نظمت جمعية مارش بالتعاون مع الجيش اللبناني حملة تنظيف لقلعة طرابلس ضمن إطار فعاليات ” مدينة طرابلس عاصمة للثقافة العربية” ، على أن تشمل حملة التنظيف التي بدأت اليوم وتستمر لمدة أربعة أسابيع ازالة الشوائب عن جدران القلعة من الداخل والخارج وطبعاً يشارك في هذا العمل جهاز الطوارئ والإغاثة وصباحاً وقبل بدء الأعمال كانت كلمة لقائد لواء المشاة الثاني عشر العميد الركن فادي أبو حيدر قال:”نرحب في اليوم الاول من تنظيف القلعة وهو اليوم الاساس لتنسيق العمل بين الجميع نرحب بجمعية “مارش “والتي هي الداعم الاول للمشروع وعلى رأسها العميد يعقوب معوض كما وبفريق العمل، إضافة إلى فريق عمل الهيئة الطبية وهم الذين سيعملون بشكل عام على موضوع تسلق الجدران ونرحب بجهاز الطوارئ والاغاثة وسيكون لهم دوران دور في الاغاثة والدور في عمليه التنظيف بمساعدة فوج التدخل الاول بغية ازالة الاعشاب عن الجدران ، إلى جانب تقديم الإسعافات الاولية اذا لا قدر الله وأصيب احد العاملينوتابع:”كقائد لواء الثاني عشر نعمل ضمن أرضنا ولدينا امر السريه مئتان واثنان وثلاثون، لقد قسمنا القلعة الى عده أقسام ، والخريطة تظهر كيفية العمل ضمن الرقم واحد أي جدران القلعة، الرقم اثنان داخل القلعة والاسبوع الثالث والرابع سنعمل على الجدران، وبالطبع سنتناول كل قسم ونتابعه خلال العمل الذي سيمتد على أربعة أسابيع قائد فوج التدخل الأول العميد الركن جورج رزق الله قال:” بالطبع هذا الموضوع في غاية الأهمية خصوصا ضمن اطار اعلان مدينة طرابلس مدينة ثقافية للعام 2024، وكفوج تدخل اول سيكون لنا عمل على الجدران بالتعاون مع جهاز الطوارئ، وسوف ننجز هذا المشروع بأفضل طريقة ونحرص على ان تكون قلعة طرابلس منارة للعالم كله ابراهيم زيلع امين مركز طرابلس في جهاز الطوارئ والاغاثة قال:” وجودنا لمساعدة فرق الجيش ضمن فريق الانقاذ الجبلي، وفي الشق الثاني نحن على جهوزية تامة لوضع خيمتين لمواكبة أعمال الشباب، وهناك سيارات إسعاف لمواكبة أي طارئ وعن جمعية مارش تحدث العميد المتقاعد يعقوب معوض فقال:”سابقا كنت اخدم في مدينة طرابلس كقائد اللواء الثاني عشر ، وبقيت قائداً لهذا اللواء من ال 2017 لل 2019 وخلالها عايشت تفاصيل مدينة طرابلس ومشاكلها واحداثها وكنت دائما أسمع أصوات في طرابلس، أينما كنا في بلدية طرابلس او عند مسؤولين ، لديهم نظرة خاطئة ان الجيش موجود في القلعة وفي ملعب الاولمبي ولكن اقول ان هذا الشيء غير صحيح وهو ظالم بحق الجيش الذي يحمي القلعة ، اليوم وضمن اعلان مدينة طرابلس عاصمه للثقافة العربية للعام 2024 احببنا ان نقوم بشيء مهم ولم نجد أهم من قلعتها وتنظيفها وترميمها وأن نزيل الضرر عنها وردا على سؤال أجاب :”قلعه طرابلس تشكل رمزاً كبيراً لدى الأهالي فهي تعود الى عهد الفاطميين وهي بمثابة إرث ثقافي وتنظيفها اليوم يساعد في إطالة عمرها لأن الحشيش والأعشاب يؤديان الى زعزعه الصخور والجدران وتماسكها ونحن ضمن الامكانيات المتوفره نعمل على ازاله الضرر عن قلعه طرابلس ونحافظ على تماسكها وعندما تصبح اداره الدوله قادره تستطيع ان تعمل الشيء اللازم وردا على سؤال حول من المسؤول عن إهمالها قال:” الجميع مسؤول عن حماية الارث الثقافي وحتى وسائل الاعلام التي لا تضيء على أي حدث مهم في طرابلس فقط المشاكل الأمنية تستحوذ على إهتمامها حتى المواطن ولكن اهتمامه اليوم يتلخص بتأمين لقمة عيشه ، لكن يجب أن نهتم لأن هذا هو بترول لبنان وسياحته ومستقبلهوعن الإنارة قال:” سنعمل على إضاءتها وهناك مولد خاص بها تابع للبلدية وقد يكون هناك تعاقد وتعاون مع أصحاب المولدات الخاصة نتمنى أن يكون لقلعة طرابلس دور هام في المستقبل
