Community Support Program in Lebanon aaaaaa October 2020
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In the two months since explosions rocked the Beirut Port on August 4, the Lebanon Community Support Program (CSP), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has continued implementing a portfolio of assistance aimed at kick-starting the rehabilitation of the hardest-hit neighborhoods. CSP ramped up its clean-up work in blast-affected areas (highlighted in the September edition of this newsletter) and expanded its efforts to the neighborhood of Karantina, paying a total of 341 local residents to remove 4,244 tons of rubble and other debris. USAID through CSP also began installing 500 light bulbs with galvanized arms to replace lighting units in east Beirut damaged in the blast. In September, CSP’s work in the areas was toured by David Schenker, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs (see the video below). Finally, CSP installed portable toilets at the Beirut Port that can be used by workers and drivers helping to keep the Port up and running. In the weeks ahead, CSP will continue implementing emergency activities and expand its portfolio to include support to skilled workers in assisting residents with repairs, support to repair essential services like electrical transformers in damaged communities, and support to a local community kitchen to reduce the financial burden of securing food on needy local families.
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When Sarah and Rita heard about USAID’s clean-up initiative following the August 4 explosions, they thought it was the ideal opportunity to help impacted communities while also generating a decent income amid the country’s deepening economic crisis. Watch the video to hear how Sarah and Rita plan to use the money they earned by working on CSP's emergency response.
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Nasser
Nasser owns three stores in Beirut, all of which were partly damaged in the August 4 blasts. Hear how Nasser responded when temporary workers hired by USAID through CSP helped him to clean up the wreckage, enabling him to begin the rebuilding process.
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CSP Delivers Personal Protective Equipment to Home Care Firms |
After learning that partner home-based health care businesses were experiencing increased pressure for their services amid the COVID-19 pandemic, CSP delivered personal protective equipment to help them cope with the strain. CSP previously provided the partners with two training workshops to help them continue treating patients. Pictured here are members from the Beirut-based firm Home Care receiving PPE like protective gowns, masks, gloves, face shields, hand sanitizers, disinfectant, and disposable garbage bags. |
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CSP-Supported Women's COOP Ramps Up Fall Food Production |
Having undergone a CSP-provided training on food processing techniques and recipe standardization, the women's agricultural cooperative in northern Jdaidet el Qaitaa whipped up its first solo batch of locally made products. In the months ahead, the COOP will continue producing goods like mixed pickles, fig jam, concentrated lemonade, pizza sauce, and makdous. Look out for their products — complete with CSP-upgraded branding — in the months ahead!
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Soon you can shop at USAID-donated kiosks like this one in the southern village of __________!
Hint: In addition to providing the kiosks for this village's community market, CSP also upgraded the local public event space, designed new-and-improved branding, and offered residents training on how to optimize revenues from the market.
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Meet the CSP Team:
Workforce Development Director Khadija Al Zahzah
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Khadija has overcome many obstacles to reach the position she is in today. As a young divorced mother of two, she left her native Lebanon for the U.S; but struggled to find a professional job there without a college education. After working her way through university, Khadija eventually graduated with a master's degree from Harvard in education policy analysis and planning. At CSP, Khadija is helping to unlock opportunities to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) for Lebanese youth. This includes helping women find work in fields traditionally dominated by men, such as IT and industrial repair and maintenance. "Time is up for gender injustice. Women want to see their human rights respected,” Khadija says. |
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Photo: Khadija stands alongside a picture of CSP's workforce development team to mark International Women's Day 2020, whose slogan was "Each for Equal." |
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This newsletter is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The content of this newsletter is the sole responsibility of the Community Support Program (CSP) in Lebanon and does not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. |
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