January 31st, 2017, a senior delegation from UNICEF, represented by Deputy Representative Luciano Calestini and Amal Obeid, along with members from KFW, a German bank and donor, visited Howsh Rafiqa Informal Settlment (IS) in Bedneyel – Beqaa. This visit was organized by the Lebanese Organization of Studies and Training (LOST), as part of the Learning and Skills program, which has just been launched for the fourth year, in partnership with UNICEF.
The delegation met with Lebanese and Syrian beneficiaries who have attended the Competency-Based Skills training in the Learning and Skills program, and have obtained jobs. Due to this training, which was aimed at improving their skills, some of the beneficiaries earned jobs in projects at LOST, worked as trainees with trainers, or have opened their own businesses. Among the youth beneficiaries the delegation met with was a Syrian refugee who opened a hairdressing salon in the informal settlement, and began to make a living out of this business. Also, the delegation attended a Competency-Based Skills class where the beneficiaries started learning skills related to electricity and related professions.
The lifestyle and living conditions of Syrian refugees, as well as the effect of their presence in the region was among the various interests of the delegation. Additionally, the delegation discussed the local community’s social, economic, and educational situations in relation to this presence. The visit was directed towards raising funds for the Syrian refugees, in addition to assessing LOST’s capacity, and the quality and importance of its partnership with UNICEF.
