Programme Lines

We are combining peacebuilding with humanitarian aid. Under the umbrella of the Peacebuilding Programme, providing for the institutional set-up and the basic infrastructure of our work, the daily activities in the premises and surroundings of our Peace Centres have developped in three operational Programme Lines.

The Educational Programme includes the offer of fast-track foreign language courses and tutorials to prepare Syrian refugees for the Lebanese curriculum, which is partly taught in French - a main obstacle to school enrollment for Syrians. We also offer vocational training combined with basic literacy and numeracy. Life skills modules (non-violent action, environmental awareness, hygiene and computer training) are integrated into all courses.
The Psychosocial Programme includes regular outreach visits to refugee families and host communities as well as the organisation of regular recreational, cultural and sports activities, both for children and adolescents, on a daily and weekly basis. We also organise extraordinary workshops, with the help of international Project Volunteers, and annual events like the summer mountain camp, uniting the youth of different communities.
The Humanitarian Programme provides material help to the youth and their families in most urgent need. In close cooperation with national and international organisations, we are trying to respond to those needs that have been neglected by large-scale aid programmes of the UN and other NGOs. We are distributing emergency food baskets when needed and we have supplied medicaments to dispensaries run by Syrian doctors. Under this programme, we also reply to individual emergencies.

Peacebuilding is fully incorporated into the daily work of the aforementioned programme lines. An advocacy and conflict transformation strategy, to be implemented together with the local Steering Committee, will address community-based tensions in the region. Inter-religious dialogue and non-violent training modules will be integrated into all other activities.

Our first Peace Centre opened its gates in 1 July 2013. As from October 2013, all three supporting programme lines have been operational. The Humanitarian Aid Programme had already started before with first emergency distributions to newly arriving Syrian refugees who have survived the harsh battles of Qusayr and Homs.

Thanks to the many volunteers who support us from home, we could limit the overhead costs in every year since our establishment to less than 1% of our overall budget. Please make a donation here to support us in our work!

Donate Now!

Cover photo: Syrian refugee children in Akkar (Lebanon)