With The Support Of

APRIL 2015

7th issue of the project newsletter

The Government of Germany

The UNDP “Peace Building in Lebanon” project enhances the capacities of local lead-ers, journalists, NGOs actors and educators in crisis management and peace building, particularly in response to the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon. At the local level, it is currently working with local leaders on developing local mechanisms for social stability (MSS) in different areas all over Lebanon.With the media, the project produced the 7th issue of the joint news supplement published with Annahar, As-Safir and The Daily Star providing media spaces for Lebanese and Syrian journalists coming from various media outlets to tackle the impact of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon from a positive perspective. It is also working on monitoring the implementation of the “Journalists’ Pact for Strengthening Civil Peace in Lebanon” launched in 2013.At the education level, the project is also working on integrating peace building con-cepts into the formal educational channel and the school environment and advocating for a culture of tolerance especially in mixed Lebanese-Syrian schools.Finally and at the civil society level, the “Peace Building in Lebanon” project is sup-porting a number of national organizations in implementing peace-buildingprojects through education, culture and disaster management targeting Lebanese and Syrians.

Newsletter contentsPromoting social stability through socio-cultural committees across Lebanon

Wadi Khaled municipalities discuss their concerns with international organizations Between Local Patronage Relationships and

Securitization: The Conflict Context in the Bekaa Region

Working on Lebanese- Lebanese relations in West Bekaa

“Sakakine” A play conveying peace messages between the Lebanese and Syrians

Seventh issue of the joint news supple-ment, a space for understanding the “other”

Discussing the topics of the 7th issue of the joint news supplement

Editors-in-chief discuss a methodology to moni-tor the implementation of the “Journalists’ Pact for Strengthening Civil Peace in Lebanon

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EDITORIAL

Stories on the lives of Syrian displaced and Lebanese host communities in the Bekaa

The UNDP “Peace Building in Lebanon” project in partner-ship with “BRD - Beyond Reform and Development”, and with the financial support of the Department for International Development (DFID) and the UNHCR, has empowered local leaders and representatives from 24 municipalities in South Lebanon, Akkar and Central Bekaa to transform the results of a previous conflict analysis conducted with them into po-tential solutions and mechanisms for social stability tackling socio-economic, socio-cultural and security issues.

Municipalities represented by different types of stakehold-ers were invited to a “socio-cultural” workshop during which they were sensitized to concepts related to human rights, stereotyping, and stigmatization, through interactive and culturally sensitive methodology using different tools: case

studies, role plays, expressive therapeutic art, etc. The workshops aim at mobilizing and supporting local au-thorities and local actors establishing socio-economic and socio-cultural committees in the areas targeted. After the workshops, a follow-up is being ensured by the UNDP through regular meetings. Several issues are being discussed during the meetings such as the structure of the committee, their responsibilities, and the activities that will be implemented by the committees.

“The Syrians’ participation, happening at the socio-cultural level, in the workshops has changed the way we perceive them”, said Cynthia El-Houshami, local actor from Bar Elias, Bekaa.

“The workshop was great”, said Miss Wafaa Chebli, a Syrian displaced woman residing in Majdel ‘Anjar, adding: “A human being should not be a file number. We should clarify to the world that no matter how

diverse and different we are, we are still humans”.

Promoting Social Stability through Socio-cultural committees across Lebanon

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Al Muqaibleh

Wadi Khaled municipalities discuss their concerns with International organizations

Get to know Wadi KhaledThe relationship between the municipalities and the INGOs, the importance of the coordination among the INGOs in implementing future plans in Wadi Khaled and the need to design and implement development projects for the Wadi Khaled communities are some of the topics discussed during a meeting that took place on the 29th of January 2015, which gathered Wadi Khaled mayors and nine international organi-zations operating in Akkar.

This meeting is part of the process support that the UNDP “Peace Building in Lebanon” project is providing to the eight municipalities in Wadi Khaled in terms of crisis management with the financial support of the Department for International Development (DFID)-UK. Its comes after a series of retreats and workshops organized by the project during the months of September and November 2014, during which mayors discussed their concerns, developed recommendations and action plans and worked on the elaboration of the “Munici-palities’ Pact”, which is in their views a local response to the current crisis.

