The Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST), as part of a four-organization consortium including War Child, Plan International, and Akkar Network for Development (AND) launched the “SHIELD” program, A Protective Environment for Adolescent Growth.
This program addresses the protection needs of at-risk adolescent girls and boys through an integrated resilience-building approach focusing on education in emergencies, psychosocial and protection response plus a referral to appropriate services. This will happen by improving protection for the most vulnerable adolescents through a holistic, integrated set of actions and services on two levels – responding to immediate, urgent needs, while enhancing prevention, fostering resilience and minimizing risks and vulnerabilities.
Over 10,000 adolescents, caregivers, and community members will benefit directly from this intervention. Over 35,000 adolescents, caregivers, and community members will benefit indirectly. 2,470 individuals will have increased access and retention into formal and non-formal education for adolescent girls and boys. In addition, 10,330 individuals will have increased access to community-based psychosocial and child protection support, including specialized services like case management. Finally, 75 local actors will be capacitated to produce an advocacy plan that targets decision makers which supports the implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in Lebanon. This project will take place in 5 areas of Lebanon: Akkar, the North (T5 area), North Bekaa, and Baalbeck-Hermel.
