U.S. Embassy Announces Grants for Forest Fire Protection and Economic Development Throughout Lebanon

May 28, 2009

Ambassador Michele J. Sison announced three new grant agreements with Lebanese non-governmental organizations today.  

The BADER Association received $48,500 for entrepreneurship training throughout Lebanon, including Beirut, Tripoli, Nabatiyeh, the Shouf and Metn.  This capacity building project offers a series of training sessions and workshops on subjects ranging from presentation skills to business plan development, marketing and financial planning.  The objective is to offer Lebanese youth the opportunity to develop business ideas into small or medium sized enterprises and to realize their potential as entrepreneurs so that they might contribute to the national economy

The Association for Forests, Development and Conservation (AFDC) received $50,000 to launch a public awareness campaign inspired by “Smokey the Bear,” which is the longest running public service campaign in the United States.  The campaign will address the increasing number of wildfires in Lebanon’s forests and to increase people’s awareness about protecting forests.  It will include a new Lebanese fictional character created to represent the campaign’s image and educational materials regarding forest fire prevention, which will be disseminated though various activities, events and the media.

The Rene Mouawad Foundation (RMF) received $49,800 to build small-scale livestock breeders’ capacity in the Akkar region.   Improving dairy production, both in quantity and quality, will lead to an increase in income.  The project will organize training sessions, on-site technical assistance and equip a laboratory.  In addition, this project will increase awareness of milk quality standards and contribute to a reduction of fod safety risks.

Earlier in the year, the U.S. Embassy announced a $50,940 grant to Makkom Association to provide vocational training in the heating and air conditioning installation field to sixty youth from the Bab El-Tabbeneh area.

The U.S. Embassy’s Small Grants Program underscores the U.S. Government's support to local organizations and highlights the importance Americans accord to communities’ effort to improve citizens’ lives.