Tag: North Lebanon
حملة تنظيف قلعة طرابلس من الداخل والخارج
تعاون مشترك بين جمعية مارش والجيش اللبناني نظمت جمعية مارش بالتعاون مع الجيش اللبناني حملة تنظيف لقلعة طرابلس ضمن إطار فعاليات ” مدينة طرابلس عاصمة للثقافة العربية” ، على أن تشمل حملة التنظيف التي بدأت اليوم وتستمر لمدة أربعة أسابيع ازالة الشوائب عن جدران القلعة من الداخل والخارج وطبعاً يشارك في هذا العمل جهاز الطوارئ والإغاثة العميد أبو حيدر وصباحاً وقبل بدء الأعمال كانت كلمة لقائد لواء المشاة 12 العميد الركن فادي أبو حيدر قال:”نرحب في اليوم الاول من تنظيف القلعه وهو اليوم الاساس لتنسيق العمل بين الجميع نرحب بجمعيه “مارش “والتي هي الداعم الاول للمشروع وعلى رأسها العميد يعقوب معوض كما وبفريق العمل، إضافة إلى فريق عمل الهيئه الطبيه وهم الذين سيعملون بشكل عام على موضوع تسلق الجدران ونرحب بجهاز الطوارئ والاغاثه وسيكون لهم دورين دور في الاغاثه والدور في عمليه التنظيف بمساعده فوج التدخل الاول بغية ازاله الاعشاب عن الجدران ، إلى جانب تقديم الإسعافات الاوليه اذا لا قدر الله وأصيب احد العاملين وتابع:”كقائد لواء 12 نعمل ضمن أرضنا ولدينا امر السريه 232 ، لقد قسمنا القلعة الى عده أقسام ، والخريطة تظهر كيفية العمل ضمن الرقم واحد أي جدران القلعه، الرقم 2 داخل القلعه والاسبوع الثالث والرابع سنعمل على الجدران، وبالطبع سنتناول كل قسم ونتابعه خلال العمل الذي سيمتد على أربعة أسابيع العميد رزق الله قائد فوج التدخل الأول العميد الركن جورج رزق الله قال:” بالطبع هذا الموضوع في غاية الأهمية خصوصا ضمن اطار اعلان مدينه طرابلس مدينه ثقافيه للعام 2024، وكفوج تدخل اول سيكون لنا عمل على الجدران بالتعاون مع جهاز الطوارئ، وسوف ننجز هذا المشروع بأفضل طريقة ونحرص على تكون قلعة طرابلس منارة للعالم كله زيلع ابراهيم زيلع امين مركز طرابلس في جهاز الطوارئ والاغاثة قال:” وجودنا لمساعدة فرق الجيش ضمن فريق الانقاذ الجبلي، وفي الشق الثاني نحن على جهوزية تامة لوضع خيمتين لمواكبة أعمال الشباب، وهناك سيارات إسعاف لمواكبة أي طارئ العميد معوض وعن جمعية مارش تحدث العميد المتقاعد يعقوب معوض فقال:”سابقا كنت اخدم في مدينه طرابلس كقائد اللواء الثاني عشر ، وبقيت قائداً لهذا اللواء من ال 2017 لل 2019 وخلالها عايشت تفاصيل مدينه طرابلس ومشاكلها واحداثها وكنت دائما أسمع أصوات في طرابلس، أينما كنا في بلديه طرابلس او عند مسؤولين ، لديهم نظره خاطئه ان الجيش موجود في القلعه وفي ملعب الاولمبي ولكن اقول ان هذا الشيء غير صحيح وهو ظالم بحق الجيش الذي يحمي القلعه ، اليوم وضمن اعلان مدينه طرابلس عاصمه للثقافه العربيه للعام 2024 احببنا ان نقوم بشيء مهم ولم نجد أهم من قلعتها وتنظيفها وترميمها وأن نزيل الضرر عنها وردا على سؤال أجاب :”قلعه طرابلس تشكل رمزاً كبيراً لدى الأهالي فهي تعود الى عهد الفاطميين وهي بمثابة إرث ثقافي وتنظيفها اليوم يساعد في إطالة عمرها لأن الحشيش والأعشاب يؤديان الى زعزعه الصخور والجدران وتماسكها ونحن ضمن الامكانيات المتوفره نعمل على ازاله الضرر عن قلعه طرابلس ونحافظ على تماسكها وعندما تصبح