Arsal Syrian children have experienced peace for so long, neither in their country, nor in Arsal. In spite of all the struggles they went through, these children always showed a great tendency to make the best out of any situation and this positive attitude was always present through all the hygiene sessions that LOST was conducting, as part of the WASH project, in partnership with UNICEF.
In order to enhance willingness to adopt the best hygienic practices, LOST carried out the “Hygiene Festival” in Arsal on Wednesday, September 27th, 2017. 200 Syrian children and their parents attended this event, along with municipal members and public figures from the village. The festival was opened by a Syrian band who displayed the Syrian heritage by performing traditional songs. Two Syrian children, a boy and a girl hosted the festival and emphasized the importance of hygiene for a better life.
Moreover, the children participated in a play about personal hygiene and disease transmission. The festival continued with great vitality by a marionette act, followed by a dance act performed by little Syrian girls on the tunes of اعطونا الطفولة, which means “give us our childhood”, as a mean to demand their basic childhood rights. Followed by a conversation between three Syrian children about hygienic information, and how they are benefiting from the hygiene sessions, the children then interacted with the audience by asking them questions related to hygiene.
Mr. Ibrahim Meselmani, the representative of صوت اللاجئ, a group that includes the watchmen of the Syrian ISs in Arsal, gave a spoken word after the festival. Mr. Meselmani praised the role that UNICEF and LOST are playing in Arsal, and was impressed with the services provided. He concluded by saying: “We are so grateful and cannot say thank you enough to both UNICEF and LOST. Through the hardest times, they were always there and we never felt away from home.”
Rola Flity, a Arsal Hygiene officer, stated the great job that women are playing on instilling healthy practices and values into their children’s lives. After Rola spoke, a participant, Sanaa Salim Bakkour, 45 years old, from Iwaa El Hosen IS (Arsal-017) presented two handmade portraits carrying the logos of UNICEF and LOST, as a token of appreciation for their great efforts in enhancing good living conditions for the Syrian refugees in Arsal.
In a time where most people are afraid to set foot on Arsal grounds, and most INGO’s have reduced the amount of intervention in Arsal due to security purposes, LOST is still helping, guiding, and providing all services in Arsal just like any other area in Baalbeck-Hermel governorate. This is highly essential since the people of Arsal,Lebanese and Syrian do confide and rely on LOST and in their services.
