News

The Order of Engineers and Architects hosted the second forum of the Committee for Arab Women Engineers in Beirut. In his opening speech at Beit-Al-Mouhandes, president of the Lebanese Engineers Association, Khaled Chehab, highlighted the notable role of women engineers in the Arab world and pressed for more similar events and conventions. Likewise, Fawaz, speaking on behalf of the director general of the Association of Arab Engineers, Adel al Hadithi, praised the exceptional capacities of women and stressed the responsibility of the Association in supporting and helping them reach positions at the Higher Council.
On her part, chairperson of the Committee for Arab Women Engineers, Fadwa Abu Ghaida, outlined the main topics on the agenda of the meeting. These included, the celebration to honor winners of the distinguished Arab woman engineer award, the seminar on practical mechanisms to help women get into unions and other decision making positions, and agreeing on the overall vision for the fourth forum of Arab Women Engineers. (Al Mustaqbal, Feb 6, 2015).

Al-Diyyar newspaper published a report on the wild plants of South Lebanon and the reverse movement to land and its resources after widespread contamination and corruption of food safety. According to the newspaper, the southern fields compensated well this year weed lovers after last year’s draught. Popular wild plants include “assaifi, duraira, baqra, hibiscus, fennel, wild cabbage, evergreen senoura and humaidah”. Women villagers, who look forward to the blooming “saliq” (wild plant) season, use these plants as essential ingredients in their traditional meals. The “baqleh” (watercress) for example, is a main Nabatiyeh dish prepared with onions, cracked wheat (burghul) and olive oil. Another delicacy of the southern village is “al assoura”, which is a mix of wild alat herb and humaidah fried with olive oil and onions. To note, that gathering wild herbs is not confined to women only. Men also join in. There has been an increasing demand on “saliq” after people cut down on consuming vegetables like tomatoes and zucchini mostly treated with toxic pesticides.  

In a similar note, a “saliq” lover, Muhamad Qarqoor, said: “the watercress baqleh is widely popular among our generation, unlike the young people who prefer fast food, namely chicken and meat. However, he stressed the importance and noted a growing back-to-roots movement in the country.

(Source: Al-Diyyar, February 3, 2015)

Wild Discovery last Friday renewed its partnership with the School of Arts and Sciences in Saint Joseph University ahead of launching the third edition of the Sales Training Program. The program comes within the framework of various citizenship initiatives, and to be kicked off on October 13, 2015, with the aim to train human capital and prepare fresh graduates to enter the Lebanese labor market, particularly, in the tourism and hospitality sectors. Present at the signing session, were the School of Arts and Sciences General Director, Sandro Saadeh, Human Resources Director, Mireille Qattar, Communication Director, Johny Mdawwar, the School’s Dean, Christine Babikian, Head of the Georgraphy Department, Rita Zaarour and Head of Cultural and Tourism Planning division, Liliane Barakat.

What is new in the 2015 edition is the placement of St Joseph students in the various divisions of Wild Discovery with paid part-time and full time training and learning periods, starting February, 2015. The training will qualify as credits toward graduation in the division of cultural and touristic planning, the Department of Geography (3 and 6 credits respectively).
(Source: Annahar, February 4, 2015).