In light of the Covid-19 crisis and its effects on the market which threatens the livelihood of many, LOST, through BMZ funding and in partnership with GIZ through the LEAD program, launched the “Livelihood Support to Overcome Covid-19 Effects” project earlier in July 2021. The project aims at providing the beneficiaries with the needed support to improve their livelihood through knowledge and fund support.
On the 11th of August 2021, the GIZ team which included Mrs. Beate Kube, Head of program, and Mrs. Lama Zeinoun Tabet, Component Manager in Lebanon, among others visited LOST to follow up on the activities implemented in partnership with GIZ-LEAD.
The visit started with a meeting with LOST’s management to present the projects and overall accomplishments of the organization followed by a visit to the Community Farm and its initiatives. The team visited the goats farm, food processing factory, the greenhouses, the sewing factory showroom, and the youth recreational space.
Then, the team attended a business training session given as part of the “Livelihood Support to Overcome Covid-19 Effects”. This project works on building the capacities and improving the business skills, business functional skills, and vocational skills of beneficiaries which are essential to engage them in the labor market. In addition, those who will receive in-kind support will be capable of creating/supporting their own business plans in order to secure sustainable income generation. As part of their training, the 20 participants in the attended class practiced pitching their ideas in front of the team for 3 to 5 minutes each. They first introduced themselves and their projects. Then, they described the effects of Covid-19 on their livelihood. Finally, they explained how the project will aid in improving their livelihood and reversing the Covid-19 effects. The GIZ team was impressed with the class and the performance of the participants and expressed their admiration for working with LOST.
In the afternoon, the invitees met the board members of “Women’s Platform to Lead” NGO to assess the success of this platform and discuss future opportunities. This platform was initiated by LOST and GIZ during previous projects aimed to empower women in local development and leadership. This platform is composed of about 300 women and men forming the general assembly. It has already started the implementation of projects in order to empower women and youth and to create partnerships with Local NGOs and municipalities.
The partnership between LOST and GIZ is of a strategic nature as it has diverse and immense impacts on the communities in which activities are implemented.
