News

The Minister of Agriculture, Akram Chehayeb, signed an MoU with AVSI, an Italian NGO to implement a project entitled the "Comprehensive Education Project" which includes the Ministry's technical agricultural school operating in 7 regions in Lebanon.  The signing took place during a ceremony attended by the EU ambassador Angelina Eichhorst.
The head of the higher agricultural education department, Abir Abulkhudud, presented a summary of the EU-funded project and its key areas of work which will include: training of students in technical agricultural and human skills, training of 131 teachers, developing a technical training curriculum, refurbishing the agricultural schools, and organising summer training for students.  Chehayeb noted that the project will target the agriculture schools in Akkar, Batrun, Metn, Chuf, Nabatieh, Marje3yoon and Baalbek.  He hoped that the project will meet its objectives and reiterated that developing agricultural technical schools is a key pillar of his Ministry and that improving the quality of these schools will reflect positively on agricultural production and will result in the development of agricultural areas.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 28 August 2014

As Safir newspaper published a report on basket weaving which has declined significantly after the flooding of local markets with plastic products, and competition from cheaper and much more elaborate Chinese baskets. This has resulted in limited demands on traditional baskets and in a decrease in their level of production.  The report also noted that despite the limited markets for traditional baskets, yet many families living close to water, such as in Amshit, Koura, Zgharta and Kefraya, depend on basket weaving for their livelihoods especially during the summer where there is a demand for baskets to package summer fruits (figs, grapes, etc...) and flower arrangements. Although basket weaving is difficult, requires patience and ruins hands, women excel in it although men dominate this craft.  Charbel Francis, who learned this trade from his father and grandfather, insists on pursuing basket weaving despite of its difficulty because it provides him with significant income.  He revealed that buying a bunch of bamboo stalks will cost him LBP 35000 and that he can produce 10 baskets each of which can be sold for LBP 4-6000 according to size.

Source: Al-Safir 28 August 2014

The President of the Federation of Lebanese Chamber of Commerce and of the Mount Lebanon Chamber (FCCML), Mohammed Shucair, held a meeting yesterday with the President of the Lebanese Phsyically Handicapped Union (LPHU) and the Regional Arab Bureau of the International Organisation of Disabled People, Sylvana Lakkis accompanied by the coordinator of the economic inclusion coordinator, Doha Ya7hfufi to discuss ways of cooperation for mainstreaming people with special needs into the job market.
Shucair emphasized that he will work with the private sector to encourage institutions to recruit people with special needs through adopting clear criteria and laws so as not to leave this matter to the whims of employers. He also added that he will try and develop an incentive package to encourage such institutions to absorb disabled people, and will support studies which explain the economic and moral benefits of absorbing the capacities of people with disabilities.

Source: Al-Safir, Al-Diyar 28 August 2014

The president of the federation of Lebanese Chambers and of the Beirut and Mount Lebanon Chamber, Mohammed Shucair, met yesterday with a delegation of food processing industrialists headed by the President of the Syndicate of Food Industrialists, Munir Bsar, accompanied by the president of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists, Georges Nasrawi, and discussed ways to develop the food industry sector.
Shucair stressed the importance of the food processing sector and the need to provide it with the needed support especially that is considerably expanding externally.  Shucair also expressed his readiness to support this sector with all means available to him.  He added that the Lebanese food industry will be amongst the most important Lebanese industry in the near future as Lebanese cuisine is witnessing an unprecedented growth and expansion all over the world and this helping in creating employment for the youth.  Finally, Shucair noted that he will be aiming to ensure the successful participation of Lebanese food processing industries in the upcoming Gulf Food exhibition in Dubai, while indicating his readiness to financially support the production of a promotional film on the local food industry.
Source: Al-Diyar 27 August 2014

Al Akhbar newspaper published a report on the recent emergence of small factories on the Southern borders with the aim of providing work opportunities to the local population. According to the report, factories in the south almost disappeared few years because of the effect of Israeli occupation; increased migration from these areas; the loss in labor force and the decline in demands for local products given the flooding with cheaper imported goods.  However, the situation has now somewhat changed with the emergence of the construction and food processing sectors.  Thus, small factories are being set up to produce home construction material and equipments (kitchen and wooden doors, etc.), and diverse food products such as ice cream and juices, poultry production, livestock, etc... These initiatives while small in size but seek to address local unemployment problems. However, they have yet to attract large capital investment in order to expand into larger factories which would then create hundreds of new jobs.
Within this framework, the head of the federation of municipalities in Jabal Amel, Ali al Zein, revealed that the Federation has organised several training workshops over the past two years to improve the production capacities of women and men and based on a vocational training plan prepared by the Federation.  Al Zein also noted that the Federation built a dairy production plan in Houla with funding from the South Lebanon Council and which is encouraging farmers to raise livestock and is invigorating the local economy.
Source: Al-Akhbar 27 August 2014

For more information on the subject, please review the following news, published previously on the WEEPortal:
Youth unemployment widespread in frontline South Lebanon amidst dire socio-economic general conditions
Government long-term neglect of the tourism sector in South Lebanon confines it to few modest landmarks
Call for more government involvement is support of small and medium enterprises to tackle unemployment
The last glass recycling factory in Sarafand struggling in the absence of any government interest
Surplus of agricultural crops encourages agro-processing by women cooperatives in the South with foreign assistance

