News

The Agence Universitaire pour la Francophonie (UAF) and Berytech announced the holding of its fourth competition for Francophone women entrepreneurs. The competition seeks to raise the visibility of Francophone women entrepreneurs who have proved themselves in the field of business. Hervé Sabourin, the director of the regional office of the Organisation Universitaire pour la Francophonie, announced that 20000 Euros have been allocated for this competition which is based on the three principles of the organisation namely women, business and Francophone.  Nathalie Bitar, the project manager at the association noted that the project to be submitted may be an idea or an emerging companies which is no more than three years old. The head of the media and PR sector in Berytech, Chrystel Khalil, presented the stages followed in this competition which includes several sectors notably food and nutrition (23%), social sciences (40%), education (20%), and environmental sciences (17%).  She also presented a number of successful projects namely that of last year's winner, Rita Zoghayb, who was able to set up a centre in Ain Dara to provide support to pregnant women. (Al Nahar, September 16th 2015)

 

Innovation for micro financing and Vitas companies, two companies which are pioneers in providing micro credit and financial assistance to poor families and micro business holders, launched last week in collaboration with Gulf company “Silatech” for business pioneer and vocational support, two new loan products designed solely to help young business people start up and develop their businesses in Lebanon. According to the Director General of Innovation in Lebanon, Ibrahim Kouwatly, the two new loans are for young people who do not have a bank account and who want to start their own business especially since, according to the World Bank, 24% of youth cannot have access to loans whereas the global average is 12%.

In addition to providing young people with capital, Innovation and Vitas will provide training and financial education to help young business entrepreneurs develop and expand their businesses.  "My Project" loan offered by Innovation has already started offering 10000 USP loans since September 2nd.Vitas is offering 5000 USD loans since September 7th according to Carla Chamoun Azar, the Loans Director in Vitas. In the same vain, Alia Far7hat from Al Majmoua who spoke to L'Orient le Jour, confirmed and based on a study conducted by her organisation, that young people seeking to set up their own project face two key challenges namely access to financing and lack of project management skills. ( L'Orient le Jour, September 11, 2015)

 

The Future Movement Women’s Sector organized last Saturday a workshop in Beirut under the heading of ‘Advocacy and Lobbying’ that targeted women members from all parts of the country . The event held in the presence of the General Coordinator, Afifeh Sayyed, comes as part of a series of events implemented by the Women’s Sector in collaboration with Friedrich Naumann Foundation. In this respect, the Future project coordinator, Tala Itani, pointed out that the workshop will be followed by a series of training sessions addressing the topic of women empowerment across all levels. Participants were divided into working groups and each group was asked to draw its vision of the required advocacy plan to be adopted in relevant campaigns promoting women’s rights, as well as the importance of developing awareness- raising and societal mobilization to pressure change in prevalent social and legal norms. Other discussions tackled societal and partisan advocacy campaigns to fight violence against women and early marriage and strengthen women’s participation in political life, as well as ending all forms of discrimination towards achieving equality. The workshop also focused on ways to increase awareness and pressure decision makers as well as society in order to achieve the campaigning objectives. (Al Mustaqbal, September 12, 2015)

 

In a feature published last Saturday , L’Orient Le Jour shed light on the notable role of women in the ongoing protests in Beirut against corruption through interviewing a number of women activists participating in the civil campaigns. One film director and actress in ‘You Stink’ campaign, Farah El Shaer told the newspaper that she is active on different levels, including organization and decision making, pointing that women in her country are generally marginalized because of discriminatory laws, particularly those that concern protection at home and at work. She noted that while Lebanese women are virtually absent from the political life, they are largely present as civil campaigners and have clearly spelled out their demands. Dani Jouni, another activist from ‘Bidna N7hasseb’ campaign emphasised that men and women are equally playing their roles within the civil movement. (Daily Star, September 12, 2015)

 

MP Bahiya Hariri met last Saturday in Beirut a delegation of the preparatory committee of the fifth Arab Conference ‘the Arab woman – a force to lead change’. The event organized by ‘Changemakers for Development and Advancement’ is scheduled to be held this coming October in Lebanon. The CommitteePresident and advisor for the development of organizations and communities, Mohamad Khalifeh, discussed with Hariri the present conditions of women and development in the Arab countries and invited the Lebanese MP to attend the conference. (Al Mustaqbal, September 13, 2015)

