For the purpose of overseeing the progress of implementing the Learning and Skills Programs, a UNICEF and German Natcom delegation paid the Lebanese Organization for Studies and Learning (LOST) at Baalbeck a visit on June 16th, 2016. UNICEF staff and German Natcom representative Sascha Stadtler of KFW toured around different training classes at LOST center and met Lebanese and Syrian beneficiaries.
The delegation visited three training classes and got acquainted with Lebanese and Syrian youth who participated in the first cycle of the three-cycle program. The first stop was at a Vocational Orientation Photography class, in which they got introduced to the students, had a chat together, and took some pictures of the beneficiaries. They moved to a Peace Education class where they checked on the progress of the training and interviewed some of the beneficiaries. The final stop was at a Vocational Orientation Hairdressing class, where they watched a live display of the hairdressing techniques the beneficiaries have learned in the trainings. They also had an overview over the beneficiaries’ points of view, remarks, and needs pertaining to the project.
The delegation then had a profound discussion with LOST’s founder, Dr. Ramy Lakkis, and Mr. Assem Chreif in which they discussed the Youth-Led Initiatives (YLI) Final Event which was scheduled on the night of the same day, and attended by UNICEF’s executive manager Ms. Tania Chapusit. The details of the event and the impact of the YLI projects on youth and society were deliberately discussed.
The collaboration between UNICEF and LOST in the Learning and Skills Programs is highly fruitful in terms of the impact on the youth’s personalities and lives, and in terms of collecting funds which serve the programs’ targets. These programs are changing the mind-set and behavior of youth and, as a result, they are increasing their engagement in society, acceptance of others, educational status, and potentially the economic capacity. Thus the overall goal sought after by the program is achieved where an environment with lessened tension and more cohesion is formed and sustained.
