the youth and keeping them in their villages. The Social Stability Role of Newscast characteristics of each village. In Akkar, three villages have While in the Nabatiyeh, five committees representing five joined efforts in one committee to work on reducing tensions villages are working on activating their role through the Context in the Mansourieh Introductions 04 From Majdel 10 in their area. In Menieh-Donnieh, the four villages have implementation of social activities. Marjaayoun Celebrates Anjar, Lebanon and Hasbaya Qazas Nonviolence to Azerbaijan: Through Arts Living Together in 15 UNDP Supplement Inclusive Societies Discusses Civil Peace Issues from Lebanese, Syrian What’s Better Than Music to Meet Over? 05 Saida Network and Palestinian Joins Efforts of Perspectives “1, 2, 3… 1, 2, 3…” the chief of the marching band kept On a mission to reduce local tensions and strengthen the NGOs Working in repeating. At the entrance of Bar Elias public garden, stood relations among Lebanese and Syrian residents of Bar Elias, the Old City 20 scout musicians – drummers and brass section – the socio-cultural committee supported by the UNDP “Peace following the signals of their leading maestro, all at once. Building in Lebanon” project, funded by UK DFID, 06 Deir Ammar established the first music institute in town. Associations’ PEACE BUILDING Network: THROUGH CIVIL SOCIETIES Bringing Together Rivals And Friends 12 Lebanon and Northern Ireland 07 Chebaa and Majdel Anjar Run for Peace Exchange Peace Building Experiences 02 03 PEACE BUILDING THROUGH LOCAL LEADERS PEACE BUILDING THROUGH LOCAL LEADERS This space worked as a common platform for interaction in his community. These activities targeted a large group and cultural exchange and hosted 120 Lebanese and Syrian of young people through joint actions between the Lebanese students at first trained by music teachers Ayman and and Syrian communities and emphasized on the partnership Abdallah Aa’rayji. between the local authorities and local actors. “This town holds so much talent. The music institute is The conference was also a networking opportunity for Ali giving opportunities to so many young individuals to explore to share the Majdel Anjar committee’s experience. He more their culture and themselves. Our enthusiasm is big, was exposed to models of social inclusion, and introduced we are aiming at organizing new musical workshops soon” to a unique platform where participants shared good said Aa’rayji. practices of inclusion practiced at local and national levels, in UNAOC areas. Two months later, on the 2nd of June 2016, around 150 local actors, municipal representatives, mukhtars, parents “The Forum was an excellent platform for exchanging ideas and supporters celebrated the graduation of 30 students and sharing experiences, and was a great opportunity to as the first cohort. meet several persons from different nationalities and backgrounds. I was also able to introduce attendees to the “We haven’t found a better way to communicate than music,” such as “oud”, “tabla”, “riq” in addition to guitars, Majzoub’s intervention shed light on the Mechanism for MSS process which was considered from their side as a said Jamal Mousa, Bar Elias socio-cultural committee member percussions, and trumpets, ending the show with a folkloric Social Stability process (MSS) which was implemented unique model in the Arab countries as it deals with the and host of the graduation ceremony. Moussa emphasized Lebanese-Syrian medley sung by all the students together through the UNDP “Peace Building in Lebanon” project. challenges of social cohesion and youth inclusion in the on the importance of music in communication and praised accompanied by their teachers. He also tackled the role of the socio-cultural committee community” said Ali. the efforts of students and teachers throughout the training which was formed as part of the MSS in the implementation period to reach graduation day. “It’s my first time on stage, I sang many new tunes. It was of several local activities which aimed at reducing tensions a great experience and I will enroll next year for sure said Individual performances took up the stage simultaneously. Saeb Al Kattan, 18-year-old Lebanese student from Bar Elias. The music was mostly oriental. Students played instruments Saida Network Joins Efforts of NGOs Working in the Old City From Majdel Anjar, Lebanon to Azerbaijan: More than 12 local organizations working in Old Saida NGO, Hariri Foundation for Human Sustainable Development, Living Together in Inclusive Societies decided to join efforts and coordinate their projects in order OLA Academy “Outreach and Leadership Academy- (OLA)”, to serve their community more effectively. Organization of Saida Children’s Public Library, Old Saida Ali Al Majzoub, a municipality council member in Majdel This forum took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, on April 25-27, Firefighting Center volunteers, AL Reaaya Organization, Anjar and a member of Majdel Anjar socio-cultural 2016, to discuss the theme of “Living Together in Inclusive The UNDP “Peace Building in Lebanon” project is working Zakat Fund, Maarouf Saad Social and Cultural organization, committee (formed with the support of UNDP to sustain Societies: A Challenge and A Goal”. in seven localities in South Lebanon and five in Nabatieh Mohamad Zaidan Charity Organization, Saida Association social stability in the area), was nominated to participate on creating local social stability mechanisms. These for Environment and Culture, Caritas, Debbaneh Foundation, as a speaker in the Seventh Global Forum of the United The event brought together nearly 4,300 participants from mechanisms promote social stability through engaging local DPNA/ Development for People and Nature Association, Nations Alliances of Civilizations (UNAOC). all over the world (147 countries) including political leaders, stakeholders in a participatory process to address challenges AL Moasat Association/ Social Relief and Welfare Association representatives of international and regional organizations, facing both Lebanese communities and the Syrian displaced. in Saida, Ahlouna Association, Anjiz Organization, Sea the private sector, civil society, academia, youth, arts and Mosque Charitable Association, Civil Council Against Drug the media, as well as donor agencies and foundations. Based on conflict analysis and the participatory social Addiction, Orphanage, Social Movement, Saida’s Beach stability mechanisms development sessions, Blue Mission and Zeery Friends Organization, NGO Platform of Saida 04 05 PEACE BUILDING THROUGH LOCAL LEADERS PEACE BUILDING THROUGH LOCAL LEADERS and Saida Municipality, identified the need to coordinate Chebaa and Majdel Anjar Run for Peace and standardize their work in order to avoid duplication and tensions creation. The network is a positive A coordination unit was established under the supervision initiative that gathers all NGOs in of the municipality. They agreed on organizing monthly the city. It leads to better serving meetings to coordinate their work, share news and data and set up joint ventures. the old city of Saida According to Oussama Aranout from Hariri Foundation, “the network is a positive initiative that gathers all NGOs in the city. It leads to better serving the old city of Saida”. The unit and the municipality are currently planning to Sanaa Bizri from the Blue Mission NGO, shares the same conduct a detailed survey of all the population living in Old comment as Oussama. For her, “this network is an important Saida with the support of UNDP, funded by Norway, to and very challenging initiative, as it offers better and detailed clearly identify the real needs and challenges. information on old Saida’s situation, especially with the use of the survey.” Deir Ammar Associations’ Network: Bringing Together Rivals And Friends A sunny day in Chebaa and a rainy day