The meeting was an opportunity to clearly elaborate the difference between the role of development agencies and humanitarian ones. It was an occasion for the mayors to reveal their concerns and raise their opinions towards the work of humanitarian and development agencies in Wadi Khaled. It was also an occasion the nine participating or-ganizations (UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, Concern, NRC, SCI, IRC, FAO & LRC-DMU) to share their views and ideas about the work in Wadi Khaled.

The eight municipalities were waiting for this meeting and the participants welcomed the idea of coordinating another meeting later on to continuously openly discuss the issues related to the relationships between the INGOs and the municipalities for a better management of the Syrian crisis’ impact at the local level.

Wadi Khaled comprises of approximately 22 towns, represented by 8 municipalities.

The Wadi Khaled region is located in the Akkar governorate, on the Syrian-Lebanese borders, at the north-eastern corner of Lebanon, in a cluster of villages known as Al-Dreib Al-A’la, with a surface of approximately.The residents of Wadi Khaled acquired the Lebanese citizenship in 1994.

The region is rich with a water source, Al-Safa spring, which is known for its strong affluence, pumping its water into the Nahr Al-Kabir river.

Wadi Khaled has archaeological landmarks dating from the Phoenicians and Byzantine eras, such as the Burj fortress in Al Fard, as well as burial grounds, sarcophagi, caves and churches.

The region is characterized by natural forests of oak trees. It is known for planting chestnut trees due to its lands nature, whose fertility is ranked after the fertility of Turkey’s lands based on the mayors

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wadi khaled

Hishehbani sakher

AmayerRajm issa

khat al petrolAl fard

Al rama

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Working on Lebanese - Lebaneserelations in West Bekaa

In West Bekaa, one of the most affected regions hosting the highest number of Syrian displaced, the UNDP “Peace Building in Lebanon” project created local peace-building committees. These committees support Lebanese-Lebanese social stability by reducing tensions between the Lebanese citizens themselves and between the Lebanese and the Syrians.

After the implementation of a participatory conflict analysis and a capacity-building program entitled “Crisis Management” in 2014, a reference group of local actors representing the seven participating municipalities of Jab Janine, Machghara, Al-Qaraoun, Ghaza, Al-Mansoura, Hawch El-Harime, and Al-Marj was formed to promote social stability between the Syrian and the Lebanese and the Lebanese citizens themselves.

From the 2nd till the 5th of December 2014, the project discussed the problems highlighted during the previous phases in separate meetings held with the above-mentioned municipalities. Possible solutions and suggestions were discussed, such as finding solutions to the sewage networks, to the waste collection, etc.

“When we work on finding solutions to the conflicts, we stop creating them in the first place”; said Mr. Fadi Abi Allam, the consultant working with the UNDP on this project. He added that this project is giving voice to people to talk openly about their problems, share experiences, and find the most suitable ways to solve them. “We are trying to build a culture of tolerance instead of a culture of hate”, he said. The project adopted a participatory approach for the process since the beginning until the planning for sustainable peacebuilding mechanisms adapted to their reality.

The separate meetings with each of the West Bekaa municipalities led to a joint meeting between the seven communities to create a common forum to follow up on matters related to the region. In this context, local leaders from Mansoura, Al-Marj, Ghaza, Hawch El Harimeh, Jab Jannine and Machaghara, met on the 16th of February 2015 with the UNDP team to create a non-governmental organization entitled: “Peace Initiative”. This potential NGO would be working on promoting the culture of dialogue and communication among all the West Bekaa actors, preventing and resolving conflicts through peaceful means and exchanging experiences and connections among members.To ensure the continuity of this initiative, participants have agreed that the NGO will be organize monthly meetings every time in one of the different municipalities.

Success Story

“But of those around me, some people have reconciled themselves with their selves, and with their past. There are those who know that crime is not a feature of a certain people or nationality, and they know how to distinguish between a person and what a person does. There are those who are embarrassed by border procedures whose price is paid by those clinging to life. Around me are persons who love Lebanon without hating everything that isn’t Lebanese”. That’s what journalist Rita Daou from AFP, confessed about the change in her relationship and perception of Syria and Syrians. Rita has given this testimonial in the 7th issue of the joint news supplement published by the UNDP “Peace-Building in Lebanon” project on the 25th of February 2015.

