press releases 2009

U.S. Ambassador Discusses Community Needs with Youth, Leaders in West Beqaa

October 31, 2009

U.S. Ambassador Michele J. Sison listens to members of the West Beqaa community discuss their ideas for community projects in Ghaze.

On October 31, 2009 U.S. Ambassador Michele J. Sison visited Ghaze, West Beqaa and met with residents of fifteen municipalities for a discussion of the challenges faced by local governments to meet their communities’ needs.  The Ambassador along with the heads of West Beqaa municipalities and several members of parliament  listened to a community needs assessment put together by a group of youth from the Beqaa, with help from the Vision Association for Development, Rehabilitation and Care (Vision-Beqaa).

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Sison congratulated the youth leaders for their accomplishments and encouraged the political leaders present to continue to work directly with the communities they represent.  She said,  “Governments need to be responsive to their local populations.  Leaders need to know what the people need and the best way to give it to them.  Here in the Beqaa, the young people have a vested interested in improving their communities, the very communities that they will one day lead.  I am impressed to see how the young people of this region have organized themselves to brings some very important issues to the attention of their leaders. I also look forward to assisting your communities take these the best aspects of these plans and put them into action.”

Over the last year, the United States has provided $57,000 to Vision through USAID programming to work with the youth of Beqaa to develop their own positive and constructive local initiatives.  Through this partnership, Vision was able to equip their
facility to provide computer courses and civic education workshops.  Through the training, the U.S. and Vision have directly benefitted about 800 people and reached another several hundred community members through discussion sessions.