Three
local branches of the Lebanese Red Cross Youth Department (LRCY)
have this winter and spring been working on projects with public
schools. They have a common motivation: to make a lasting impact
on the lives of the most vulnerable in their own communities.
From short-term to long-term
“It’s like the story of the hungry man. Give him
a fish, and he’ll be full today and hungry tomorrow. Teach
him to fish, and he’ll never be hungry again,” says
Sara Bittar from Tripoli.
In Lebanese Red Cross Youth it is mostly up to the local branches
to plan their own activities. The members are volunteers, usually
between 18 and 25 years old. In the past, activities tended
to be isolated, one-off events, such as games and songs with
orphans or excursions with elderly people. Now, the centres
aspire to plan for the long term, developing relevant activities
that can change people’s lives.
Intensive training and follow-up
The Planning Project, initiated by the Norwegian Youth Delegates
in Lebanon, Ellen and Christian, has been supporting the local
branches, guiding their volunteers through a process of needs
assessment, planning and implementation. We have organised around
15 workshops to strengthen local branches’ planning capacities.
The Achrafiyeh and Tripoli branch were the pilot centres of
this first test cycle of the Planning Project.
New-found confidence
Said Souaissy of Tripoli says he has been inspired to continue
as a Red Cross volunteer.
-Through the Planning Project we have become more confident
in our own abilities. Now we know what we need to think about
before, during and after an activity, he says.
Fighting drug abuse
The Dar El Salam public school is in Tebbeneh, possibly Lebanon’s
poorest neighbourhood. Many youth here seek comfort in drugs
while trying to escape their misery for a moment. This spring
the Red Cross volunteers from Tripoli started a partnership
with this school through a drugs-awareness project.
The children’s existing knowledge was tested through a
questionnaire before the activities started. The day comprised
a rally paper in which each station illustrated one effect of
drug abuse. The rally paper employed sports, games and arts
& crafts to convey the message in a participatory and engaging
manner.
150 children and 11 volunteers participated. It was a pretty
lively affair!
Improving knowledge, changing attitudes
The centre’s evaluation of the anti-drug project showed
that an increase in knowledge about drugs and their consequences
had been achieved.
However, awareness is not only about knowledge, but about attitudes.
It is difficult to determine whether the project contributed
to improving attitudes. The members agreed that only sustained
efforts over time may produce the desired results. In order
to continue and improve their work, the Tripoli volunteers realised
they need a long-term plan, including further training on ways
to deliver the anti-drugs message.
To read the report from this project and learn more
about planning to make a difference, please contact youth@ifrc.org!
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Lebanese Red Cross Youth, it is mostly up to the branches
to plan their activities, the Planning Project has been
supporting and guiding local branches in this process.
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