This issue published with Annahar and As-Safir newspapers, in addition to the translated version published with The Daily Star newspaper, discussed several issues reflecting the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon, such as: Syrian refugees in Lebanon: politics and security vs. the humanitarian situation, Lebanese Christians and Syrians, repeated border closures between Lebanon and Syria, mutual racism and the double tragedy of Palestinian refugees from Syria.

Funded by Japan, this supplement gathers the contributions of many Lebanese and Syrian journalists from different media outlets. It sheds the light on the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon, on the Lebanese-Syrian relations and on the social stability. 2000 additional copies of the supplement were distributed through the LibanPost to all ministries, embas-sies, municipalities, media outlets, universities, and non-governmental organizations in Lebanon.

“We at UNDP recognize the power of diversity and believe in the role of the media in creating safe spaces for voices of moderation and reason. In partnership with Annahar, As-Safir, and The Daily Star newspapers, we hope that this supple-ment contributes to understanding the ‘other’”, said Mr. Luca Renda, UNDP Country Director adding that this three-year old initiative engages the media in bringing together journalists from diverse backgrounds to work on promoting peace – an experience befitting a country that has long boasted freedom of speech and which has a vibrant media scene.

Seventh Issue of the Joint News Supplement, a Space for Understanding the “Other”

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Discussing the Topics of the 7th Issue of the Joint News Supplement

In a discussion session organized on the 11th of March 2015 in Dawawine Cafe, Gemmayze, as a follow-up to the release of the supplement, journalists, writers, experts in peace building, activists, heads of NGOs, Syrian and Lebanese social workers and university teachers, gathered to discuss the supplement’s content and share new ideas and suggestions for upcoming ones. The participants had some comments related to the layout of the supplement and they suggested new ideas of topics to be covered. “Give voice to people, to refugees”, said Kassem Kassir, a prominent journalist participating in the supplement. A comment shared by Amal Kaawash, a visual artist also contributing in the supplement. Amal expressed her to read more reports on kids refugees in the upcoming supplement.

For Mohammad Al- Attar, a Syrian director and a participant in this issue, the supplement should focus more on individual efforts and initiatives regarding the Syrian displaced. “A space should be also given to the Syrian displaced to talk about what they are going through”, he added.Rita Daou from AFP, suggested adding a short biography under the name of every participant, to change the size of the pictures and to include stories from the field.

“This supplement is a stroke of light in this terrifying darkness”, said AFP photographer, Mr. Anwar Amro who provided

the supplement with most of the pictures.

Editors-in-Chief Discuss a Methodology to Monitor the Implementation of the “Journalists’ Pact for Strengthening Civil Peace in Lebanon”

“When you signed the Journalists’ Pact for Strengthening Civil Peace in Lebanon in June 2013, you all reaffirmed the Lebanese media’s leading role in rejecting discrimination and promoting civil peace and pledged to promote respect, understanding of the “other” and reconciliation in your daily work”, said UNDP Country Director, Mr. Luca Renda, during a meeting with 23 editors-in-chiefs and media rep-resentatives.

Organized by the UNDP “Peace Building in Lebanon” pro-ject, on the 23rd of February 2015, this meeting aimed at discussing the monitoring methodology proposed by “Maharat Foundation”, the implementing partner for this activity.

The pact was developed and elaborated based on the input of 34 editors-in-chiefs and senior media representatives who signed it in 2013. It is intended to curb incitement by promoting responsible journalism standards, media ethics, duties of journalists and media institutions, media profes-

sionalism, rejection of discrimination, social responsibility and the respect for people’s dignity…

Through this process, and with the financial support of KWF, UNDP will be raising awareness about the pact and its clauses, the engagement of the media in applying it, and about the important role of the media in strengthening civil peace in Lebanon.

In this context, Maharat Foundation will be conducting four media monitoring studies based on four themes elaborated from the journalists’ pact signed by 34 media outlets in ad-dition to one final comprehensive study. The monitoring results will be later on visualized as video explainers that will be produced following each study.

UNDP hopes that this activity will help transform the culture and the environment of media outlets in Lebanon and advo-cate for spreading a culture of peace in the media coverage.

