2005 press releases

USAID Signs Agreements with Five Lebanese Organizations Totaling $154,600

November 15, 2005

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Lebanon Mission Director Raouf Youssef signed grant agreements with five Lebanese non-governmental organizations totaling $154,600 at the U.S. Embassy on November 15, 2005.

The organizations work in the socio-economic and humanitarian fields of care for the visually impaired, rehabilitation of the physically disabled and medical and health services. The five projects will directly benefit over 4,000 individuals, including visually impaired individuals, individuals with physical disabilities and medical patients from rural areas throughout Lebanon.

USAID signed agreements with the following organizations:

1) $14,600 to the Christian Association for the Blind in Dekwaneh to purchase computer and software systems specially designed for the visually impaired. Established in 1994 for the capacity building, socio-economic development and integration of the blind, the association serves more than 60 visually impaired individuals from throughout Lebanon. USAID’s assistance will help the association reach out to rural areas to provide computer training for the blind.

2) $40,000 to the Forum of the Handicapped Association in North Lebanon in Tripoli to purchase equipment for the physiotherapy department, develop the computer-training center and the speech therapy unit. The association serves more than 2,800 handicapped individuals from throughout North Lebanon, including Batroun, Tripoli, Akkar, Chekka, Anfeh, Zogharta and Koura. The center provides medical, educational, social assistance, capacity building and home rehabilitation services for the physically disabled. USAID’s assistance will help the association improve the socio-economic livelihood of handicapped individuals in North Lebanon.

3) $50,000 to the Organization of Social and Health Services in Tripoli to procure an eye surgery machine that will enhance the ophthalmologic services the center provides to more than 100 individuals per year. Established in 1996, the organization provides medical, educational and social assistance to economically disadvantaged families at nominal fees. The organization’s charity dispensary specializes in internal medicine, dentistry, cardiology, gynecology, laboratory and other specializations.

4) $25,000 to the Health and Social Center Association in Wadi El Arayesh in Zahle to procure equipment to establish an eye examination room in their charity dispensary, a service that was not available to date at the dispensary and that is highly demanded by needy families in the region. USAID’s assistance will significantly improve the quality of medical services that the association provides to more than 300 residents of Zahle and the surrounding villages.

5) $25,000 to the Kurdish Association Al Arz for Sports and Culture/Al Arz Dispensary in Beirut to procure equipment for the dentistry section of the association. The organization was established in 1969 with the purpose of providing sports, cultural, socio-economic and medical services to needy individuals from throughout Lebanon. USAID’s assistance will benefit more than 800 patients per year, by upgrading the association’s medical and pharmaceutical services.

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 assistance a 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.