 

As part of the Agriculture Ministry’s ongoing food safety campaign, Minister Akram Chehayeb issued a warning yesterday to Conserves Modernes Chtaura to immediately stop production of its grain line (chickpeas, foul and mixed beans) and pull out the defective products from domestic markets. In his notice, Chehayeb threatened the non-complying company with additional disciplinary procedures, including the complete cessation of the manufacturing plants and passing on the case to competent judicial circles. Likewise, the Ministry of Health issued its weekly report on compliance with food safety regulations covering the period from September 3-10. For more information, visit the following link: http://assafir.com/Article/8/444310. (As Safir, Al Mustaqbal, September 12 & 15, 2015)

 

The Local Economic Development Agency in the North (LEDA), in collaboration with the Social Affairs Ministry, UNDP and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Tripoli and North Lebanon, organized last Thursday a graduation ceremony for some 100 young women and men who completed a series of workshops which were organised in Akkar as part of the youth economic empowerment project and implemented in the framework of the Lebanon Host Communities Support Project LHSP. During the ceremony, Simone Bashawati representing LEDA in the north described the initiative as “a wave of bright dreams brought about by a strong and genuine partnership between project sponsors and supporters.” Similarly, Suheir Ghali, speaking for the Ministry of Social Affairs indicated that the project “aims to strengthen stability and boost development in line with the existing programs in the various relevant ministries.” The UNDP representative, Luka Randa, noted for his part that vocational training was not the objective, but the mean for “achieving professional and economic integration of youth.” Randa added that the project which was implemented though the funding of 14 productive initiatives focused on five sectors namely: landscaping, garden and flower maintenance; cheeses and dairy production; hospitality; phone cellular maintenance; and administrative assistance.

Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, September 11 and 14, 2015

 

The Melkite Catholic Church in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs Center of Comprehensive Development Services in Tyre, organized last Sunday a graduation ceremony for participants in women’s hairdressing courses. The event was held at Saint Thomas Church Hall under the auspices of the President of the Federation of Municipalities of Tyre Caza, Abdel Mounim Husseini. On the occasion, Bishop Michael Abras noted that such training workshops help the locals “upgrade their businesses and strengthen their self-reliance so as to improve their livings standards and reduce unemployment to a certain extent.” For his part, the head of Tyre Social Affairs Center, Ghassan Abu Jahja, pointed out that these training courses strengthen cooperation and integration among communities, particularly at times of instability, and contribute to stimulating the local economy. (Al Mustaqbal, September 14, 2015)

 

The general manager of the Lebanese owned Hospitality Services, Horeca, Jumana Dammus Salameh announced that the trademark is regionally expanding its Horeca food exhibitions into three new Arab capitals besides Beirut. Salameh described the Horeca Food Exhibitions as the largest annual event for the hospitality, food and beverage service sector in the Middle East, pointing to the continuing positive response the company has received among industry experts since it kicked off in Beirut some 22 years ago, thus enabling it to expand to Kuwait, Riyadh and last year to Jordan. Salameh disclosed that Horeca have attracted nearly 550 participants/exhibitors and 38 thousand international professionals, while stressing the importance of these exhibitions in showcasing local food and hospitality industries and in sharing expertise. (Al Mustaqbal, September 11, 2015)

 

A new rural tourism project was launched last August 31 in the Barouk-Fraidis Chuf area, with financial help from USAID-funded Building Alliance for Local Advancement, Development and Investment, (BALADI program). The BALADI program has financially contributed to the project which was implemented by Rene Mouwad Foundation, in partnership with the municipality of Barouk-Fraidis and the Chuf Biosphere Reserve, some US$171 thousand to assist the municipality and the local community in the construction of 19 kilometers of long hiking trails traversing 13 historic sites, the rehabilitation and equipping of Rashid Nakhle Cultural Center and the cultural and touristic information center, as wee as the organisation of the area’s first annual festival.

During the opening ceremony, USAID director in Lebanon, Caroline Bryan, underlined the vitality of rural tourism in promoting and activating the tourism sector in the country. For his part, Tourism Minister, Michel Pharaon, expressed his hope that such undertakings will support his endeavor to develop the rural tourism plan, and commended all municipalities and private institutions for cooperating with the ministry to make the present festival season across Lebanon a success. )An Nahar, September 11, 2015(