اداره الدوله قادره تستطيع ان تعمل الشيء اللازم وردا على سؤال حول من المسؤول عن إهمالها قال:” الجميع مسؤول عن حماية الارث الثقافي وحتى وسائل الاعلام التي لا تضيء على أي حدث مهم في طرابلس فقط المشاكل الأمنية تستحوذ على إهتمامها حتى المواطن ولكن اهتمامه اليوم يتلخص بتأمين لقمة عيشه ، لكن يجب أن نهتم لأن هذا هو بترول لبنان وسياحته ومستقبله وعن الإنارة قال: سنعمل على إضاءتها وهناك مولد خاص بها تابع للبلدية وقد يكون هناك تعاقد وتعاون مع أصحاب المولدات الخاصة نتمنى أن يكون لقلعة طرابلس دورا هاماً في المستقبل
إطلاق حملة لتنظيف قلعة طرابلس
ضمن إطار فعاليات ” طرابلس عاصمة للثقافة العربية” حظيت قلعة طرابلس الأثرية بإهتمام جمعية مارش لجهة إطلاق حملة لتنظيفها وإزالة الحشائش من داخلها وتلك التي نمت على جدرانها بهدف الحفاظ ورفع الضرر عنها، العمل يأتي بالتعاون مع الجيش اللبناني ويستمر أربعة أسابيع ومن داخل القلعة بدأت الأعمال صباح اليوم حيث شرح قائد لواء المشاة 12 العميد الركن فادي أبو حيدر كيفية تقسيم القلعة قائد فوج التدخل الأول العميد الركن جورج رزق الله أكد على ضرورة أن تلعب القلعة دورها كمنارة لطرابلس وعن جمعية مارش تحدث العميد المتقاعد يعقوب معوض لصوت لبنان طبعاً أعمال التنظيف والإضاءة في غاية الأهمية بالنسبة لقلعة طرابلس لكن الإهتمام الدائم والعمل على دعمها المتواصل يستوجب تحرك الوزارات والسلطات المعنية وبلدية طرابلس المسؤولة بالدرجة الأولى فهل سيتغير الواقع مع حملة تنظيفها اليوم؟
Transformative Collaborations: Building Bridges between Local Communities and Governmental Institutions
A History of Clashes, Battles, and Resentment The city of Tripoli, Lebanon, has faced its share of challenges, including periods of partial government absence and clashes between the communities of Jabal Mohsen and Bab El Tebbeneh, as well as between these communities and security institutions, notably the Lebanese Armed Forces. During the peak conflicts of 2011, the government’s presence diminished, only to reemerge in 2014 with a new security plan. However, this resurgence came with raids and arrests that left elevated feelings of resentment towards the Lebanese Armed Forces and the state. Consequently, tense relationships developed between the Lebanese Armed Forces and the community, leading to ongoing clashes. MARCHing Forward for Change MARCH recognized that fostering stability and unity required rebuilding trust, respect, understanding, and communication between local communities and the Lebanese army. This vision led to the creation of innovative initiatives aimed at bridging the gap and shifting perceptions away from hatred towards acceptance and tolerance. Sustainable and resilient stability isn’t achieved in isolation; it’s the outcome of collective efforts from diverse stakeholders working together. As such, MARCH strategically collaborated with the public sector, particularly the Lebanese Armed Forces, to reshape perceptions, rebuild trust, and foster unity within a community that has experienced conflict and