press releases 2007

U.S. Ambassador Visits Apple Harvesting in Northern Lebanon

October 23, 2007

Photo courtesy of CHF-Lebanon...

Today, U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman visited two villages in northern Lebanon:  Hadshit and Ehden to review U.S. assistance programs in those areas.   In Hadshit, he saw the revitalizing of the Hadshit Mixed School, funded by the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Lebanon Education Assistance for Development (LEAD) program.  LEAD reaches 263 public schools throughout Lebanon and works in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.  By focusing on rehabilitating school structures; providing laboratory equipment, supplies and books; conducting awareness programs on health, nutrition and social awareness; and organizing extracurricular activities for students, the LEAD program is enhancing educational opportunities.

Ambassador Feltman also visited farmers harvesting their apples in Ehden.  The Apple Harvesting Aid project which is implemented by the Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF) International also receives funding from USAID.  The apple harvesting project takes place this time of year in thirty villages in five different districts – Akkar, Zogharta, North Beqaa, Keserwan and Bsharre.  750 local farmers are part of the project and they in-turn are employing over 700 people.  This USAID project enhances apple harvesting techniques, improves the farmers’ incomes, provides jobs for the unemployed, and connects the farmers to larger market networks. 

These activities are just some examples of the support of the people of the United States to the people of Lebanon.  Since September 2006, the United States has committed over USD 1 billion in a variety of areas to help build a strong, prosperous, united, democratic, and independent Lebanon.  The U.S. commitment to Lebanon remains firm, enduring, and non-negotiable.  

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