Between Local Patronage Relationships and Securitization: The Conflict Context in the Bekaa Region

Between Local Patronage Relationships and Securitization: The Conflict Context in the Bekaa RegionConflict Analysis Report, January 2015

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Conflict Mapping & Analysis map, Civil Society Knowledge Centre, cskc.daleel-madani.org/cma____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Government of Germany

Following up on the launch of the Conflict Mapping and Analysis project in September 2014 funded by DFID and LRF-Germany, Lebanon Support in collaboration with the UNDP “Peace Building in Lebanon” Project launched on the 13th of January 2015, its first analytical report produced within the framework of the project and which entitled: “Between Local Patronage Relationships and Securitization: The Conflict Context in the Bekaa Region”.

The report provides an analytical summary of the conflict context in the Bekaa region of Lebanon, with a focus on the relationships between the Syrian refugees and the Lebanese host communities in the Baalbeck-Hermel area. It is based on a socio-political qualitative assessment and a conflict analysis that are primarily based on qualitative research con-ducted between the 10th of September and the 10th of October 2014 which collected experiences and perspectives of key informants, as well as Lebanese and Syrian residents of the Bekaa.

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The report ends with a number of case studies on the relationships between the Syrian refugees and the Lebanese host communities. In brief, the relationship between the Syrian refugees and the Lebanese host communities needs to be un-derstood within the context of power imbalance.Young Syrian men and women, and families of Syrian refugees appear to be the easiest targets for attacks and blame in the current tense security situation, as well as for exploitation through local level patronage networks.

Silence of the Lebanese authorities and political groups in response to such attacks and exploitation appears as an en-dorsement of their perpetrators. The condemnations expressed at the local level appear to be of great conflict mitigation value and need to be supported.

During a 6 days training for Tyr’s municipal police officers, the UNDP's "Peace Building in Lebanon" project offered its logistical support to the UNIFIL Civil Affairs, the organizers of the training session. The project offered kits of relevant items related to the training which were distributed to the 17 participants during the final ceremony.

The UNIFIL Civil Affairs thanked the UNDP for their support and the DFC (Deputy Force Commander) of the UNIFIL considered this training as a partnership between the UNDP and the UNIFIL, hoping for further collaboration.

Training for municipal police officers

“Sakakine”, A Play Conveying Peace Messagesbetween the Lebanese and Syrians

What’s the importance of preparing and showcasing Sakakine play in the current situation of the country in general and of South Lebanon in particular?

The importance of this play resides in shedding light on the situation in the country and showing aspects of fear and mis-perceptions towards Syrian displaced. It was an opportunity for both the Lebanese and Syrian youth participating in this play to express these feelings on stage.

How was the interaction between the participants?

At first, everyone was hesitant but later on, when they all shared their opinion, things started to change gradually. Before we began the preparations, many Lebanese didn’t want to talk to the Syrians. During preparations, they started spontaneously talking and sharing views and ideas. Some made many friends and even visited each other’s.

What are the messages you wanted to say throughthis play?

We wanted to send messages of love, peace and compassion. We just wanted to say to the world: stop war, work for peace.

The Youth Network for Civic Activism (YNCA) launched a project called “Ashkal Alwan” (Shapes & Colors) with the financial support of the UNDP, to promote social stability among the Lebanese and the Syrian youth through artistic activities and theatre. The project aims at building the capacities of five Lebanese youth groups in Marja’youn and Hasbaya, and enables them to play an effective role in their local communities.

Three Questions to Ali Dia, Journalist and Director of the “Sakakine” Play

Under the supervision of the director and journalist Ali Dia, the Youth Network for Civic Activism has worked closely, with youth actors representing the local host communities in the south and the Syrian displaced in two informal settlements, they worked on designing and producing a theatre play that conveys peacebuilding and conflict resolution messages. A series of workshops were organized to create a theatrical sce-nario that deals with the repercussions of the Syrian displace-ment on their communities as well as the implication of mass displacement on host societies.The first show entitled “Sakakine” took place on the 7th of February, at one of the hotels in Marja’youn. More than 350 attendees from the surrounding villages and the refugees’ informal settlements enjoyed the show that lasted for 80 minutes, featuring real life stories, and reflecting the dy-namics imposed by the crisis in a positive way, the show aimed at curbing stereotypes and discrimination, with the participation of the French division in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.The performers, along with the formed committees and the mayors of the surrounding villages thoroughly discussed their feedback in a closed session and they all highlighted the importance of the YNCA’s project and its role in bridging the gap between both communities and in fostering social stabil-ity and peace-building.