division. Building Bridges Through Sports One of MARCH’s innovative approaches is football tournaments that bring together youth from historically opposing neighborhoods, Bab El Tebbeneh and Jabal Mohsen, along with members of the Lebanese Army. The participants form mixed teams, fostering teamwork and respect both on and off the field. By promoting trust and collaboration, these activities aim to positively influence individual and community opinions and change the narratives of war and hatred. This approach was previously successful with the biannual three-week-long football tournament. Building Bridges Through Dialogue In May 2019, MARCH organized a two-day army camp that facilitated open dialogues and physical activities between the Bab El Dahab team and the soldiers of Tripoli’s 12th infantry brigade. This retreat delved into past conflicts, encouraged team-building exercises, and provided shared experiences through team-building activities and shared meals. The event proved transformative, fostering mutual respect and a sense of partnership between the two groups. Moreover, an impressive example is the military training base established from the ground up. Young individuals from Bab El Tebbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, some of whom had participated in MARCH’s rehabilitative programs, teamed up with the Lebanese Army. This initiative involved constructing various elements of the facility, while dynamic ice-breaking activities focused on teamwork and interpersonal dynamics. Through daily cooperation and a shared goal, tensions dissipated, and a foundation for unity and inclusion was solidified. Building Bridges through Construction and Agriculture The civil-military cooperation activities were numerous and successful throughout the years. They brought the youth closer to military institutions and enabled them to learn various construction skills, from plastering to painting to electricity, along with the construction of solar panels in the army camps to produce sustainable energy for the camp. One of the initiatives also included an agricultural project in Araman Barracks in Tripoli. Youth who had once taken part in clashes in the area joined forces with the Lebanese Army to plant several lands in the camp and install greenhouses to benefit the army. In conclusion, MARCH’s journey exemplifies the transformative power of collaboration. By partnering with the public sector, particularly the Lebanese Armed Forces, the organization has succeeded in reshaping perceptions, forging communication, and building a stronger community. The initiatives, from sports tournaments to collaborative construction projects, highlight MARCH’s achievements in promoting unity, understanding, and resilience, all achievable through collaborative efforts that transcend divisions and promote progress.
