Lebanon

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UNV support to Lebanese Physically Handicapped Union (LPHU)

An Italian UNV supported “The Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union”, a Lebanese NGO for and of disabled people, to establish the first job center in Lebanon specialized in people with disability.

“Unlocking job opportunities for people with disabilities”, is the objective of the job center. Two employment advisors were employed to undertake needs assessments of disabled persons that approach the center, counseling on which kind of job s/he should focus to and/or addressing her/him to further training courses.

After the first year, the results of the evaluation process were outstanding and 10 people with different disabilities had been employed, with regular contracts and social benefits.

Organizing the International Year of Volunteers

In its 52 nd session on 20 November 1997, the UN General Assembly declared the year 2001 the International Year of Volunteers (resolution no. 52/17). The premise underlying IYV 2001 is that volunteer service is called for more than ever before to tackle areas of priority concern in social, economic, cultural and humanitarian fields. The International Year of Volunteers (IYV2001) was a unique opportunity for governments to recognize, promote and facilitate voluntary activity. In Lebanon, a major result of the IYV2001 was the establishment of a Permanent National Committee for Volunteering headed by the Minister of Social Affairs. The Committee’s functions include promoting volunteerism, advancing the concept of volunteer action in Lebanon and establishing a Volunteer Center. Its main objectives aim to coordinate and implement a series of activities during the year, to raise awareness about the importance of volunteerism, and to draft a plan of action to enhance volunteerism among the Lebanese citizens and youth.

Some of the activities implemented in the International Year of Volunteers 2001 in Lebanon highlight certain achievements that could serve as a base for both the UNV programme and the Ministry of Social Affairs in promoting volunteerism in Lebanon.

In this frame, the IYV 2001 took on a colorful spin between UN Volunteers and local and international institutions:

- Volunteer Camp Recognition – UN Volunteers
For the first time, the Ministry of Social Affairs held an official ceremony to recognize its 100 young volunteers – Inspired by the IYV2001 goals.

- Skills to Motivate People to Volunteer – UN Volunteers and Al Mabarrat Association
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Al Mabarrat Association jointly with the UN Volunteers, held a seminar for 150 people to highlight the concerns of volunteers and to introduce skills used for mobilizing volunteer efforts.

- Third Volunteer Fair – Association for Voluntary Services (AVS)
An attractive hub for youth and NGO interaction, the volunteer fair held over five days by the Association for Voluntary Services (AVS) at UNESCO Palace, facilitated an exchange of information and volunteer service opportunities.

- Fourth Marathon for Development – Mouvement Social
More than 500 high school and university student joined a race against poverty and marginalization, organized by the Mouvement Social as a challenge for youth to choose between being “observers” or “volunteers” on critical social issues.

- Volunteer Day Camp for Youngsters – UN Volunteers, Red Cross & UNRSRD
Joining forces to grow seeds of reconciliation among youth, UN Volunteers, the Red Cross and UNRSRD programme brought together displaced and returnees from the same village to learn the benefits and skills of volunteerism.

- Summer Camp – Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union
More than 160 people participated in a 3-day camp organized by the Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union – borrowing from good practices on volunteer mobilization and management.

- National Workshop: “Volunteering: A Social and National Issue” – UN Volunteers
The Lebanese National Committee for Volunteering organized a successful workshop attended by 200 participants on volunteering, looking at challenges facing volunteers and brainstorming national plans to promote volunteerism.

Read More:
National Workshop Report
IYV Global Evaluation Report

Download the report of the Secretary-General on the Follow-up to the implementation of the International Year of Volunteers, 18 July 2005. Arabic, English, French

Download the United Nations report on the outcome and future perspectives of IYV 2001, Sep 2002. Arabic, English, French

For additional information on the IYV visit www.iyv-2001.org

Enhancing Business-Community Relations

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and the New Academy of Business jointly implemented an action research project on current trends in business-community relations and corporate citizenship in seven countries - Brazil, Ghana, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Philippines and South Africa. The project aimed to promote new models of business-community relations, enhanced corporate citizenship practices and the active participation of volunteers as facilitators between UNV, Business and local communities. It has sought both to bridge these gaps in understanding and to cultivate relationships between communities and businesses that are more socially and ecologically sustainable.

Composed of two phases, an action research phase and a partnership promotion and building phase. The first, aimed to investigate why and how business become involved in development initiatives through consultation with various stakeholders including business, employees, NGOs, UN agencies, media representatives, advertising agencies, etc. The partnership promotion and building phase complemented the action research phase and seeks to promote and form win-win sustainable partnerships with various stakeholders.

In Lebanon, the project was implemented simultaneously through three phases:

1. Action research: The action research phase was the centerpiece of a dynamic and participatory process that included research within many sectors in Lebanon including private and public institutions; media, advertising, UN agencies and non-government organizations.
2. Advocacy: The second phase included advocacy through public relations; presentations; promotional material and media relations.
3. Partnership Development: Two major partnerships were developed, managed and implemented as a result of the project as follows:

   a) The promotion of employee volunteerism through the celebration of the International Volunteer Day (IVD) and the wrap up of the International Year of Volunteers (IYV 2001). This event was realized in partnership with FTML-Cellis and the Rotaract Club of Beirut, through its nation-wide Rotaract and Rotary network;
   b) The implementation of the ‘Go Green’ project- an environmental awareness campaign initiated by Schtroumpf in partnership with UNDP/UNV, FTML, Coca Cola and Tetra Pak.

The output of the project includes a National Research Report and a Case Study Book on Business Community Relations. Reflecting the specific country context, priorities and aspirations, both the research report and the case study book aim to raise public awareness, trigger action on business-community relations, and promote Corporate Social Responsibility as a strategic imperative for organizational growth and sustainability. 

Download the Executive Summary of the Global Report

UNV Supporting Reintegration and Socio-economic Rehabilitation for the Displaced Programme

At the end of the war in 1990, 500,000 Lebanese were internally displaced. The region most affected by displacement was Mount Lebanon. Since 1994, UNV has participated in the UNDP-supported programme aiming to achieve return of the displaced by supporting the reconciliation process.

Socio-economic Rehabilitation for Southern Lebanon Programme

Following the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000, UNV has articipated in a rehabilitation initiative for Southern Lebanon through the ‘Post-conflict Socio-Economic Rehabilitation Programme” jointly funded and managed by UNDP and the Government of Lebanon (Council for Development and Reconstruction).

Applying Information and Communication Technology (UNITeS)

UNV coordinates worldwide a volunteer corps working to help bridge the digital divide by applying information and communication technologies (ICT) to human development. The United Nations Information Technology Services (UNITeS) is an initiative that channels creative energy, skills and solidarity of volunteers around the world.
In Lebanon, a national UNITeS UNV operated within the context of the programme of  “Post–conflict Socio-economic Rehabilitation of Southern Lebanon’: training Youth in the Community Development Centers on practical IT applications and sharing useful tips on how they can better communicate and educate themselves through the Internet.