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Stories on the lives of Syrian displaced and Lebanese host communities in the BekaaThe Image Festival Association - Zakira, in cooperation with the UNDP, and with the financial support of the LRF-Germany is building the capacities of 30 Syrian and Lebanese young people in the Marj and Mansoura villages in the West Bekaa, by providing video and editing training courses through a series of workshops. This project is helping the youth develop 15 short videos entailing stories covering aspects of the lives of the Syrian refugee communities in the Bekaa, as well as stories from the neighboring Lebanese host communities.

Shahed Khayto(20 years old from Alzabadani, Reef Da-mascus, Syria)This workshop is the rescue ship that is carrying us away from the depression and monotony to the shore of hope. I remember that I received on my 9th birthday a plastic black camera from my dad. I remember being very happy. I used

Mhammad Aljundi(16 years old from Hamma, Syria)This is a great new opportunity for me, especially that I was forced to quit school due to the security concerns and the eco-nomic situation.I was an excellent student at my school, but war has displaced us. Now I feel that my only chance is to become a daily laborer, which isn’t what I aspire for.When I heard about this training, I was so excited and hasted to register.This is a special training where we are learning the techniques of video direction and photography.

Moataz Saleh(22 years old from Al Marj, West Bekaa, Lebanon) At first I participated in this training out of curiosity and I was hoping to meet new people. After that, my perception changed; I viewed the topic from a different angle. I can capture things now differently by di-recting the angles, lighting and distance. This workshop has helped me decide to continue studies in photography.

Therese Bechara(25 years old, from Mansoura, West Bekaa, Lebanon)It is a special experience that provided me with wide knowledge and modern tech-niques in photography.I am so happy because I had the chance to meet amazing people from both Lebanon and Syrian.

Salam LADC launched a project called “ ” with the financial support of the UNDP, to raise awareness about infectious diseases and other related health issues in the informal settlements. This project was launched in three different informal set-tlements in the Bekaa, and so far Salam LADC’s team conducted three first aid sessions, as part of a long term strategy aiming at creating a quick response and an emergency system in the rural areas. The sessions were coupled with recreational activi-ties targeting the youth, with the goal of creating safe spaces for children in the informal settlement. Also SALAM LADC will be inviting the informal settlements inhabitants to awareness-raising sessions about infectious diseases and public health. At the end of the trainings local refugee committees will be established with a specific role for each (logistic, safety, health, emergency and external communication). “ I have become friends with so many people during these recreational activities”, Aya Abboud, 9 years old, Al Jarrahiye informal settlement, Al Marj, West Bekaa. “The training is a very useful and unique experience. I am very happy that I got the chance to participate in it as we really need to know such information nowadays. We might even be saving lives with the most proper techniques” Anas Diab, 21 years old, Al Jarrahiye informal settlement, Al Marj, West Bekaa.

to carry it with me everywhere I went, although it wasn’t a real camera. I pretended to shoot pictures as if I were in an investiga-tion assignment… till this day, I still have it. I even brought it with me to Lebanon. Since I was a child, I dreamt of being a photographer. But with time I gave up on it; until I had the chance to participate in this workshop. We have been taught that the camera is our weapon towards peace and a safer life. We can defend ourselves through capturing and revealing the truth.We really have learned to shoot photos professionally.

نحنا جريان

“We are neighbours” in Bekaa

The UNDP “Peace Building in Lebanon” project aimed since 2007 at enhancing mutual understanding and social cohesion in a participatory approach with youth, educators, media, NGOs, municipal council members and mukhtars and local leaders.

In response to the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon and in order to alleviate the growing tensions in the country, the project works on enhancing the capacities of different society groups from local leaders to educators, media and civil society, on crisis management, peace building and conflict resolution.The project supports these groups in developing both medium- and long-term strategies for peace building.

For more informationPeace Building in Lebanon ProjectArab African International Bank BuildingRiad El Solh StreetNejmeh, Beirut - Lebanon Telephone: 01- 980 583 or 70-119160