SUPPORTING & STRENGTHENING THE PUBLIC SECTOR
Institutional Resilience and Collaborative Approach: MARCH’s Path to Social Cohesion In the pursuit of a stable and prosperous nation, institutional resilience stands as a cornerstone for both development and social harmony. Establishing a robust governmental infrastructure is vital to ensuring citizens’ access to essential services that contribute to a high quality of life. Yet, when proper governance mechanisms are absent, the resulting socioeconomic disparities can erode the very fabric of societal unity. Recognizing its interconnected role within the broader context, MARCH understands that sustainable change is not a solo contribution, but one rooted in collaboration and cooperation. The organization acknowledges that effecting positive transformation requires partnerships that transcend sectors and ideologies. MARCH is deeply committed to fostering public sector reform through strategic alliances with governmental institutions. Promoting Civil-Military Cooperation The commitment of MARCH to collaboration has been successful across multiple sectors. One noteworthy example is its fruitful partnership with the Lebanese Armed Forces. By maintaining consistent communication and coordination with the Lebanese army, MARCH has contributed to reshaping perspectives towards the army’s approach in post-conflict scenarios. This collaboration has also facilitated constructive dialogues between local communities and army members, paving the way for mutual understanding and cooperation. Activities like football tournaments, installing solar panels, agricultural projects and jointly creation of a military training base by youth from Beb El Tebbeneh and Jabal Mohsen, with army members, have reshaped perceptions and socioeconomic dynamics. Addressing Statelessness: An Impetus for Change MARCH’s collaboration has also been successful in its work in tackling statelessness. After identifying a substantial number of stateless individuals in Tripoli, the second largest city in Lebanon, MARCH took initiative to conduct a comprehensive field study, shedding light on the implications of this issue in several regions in the country. Stateless individuals from Lebanese fathers lack official recognition by the government due to the failure of registering their birth within the legal timeline and ignorance of the legal frameworks. As such they face immense challenges in accessing fundamental services like education, healthcare, and employment. In response, MARCH partnered with Siren Associates to develop an automated system that revolutionized the work of civil status registrars across Lebanon. This system not only promotes transparency and efficiency but also addresses the core issue of statelessness. A Unifying Approach: Building Bridges between Communities and Governmental Institutions MARCH’s efforts showcase the transformative potential of initiatives and these collaborations bridge the divide between government institutions through fostering open dialogue, sharing knowledge, and working together. MARCH’s model illustrates the power of cooperation in creating lasting change portraying that institutional resilience isn’t only about the strength of governmental structures; it’s about recognizing the interconnectedness of all segments of society. Through forging alliances, sharing expertise, and embracing a united approach, MARCH is building a new perception of the community towards the army and governmental and legal institutions away from mistrust and resentment and towards acceptance, tolerance and trust.
MARCH’S LEGAL SUPPORT APPROACH & FIGHT AGAINST LEBANESE STATELESSNESS
As part of the MARCH mission to promote the resilience of youth within its center and foster a more coherent and sustainable peace-building process, it offers legal support in Tripoli. This support is focused on providing legal services and awareness sessions aimed at addressing the hardships that have deprived young people of their civil rights, freedom of movement, educational opportunities, and even basic rights such as obtaining a passport or applying for a job. Through these legal services, MARCH successfully redirects the trajectory of these young lives away from conflict and seeking identity in extremist groups. By reinstating trust in governmental institutions and legal systems, these youths are less likely to resort to self-protection mechanisms, bear arms, or resort to conflict out of economic disparity. Having said that MARCH’s legal department has embarked on a multifaceted approach: Raising Awareness: MARCH conducts group awareness sessions on various legal topics, such as civil rights and the legal mechanism of birth registration, ensuring that these youths understand their rights and the role of the legal institutions. Providing Counseling Sessions: MARCH provides individualized counseling sessions and personalized guidance for its youth to comprehend their legal conditions and research several case studies. MARCH also extends legal representation for cases that require court intervention. Providing Legal Assistance and Representation: MARCH aids beneficiaries in reintegrating into society and securing their human rights that are governed by local laws and international treaties through assisting and representing the beneficiaries in civil and military courts. Tackling the Dilemma of the Lebanese Statelessness: An Invisible Crisis MARCH’s engagement in Tripoli’s Beb El Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen neighborhoods brought to light another pressing issue: Lebanese statelessness. Many of the local youths participating in MARCH’s programs were found to be stateless – individuals from Lebanese fathers who were not registered at birth due to several reasons such as their parents were not able to register them within the legal timeline or their fathers being away due to battles or war and thus, they remain unrecognized by the government. This lack of official documentation severely limits their access to fundamental rights and services, including education, healthcare, and employment, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation such as human trafficking. As part of an initiative to reduce the number of Lebanese unregistered children and combat Lebanese statelessness, March created a comprehensive guide booklet containing legal information and procedures on birth registration. This endeavor seeks to raise awareness and address the issue, especially among individuals born to a Lebanese father but not registered. Concurrently, MARCH’s commitment extends to conducting social media