The Daily Star newspaper published yesterday an interview conducted with clinical psychologist, Aya Mhanna, as part of its weekly articles on pioneer Lebanese women. Mhanna runs a practice in the Metn region, and works in cooperation with media training companies, in Turkey, to conduct therapy sessions for Syrian journalists. Mhanna shared with newspaper the struggles she faces in her job, especially when working with Syrians war victims. She explained that it is hard, as a woman, to break the ice with groups of men, many of whom are profoundly religious and culturally conservative.  At the same time, she is often is bound to tackle some serious problems such as tendencies to commit suicide which religions condemn.
Mhanna also pointed out to the physical and mental challenges that accompany her work, amid lack of tolerance and solidarity from her colleagues in Lebanon, explaining that when seeking their assistance with Syrian patents many declined to do so. She gave the example of when she tried to find a psychiatrist to accompany her and medically diagnose some of her patients in Turkey, but no one wanted to join her team. Finally, Mhanna admitted that it is a daunting task dealing with war traumatised patients while attempting to keep a lid on one’s own emotions, and although psychologists are trained to work without emotion, she conceded that a tear occasionally escaped her eyes during such sessions.

Source: The Daily Star 26 August 2014

The annual summer festivals kicked off this year amidst a general degradation of the security and political situation.  L’orient le Jour spoke with the president of the Baalbek festivals, Nayla de Freige, Beit Eddine festival, Nora Jumblat and Zuk Mikhael festival, Zelfa Boueiz.  All conceded to being concerned with the security situation although they are trying to carry on with the festivals.  This, they noted, have become more challenging over the years with a noted decline in reservations this summer.  It is to be recalled that the Baalbek festivals have been re-located, for the second year, to the Casino du Liban and the Music Hall in view of the tense security situation in the Beqaa. All three interviewees noted that the financial situation of the festivals is getting worse every year especially since the Ministry of Tourism has failed to resettle its dues since 2009 and which normally should cover one third of the total cost of the festivals.  This has forced the organizers to resort to bank loans with high interest rates.  They also deplored last year’s law number 56 which increased the VAT charges on reservations from 24.7% to 36.7%.

Source: L’Orient Le Jour 23 August 2014

Within the framework of the “Reinforcing policies and the practices of human rights in women prisons in Lebanon” project financed by the EU and SIDA, Dar el Amal, RDFL, Caritas – Lebanon, and Diakonia is organising a training of trainers for the benefit of the ISF.  The training which will extend until the end of this week addresses human rights standards in prisons with emphasis on women’s prisons.
A joint statement issued by the four implementing organizations noted that this training comes after the completion of a number of previous phases namely the development of training material on human rights standards for women prisoners in Lebanon, the implementation of training for the benefit of prison warden, directors and nurses.  The statement noted that subsequently collaboration took place with the training department of the ISF in order to integrate this material into the curriculum of the ISF training school. The present training will ensure that the new standards are put into practice.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 26 August 2014

The Development Forum for the Aley Highlands and its Vicinity organized yesterday an exhibition of “Mooneh” and handcraft products with the participation of members of the Progressive Women Union and the Made at Home association as well as other local associations all of whom showcased a number of crafts and embroidery.  The exhibition took place within the framework of the Ma7habba Festivals in the villages of Aley caza under the auspices of the Federation of Municipalities of Jord-Bhamdoun, Mr. Youssef Shayya and with the presence of the President of the PWU, Wafa el Abed and the WPU local representative, Muna Abu Fakhreddine.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 26 August 2014

The family department at the Islamic “Irshaad and Islah7 charitable association, organized yesterday at the UNESCO palace, a seminar entitled “a marriage and not a funeral”.  The event was attended by the representative of the Minister of Social Affairs, Mona Nasrallah, as well as representatives of women organizations.  Jinane Mneymneh noted that the organization held this event in order to come up with solutions to help women victims of violence especially in terms of how the religious courts deal with cases of domestic violence.  She added that the seminar also addresses how to implement the new law and the role of internal security in this matter.  She added that Lebanon still exhibits several cases of violence despite the enactment of the new law to protect family members from family violence.  She called for a special law to protect women victims of violence.  Following that input, a visual presentation of the organization was made include Q&A on violence against women.  People expressed various opinions on this matter notably “calling for women to leave their houses and go back to their parents”, “stand up against violence as soon as it starts” and “subjecting violent men to psychotherapy”.
The seminar included a lecture by Judge Cheikh Abdel Aziz al Shaffei who explained the various reasons which can lead to divorce according to the Sharia law.  He reiterated that he supports women refusing violence and speaking out against it.  He also noted that it is unacceptable that women suffering from domestic violence should find themselves forced to return home if violence does not cease as this will distort the children’s image towards their humiliated mother.  Shaffei noted that acceptance of violence against women starts with raising girls in a way that strips them of self esteem.  He asked families to raise their daughters in a way that they appreciate themselves and demand their rights while most importantly loving themselves and imposing respect.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 21 August, Al-Safir 25 August 2014