PB The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon 1 The directory of Youth Organizations in Lebanon (2015) was implemented by the International Center for Human Sciences (CISH) as part of UNESCO’s project on “Networks of Mediterranean Youth” (NETMED), funded by the European Union (EU). The research team at CISH was led by Ali Khalife ( consultant researcher, CISH ) and assisted by Zeina El Mir (Field assistant researcher, CISH). Published in 2015 by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States - Beirut © October 2015 ISBN 978-614-8008-03-0 The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The ideas and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors; they are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization. 2 The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon 3 Table of contents List of Acronyms 5 1. The Directory’s Main Purpose 6 2. Directory’s Background 7 3. Literature Review 8 3.1 Youth and Civil Society Organizations in Lebanon 8 3.2 Definition of ‘Youth’ in Lebanon 10 3.3 Challenges Faced by Lebanese Youth 10 3.4 The National Youth Policy in Lebanon 12 4. Survey Methodology 14 4.1 The Sample Design 14 4.2 The Research Tools 14 5. Practices within Youth and Civil Society Organizations (CSO) 18 5.1 The Evolution of Youth Organizations in Function of the Year of Establishment 18 5.2 Ways of Involvement of Young Men and Women 19 5.3 The Priority Areas and Interventions 21 5.4 Good Practices on Youth Empowerment 23 5.4.1 Within the CSOs 23 5.4.2 Through the CSOs’ Endeavors in Lebanon 24 5.5 Awareness the National Youth Policy Process 25 5.6 Limitations 27 2 The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon 3 6. Youth Organizations’ Directory: distributed by region across the Lebanese Governorates 28 6.1 Youth Organizations’ Distribution Across Beirut 29 6.2 Youth Organizations’ Distribution Across Mount – Lebanon 38 6.3 Youth Organizations’ Distribution Across the North of Lebanon region 43 6.4 Youth Organizations’ Distribution Across the Bekaa region 47 6.5 Youth Organizations’ Distribution Across Nabatiyeh 50 6.6 Youth Organizations’ Distribution Across the South of Lebanon region 52 7. Youth Organizations’ Directory: categorized by Key Goals and Interests 55 7.1 Citizenship 56 7.2 Gender Equality 60 7.3 Education, Training (including Vocational Training) 63 7.4 Disabilities, Social Inclusion 65 7.5 Culture, Leisure 67 7.6 Conflict Resolution, Peace Building, Social Cohesion 69 7.7 Economic Participation and Access to Resources 72 7.8 Sustainable Development 75 7.9 Health 80 7.10 Humanitarian Support to Refugees and Displaced Population 82 7.11 Political Parties’ Organizations 83 8. Appendix 85 a. List of References 86 b. List of Participants in all 6 Focus Group Meetings 86 c. About the International Center for Human Sciences 97 d. Questionnaire in English 98 4 The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon 5 List of Acronyms CSO: Civil Society Organization FGM: Focus Group Meeting MOSA: Ministry Of Social Affairs MOYS: Ministry Of Youth and Sports NET-MED: Network of Mediterranean Youth NGO: Non Governmental Organization NYP: National Youth Policy UNDP: United Nations Development Program UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNFPA: United Nations Population Fund 4 The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon 5 1. The Directory's Main Purpose The directory’s main purpose is to update the present available information on Lebanese Youth and provide a database on Youth organizations and bodies working for Youth in Lebanon. It provides a better understanding of the current dynamics and initiatives that are achieved for the Youth, by the Youth and/or with the Youth in Lebanon. The directory also analyzes good practices, key challenges and opportunities for Youth organizations to turn their ambitions into a reality, especially within the framework of the National Youth policy (NYP) in Lebanon. The updated directory strives to create a Youth-friendly interactive environment and promote further exchanges and better coordination among partners. 6 The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon 7 2. Directory’s Background The NET-MED Youth Program is a regional program being implemented in a total of 9 Arab countries including Lebanon, from 2014-2016. The key aim of this program is to create an enabling environment for young women and men to develop their competencies, exercise their rights and meaningfully engage as active citizens, particularly in areas of decision-making relating to political, social, economic, educational, cultural policies and planning processes. The NET-MED program is aligned with and will contribute to the UNESCO Operational Strategy on Youth (2014-2021). The UNESCO’s work will focus on enabling Youth to engage in their societies and will embody the different ways in which Youth are concerned or affected by such work: as recipients of services and activities, as independent actors, or as UNESCO’s partners through their organizations. 