campaigns to elucidate the definition, reasons, statistics, challenges, recommendations, and all aspects related to this phenomenon. These campaigns also aim to distinguish between statelessness in general and Lebanese statelessness. Through a data-driven approach, MARCH recognized the scarcity of reliable data within governmental institutions and initiated a comprehensive field study on statelessness in Tripoli in collaboration with the Siren Association aiming to determine the size of the problem and discern its causes, measure its effects on individuals and their families and determine who is at risk of statelessness, to identify and deploy the adequate projects that can help reduce and prevent this phenomenon as well as protect the Lebanese stateless in Tripoli. This research supported MARCH’s deep-rooted trust in the community and led to enlightening findings. These findings were then shared with key entities including the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities and the Ministry of Justice, to initiate systemic reforms to tackle the issue of statelessness. MARCH developed an automated system for the personal status departments of the Ministry of Interior that would help facilitate bureaucratic processes related to nationalization and registration. The installed and configured server operates as an automated workflow for personal status, allowing monitoring procedures and requests, their status, and duration, and retrieving copies of supporting documents. This innovative system guarantees the prevention of any loss, delay, oversight, or neglect of files, and will alleviate the bureaucratic deadlock that has caused many challenges in the registration process. MARCH is working on a draft law in collaboration with the General Directorate of Personal Status at the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities to streamline the registration of Lebanese Stateless individuals born to Lebanese fathers. These efforts resulted in a successful high-level consultative meeting titled “Lebanese Stateless: Challenges and Solutions.” The meeting brought together several Members of Parliament, ambassadors, experts, policymakers, judges, lawyers, and representatives from various local and international organizations to collectively address the Lebanese statelessness issue. Lastly, MARCH’s work stands as a testament to the power of grassroots initiatives in transforming societies. Through legal support and Lebanese statelessness-focused efforts, many beneficiaries, particularly ex-rival fighters, have had their records cleaned, granting them access to their civil rights and the freedom to move freely without constraint at checkpoints, and removing barriers to socio-economic reintegration, especially in the workforce. This transformation has created new opportunities for reintegration into society, empowering them to pursue brighter futures with optimism and confidence. By facilitating their journey towards legal recognition and empowerment, we are paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable society.
EMPOWERING WOMEN
Transforming Communities: Empowering Women through Post-Conflict Peacebuilding In recent years, the humanitarian sector has embraced a gender-sensitive lens: recognizing the importance of women’s active participation in peacebuilding processes, particularly in post-conflict societies. MARCH’s work in Tripoli has been at the forefront of this transformative approach which showcases the power of women’s inclusion in rebuilding efforts and how it leads to stronger, more resilient communities. Recognizing the Crucial Role of Women MARCH acknowledges the importance of women’s equal and active involvement in their rehabilitation and reintegration programs which is vital in defying the concept of alienating women from peacebuilding interventions that in turn weakens the foundation and compromises the stability and sustainability of intercommunal cohesion. The local context in Tripoli demanded a nuanced and intricate approach. MARCH launched a unique reconstruction project in Beb El Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen following the severe clashes of 2011. The project involved daily collaborations between men and women from both communities. Their joint efforts focused on renovating buildings and a market place along the former demarcation line that was destroyed by the clashes. This initiative aimed to foster tolerance, respect, and understanding while challenging traditional gender hierarchies. Breaking Stereotypes and Empowering Women During the workshops in Kanyamakan, women challenged the patriarchal perception of their role and became fundamental components of the rebuilding process. They worked alongside men, defying traditional gender norms. Men received on-the-job training in construction, while women were offered graphic design courses. The women designed shop signs and branding materials, demonstrating their creativity and contribution to the project. This collaboration shattered gender barriers and shifted power dynamics. Transforming Women into Actors of Change The inclusion of local women in MARCH’s work empowered them and provided the confidence and support they lacked. By equipping them with the necessary skills and tools, MARCH enabled women to become agents of change. They transformed from passive recipients of aid to active participants in their communities’ development. Through the Beb El Dahab program, women discovered new skills, interests, and hobbies. They even started manufacturing their own products, such as t-shirts and tote bags, generating their own revenue and becoming economic agents in the process. Evolution of Women’s Engagement MARCH’s efforts have had a lasting impact on the lives of women in Beb El Dahab. Their engagement with the organization’s activities continues to evolve and take on various forms. By empowering women, MARCH not only challenged gender inequality but also transformed societal perceptions of men towards fashion design and embroidery. Now, women participants have access to a world of opportunities previously restricted by their gender, leading to a more inclusive and prosperous society. MARCH’s work in the Kanyamakan hub of Beb El Dahab exemplifies the transformative power of women’s inclusion in peacebuilding processes. By empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles, MARCH has helped create resilient and cohesive communities. Their efforts demonstrate the importance of women’s equal and active involvement in rebuilding post-conflict societies, ultimately leading to sustainable peace and progress.
ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY, A PRECONDITION TO STRONG AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
Economic resilience stands as a cornerstone of MARCH’s initiatives, particularly evident in its efforts within Beb El Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen. Recognizing that the roots of conflict extended beyond mere ideology, MARCH identified a socioeconomic ecosystem that led to further marginalization of these communities, leaving them lacking opportunities and mired in hopelessness. This was primarily due to their inability to attain formal education and build the skills and capacities required for a profession or a career. Additionally, a significant number of these youths were stateless and/or had unclean records which then constituted drivers of violence and conflict. In response, MARCH’s adopted theory of change focuses on integrating gender-mixed vocational training workshops into its cultural hub Kahwetna. These workshops provide at-risk youth with alternative pathways, fostering professional skills and economic independence. The vocational training workshops are diverse where most are in craftsmanship such as woodwork, sewing, fashion design, digital and hand embroidery, and another vocation in kitchen and moune making. A newly added vocational training in dentistry after realizing the importance of dental care in the area focusing on training youth in the center on becoming dental assistants. The impact of the vocational training became evident as youth gained proficiency in furniture manufacturing, fashion design, mouneh making and others shifting their life trajectories towards sustainable careers. Moreover, these trainings work on challenging traditional gender norms by empowering young men and women to explore diverse vocational fields and work together to achieve economic resilience and empowerment. Witnessing the success of the Beb El Dehab program, MARCH expanded its economic initiatives, establishing sustainable projects such as “BEDCO,” “KAN YA MAKAN,” the “Love and War Tour,” and “Kahwetna.” These initiatives not only created job opportunities but also promoted reconciliation and community development. “BEDCO” facilitated Beirut’s recovery post-blast, engaging youth in SME rehabilitation efforts. On another hand, “KAN YA MAKAN” provides a platform for former fighters and adversaries to create traditional and uniquely crafted items to showcase their stories of peace and resilience. The “Love and War Tour” highlights their unity along former demarcation lines as they showcase the history of the region, while “Kahwetna Café” emerges as a cultural hub, where the youth serve coffee and welcome visitors and serve as a symbol of unity. Moreover, MARCH forged partnerships with private sector entities to ensure sustained support beyond its program through collaborating with companies like Café Najjar and Bokja Design Studios which provided employment opportunities for a significant number of the youth. Through these multifaceted efforts, MARCH recognized that fostering economic resilience and social inclusion offered a viable alternative to sectarian narratives. By providing stability, security, and purpose, MARCH empowered youth to break free from cycles of violence, contributing to a more prosperous and inclusive society.
