CRS Work in Lebanon

Catholic Relief Services Lebanon provided immediate assistance to 100,000 Lebanese in the first few months of the 2006 war and its aftermath. Efforts included helping farmers restart olive farms destroyed in the war, assisting fishermen cleaning oil from fishing grounds, allowing students to study in newly refurbished schools, and providing parents with safe, mine-free playgrounds for their children. The postwar needs are immense; CRS and partners currently focus on rebuilding local economies, addressing tensions within and between communities, and strengthening the voices of progressive Lebanese people, particularly youth and women.

Assisting Iraqi Refugees

Building on the Caritas Lebanon Migrant Center's (CLMC) five years of serving Iraqi refugees in Lebanon, CRS and the CLMC provide comprehensive assistance to the continuing influx of these refugees. During home visits, social workers assess families' health, employment, educational and other needs and then plan with the families to meet those needs. CLMC and CRS encourage refugees to participate in the project, thereby helping themselves and their communities. Religious divisions exacerbate problems in Iraqi refugee communities; this project often brings together Iraqis of different faiths.

Restoring Infrastructure

CRS and local partners have undertaken a series of reconstruction activities targeting over 100 villages in need of water and sanitation improvements, irrigation canals, and the rehabilitated community spaces. These community spaces provide a safe environment for the elderly, single mothers, and young people to gather, learn and thrive. Traditional homemade foods, theater and discussion groups, computer training and language courses all abound in these positive, common spaces.

Creating Economic Opportunities

CRS and our partners are working to expand employment possibilities for the Lebanese, particularly young people. This includes technical vocational training and business/marketing training, as well as equipping entrepreneurs with the necessary tools to start a business. CRS helps graduates of training programs to access markets, other suppliers and relevant municipal offices so they can start and sustain their businesses. CRS also promotes cooperatives that enable women—particularly those with minimal experience working outside the home—to produce and market goods for local sale in order to generate income for their families.

Building Youth Leadership Capabilities

CRS' local partners, Caritas Lebanon and the Development for People and Nature Association, work extensively with youth, both in regular community-assistance projects and in activities to promote nonviolent conflict resolution. Youth volunteers are skilled at navigating polarized communities, so CRS and local partners encourage them to take strong leadership roles in their villages. Projects include youth-run Web pages to help young people understand and better reach out to their local representatives.

Strengthening Civil-Society Development

In Lebanon, there are few nonpolitical spaces where people can gather to relax and to learn. Schools are the heart of any community, and provide one avenue for such work. CRS plans to help parent councils improve educational opportunities for children.