6 The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon 7 3. Literature Review 3.1 Youth and Civil Society Organizations in Lebanon The Civil Society in Lebanon is one of the most active, diverse and ancient in the Arab region. Historically, most civil society organizations (CSOs) had a religious root and were inspired by religion to aid the needy and the poor. After the civil war (1975-1990), CSOs began to perceive their role as complementary to that of the government and started to be more involved in the various problematic sectors in Lebanon. They started to better coordinate amongst themselves and with other partners. Moreover, globalization has also managed to introduce a set of principles, such as participatory democracy, sustainable development, good governance, transparency and accountability into Lebanon’s civil society. The Law of Associations states that the number of associations registered in Lebanon reached 5,623 in 2007. This number falls to around 1,200-1,500 organizations after excluding the political associations, clubs, scout groups and family ties aggregations in addition to fictitious or inactive associations according to the2010 CSO’s directory. CSOs’ fields of activity have varied over the past few years and so have the approaches they have undertaken, ranging from charity to services and development. Many of the CSOs are Youth organizations that were incorporated in the year 2000. Since then, the number of Youth organizations and bodies working for the Youth is on an increase. Identifying CSOs as Youth Organizations depends on several criteria; the organizations statement of working or having recently worked on Youth issues, 8 The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon 9 their affiliation to the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) and the Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA), their promotion of Youth volunteerism and Youth civic engagement, or being Youth-led with young members represented in the decision making process. Some organizations lack such Youth representation in their decision making processes but target the needs and interests of the young population in the areas such as Education, Health, Leisure, Political participation, Culture, Charity, among others. A recent study on Youth CSOs interests in Lebanon demonstrated that politics was one of the most engaging subjects for the Lebanese Youth where the social media have transformed into an alternative real-life public forum after the difficult realization of the latter (The Arab journal of Social Sciences, Issue 28, Autumn 2014, p.152). In this same perspective, the Annual Report of the French Institute for International Relations (2014) suggested that the censorship and expression control policy could no longer be exercised with the coming of the tech-savvy Youth generation who utilized the internet and the social media to form a new public forum opinion that communicated the Youth complaints and their dissatisfaction with the status quo in particular the deterioration of the political and economic situation. Ensuring sustainability, however, necessitates that organizations delve deeper into Youth issues, be on a constant follow up, and fully assess the many challenges that face Lebanon’s Youth. 8 The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon The Directory of Youth Organizations In Lebanon 9 3.2 Definition of ‘Youth’ in Lebanon Youth is best understood as a period of transition from the dependence of childhood to adulthood independence. Therefore, Youth as category is more fluid than other fixed age-groups. Yet, age is the easiest way to define this group, particularly in relation to education and employment because the term ‘Youth’ is often referred to any person between the ages of leaving compulsory education and finding the first job. The United Nations, for statistical purposes, defines ‘Youth’, as those persons between the ages of 15 and 24. Youth in Lebanon is defined as the category of people aged between 15 and 29. This definition was based on a thorough analysis of the Youth situation in Lebanon by experts and policy makers especially with respect to their social and economic challenges. 3.3 Challenges Faced by Lebanese Youth The Lebanese Youth Profile (UN,2012 ) portrayed the challenges faced by Lebanese Youth. The statistical analysis of the Youth situation in areas such as demographics and migration, work and participation in economic life, education, health and safety (Tabbarah, 2012) showed the vulnerability of young men and women in all these sectors.