ALL ABOARD! BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH CREATING SAFE AND INCLUSIVE PUBLIC SPACES
In 2016, MARCH inaugurated Kahwetna, on Syria street, the former demarcation line between Jabal Mohsen and Beb El Tebbeneh of a violent past. Kahwetna serves as a cultural café and hub which brought together former enemies and fighters in the aim of building bridges and friendships and fostering constructive dialogue. Today, Kahwetna has developed into the cradle of our organization’s work in Tripoli and has transformed into a place where participants share stories, meals and experiences. Kahwetna has become a hub for tolerance and understanding and has contributed to the creation of a common identity. By engaging with the young men and women of Beb El Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, our organization recognized the imperative need to create safe and inclusive public spaces within the communities that would give the youth a place to interact away from the toxic dynamics of sectarian divide. MARCH also wanted to build an environment that challenges the patriarchal narrative and allowed women to be seen as equals. From here came the idea of our cultural cafés. Over and above, MARCH realized that the absence of accessible shared spaces had intensified the sharp sectarian dichotomy within these neighborhoods. In 2018, MARCH replicated this experience in Beirut where it opened Hona Beirut, another cultural café strategically placed at the heart of one of the capital’s former demarcation lines. Much like Tripoli, Beirut’s multiculturalism hadn’t always played to its advantage. Traces of the civil war still remained embedded in the city’s infrastructure. Although different in nature, sectarian tensions were also tangible and youth were more often than not confined to their respective environments rarely integrating other communities. Therefore, the organization set out to establish Hona Beirut, an inter-communal hub that offers artistic and recreational facilities in addition to ongoing capacity-building and career-oriented workshops. Hona Beirut has successfully challenged the cross-generational sectarian narrative that had been forcefully ingrained in the city’s youth. Kahwetna and Hona Beirut have been the cornerstone of MARCH’s work in peace-building as they have allowed the youth to claim ownership of their own expression and find a sense of belonging.
REVAMPING LEBANON’S CIVIL STATUS INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH AUTOMATION
. An estimated 27,000 people born of Lebanese fathers are stateless in Lebanon because their births were not registered. This number is expected to double by the year 2035. . . . In partnership with MARCH’s work with the communities of Beb El Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen has exposed us to a pool of socio-economic issues ravaging Tripoli’s most marginalized areas. Through our interactions with the locals, we realized that a substantial number of individuals were stateless. This refers to the fact that they were not registered at birth, leaving to them to face a lifetime of obstacles. Being invisible in the eyes of the State meant they did not have access to basic human dignities and were deprived of fundamental services such as healthcare, a formal education and employment opportunities. This -coupled with a number of different elements- isolated these groups and jeopardized their quality of life which in turn generated a feeling of alienation and hopelessness amongst them. Although our rehabilitation and reintegration program allowed us to get in close proximity to people affected by statelessness, our understanding of its implications was quite limited. There was very little information available on the topic and no official statics had ever been extracted or released by the government. This posed a grave challenge as it hindered our ability to create long-term sustainable impact. In spite of civil society organizations’ efforts to bridge the existent gaps and build the capacities of these vulnerable persons to give them a chance at a better future, certain factors such as statelessness and unclean records remained quite problematic. Therefore, MARCH decided to conduct a baseline assessment to better comprehend the phenomenon and manufacture tools to counter it. Therefore, we partnered up with Siren Associates to produce a report that offers a deep dive into statelessness in Tripoli and that compiles, analyzes and presents accurate and reliable data on the matter. The study focused on individuals of Lebanese decent and provided an overview of the local context. The research showed some unsettling numbers such as the fact that 58% of Tripoli’s stateless population is unemployed and 1300 individuals have a Lebanese father. Furthermore, upon taking a closer look at births registration processes in place, we understood that a large portion of the problem came from bureaucratic lag and complexities. Finally, the report was also supplemented with a set of policy recommendations that would help move towards the detection, reduction, protection and prevention of stateless persons and support the government in sculpting a more efficient and proactive road-map. Following the completion of the above-mentioned report, we proceeded to share our findings with the relevant governing institutions (e.g. the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities and the Ministry of Justice). We concluded that the solution would be to facilitate the registration process. To that end, we proceeded to develop an automation system that would help optimize the workflow within the Personal Status Directorate. This would ultimately allow to solve pending cases of nationality whilst simultaneously facilitating future registrations. Ultimately, such an infrastructure would promote the efficiency and transparency of the administrative mechanisms. Today, the team has begun taking the first step towards installing this system at civil status offices nationwide thus connecting them beyond geographic boundaries.
