U.S. Helps Reduce Barriers to Employment for Lebanese with Disabilities

December 21, 2009

U.S. Helps Reduce Barriers to Employment for Lebanese with Disabilities

Three trainees at the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and the Lebanese Transparency Association (LTA) welcomed the United States Ambassador to Lebanon Michele J. Sison at their workplaces on December 21, 2009.  Nariman Abou Alfa, Hiba Sous, and Mohannad Barakat were placed as employees at these organizations after receiving training in English, computer literacy and communication through a training program funded by the United States.  The program, called Towards Inclusive Development in Lebanon, aims to increase the inclusion of people with disabilities in Lebanon’s social and economic development by providing them with training and work experience at organizations and projects funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).  To date, over 20 people with disabilities have already received training, and nine have already been placed as trainees at local organizations.
During the visit, the Nariman, Hiba, and Mohannad expressed their excitement and happiness with the benefits they and their families have received from the program.  Ambassador Sison congratulated them for their hard work and stressed the importance of integrating people with disabilities into the Lebanese workforce.

Previously, LTA has partnered with the U.S. Embassy on several other projects aimed at building a strong civil society in Lebanon.  Through the Middle East Partnership Initiative, LTA has worked to improve transparency and accountability in the electoral process and raise awareness on electoral reform. LTA also was a key Embassy partner in the launching of the Lebanese Youth Coalition against Corruption (LYCAC), which empowered young people in thirty-eight villages across Lebanon to become more active in encouraging the transparency and accountability of their local government bodies.