Lebanon’s political and economic situation has been extremely turbulent in recent years. Lebanon is also among the countries with the highest per capita density of refugees globally. About one in three to four people is a refugee, of which 1.5 million Syrian refugees are. Facing the sharp decline in living conditions and the need to get along with what they see as ‘different’, locals, refugees, and both of their next generations must make adjustments.
In the impoverished communities of Greater Beirut, home to families of diverse ethnic, national and religious backgrounds, we gather people aged 5-30 to receive football training while fostering them to resolve conflicts non-violently through mediation, dialogue and forgiveness. In Bekaa Governorate, we currently support a learning centre to provide basic literacy and trauma-informed education to Syrian refugee children. Besides, in Bekaa Valley, Akkaa Governorate, Mount Lebanon Governorate, and North Governorate, we provide heating fuel and essential winter supplies to poor families, including high-quality blankets made by a Syrian women’s sewing group. This does not only assist them to survive through the harsh winter this year but also supports local livelihood initiatives.
