2005 press releases

USAID Presents $365,000 to Ten Lebanese Organizations

09 March 2005

U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman and United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Lebanon Mission Director Raouf Youssef presented on March 9, 2005 $365,000 to ten Lebanese organizations working in the fields of agriculture, education, vocational training, elder care, rehabilitation for the disabled, children with special needs, rehabilitation of abused women and orphan care.

The ten projects will directly benefit more than 1,660 individuals in the areas of Falougha, Barhalyoun, Jounieh, Sehaile, Ain Al Rimmaneh, Zahle, Dahr El Ahmar, Daroun and Ajaltoun.

USAID granted funds to the following organizations:

1) $30,000 to the Beekeepers Cooperative of Higher Metn to procure equipment and upgrade their honey and wax processing center, as well as audio-visual materials for the beekeeping training program. Based in Falougha, the Cooperative includes 83 beekeepers from 31 villages in the region.

2) $50,000 to Saint Joseph School/Sisters of Charity to purchase equipment for the school, class furniture and computers. The school is newly established in the remote rural area of Barhalyoun in Koura and accommodates 50 students.

3) $33,000 to the Friends of the Public School/Paradis d'Enfants in Jounieh to purchase educational and audio-visual materials. The low-cost school currently accommodates more than 650 boys and girls aged between 3 and 12 years, from all over Lebanon.

4) $22,000 to the Centre de Formation Professionelle du Bon Pasteur/Soeurs du Bon Pasteur to purchase audio-visual materials, computers and kitchen equipment for the center. Located in Sehaile in Keserwan, the center provides sanctuary and protection for girls and young women from all over Lebanon who have been abused. The center accommodates 40 young women aged between 13 and 22 years, providing them with full boarding, vocational training and an illiteracy elimination program.

5) $30,500 to the Asile Maronite des Vieillards in Ain El Rimmaneh to purchase kitchen and living equipment to improve the services that the center provides to the elderly. The center accommodates 100 elderly persons, 95 percent of whom are women.

6) $32,000 to "Muntada Al Moqadeen" (Disabled Forum) to develop the center's physiotherapy department, establish a computer training center and a candle production unit. Located in Zahle in Beqaa, the center directly benefits 45 individuals with physical disabilities per year.

7) $50,000 to Days of Hope in Zahle in Beqaa to improve the cooking and catering section, students' lunchroom, vocational training services and income-generating activities. Days of Hope serves 79 persons with mental disabilities, providing early intervention program for children, special education classes, classes for the hearing impaired, speech training and vocational training.

8) $50,000 to the Children Welfare Association in Dahr El Ahmar in Rachaya to procure equipment for the dispensary. The dispensary provides medical, educational and cultural services to needy rural families, children and orphans.

9) $44,000 to Saint Charbel Technical School to establish the catering section for a hospitality-training program, to benefit 30 economically disadvantaged students per year. The school is a free vocational school located in Daroun in Harissa and serves 160 boys per year from all Lebanese regions.

10) $23,500 to Maison Saint Joseph in Ajaltoun to improve the facilities of the orphanage by purchasing kitchen equipment. Maison Saint Joseph provides shelter and primary education to 350 children per year coming from all Lebanese regions.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has worked in Lebanon since 1951, funding development projects to benefit Lebanese citizens. USAID's program promotes economic opportunities, job creation, good governance and environmental policies and practices in rural Lebanon. USAID provides $35 million in assistance each year and works in partnership with U.S. and Lebanese organizations throughout the country. USAID strengthens the relationship between the people of Lebanon and the people of the United States, and promotes a shared vision of democracy and socio-economic development.

For more information about USAID's projects in Lebanon, visit USAID's web site www.usaidlebanon.org.lb.