Lebanon hosts first training courses for children affected by Arab Spring unrests

This was sponsored and supervised by Lebanese Artist Dana Al Halabi, who launched the initiative in Dubai, UAE, last May, 2012.


The training course is part of the overall initiative and aims to engage the affected children in various courses led by experts in fields such as, illustration, music and some community crafts, which help to develop the children's learning.

The campaign aims to empower affected children, and provide them with a skill, as a future source of income for themselves and their families.

Speaking on the occasion, Lebanese artist Dana Al Halabi, Chairperson of Al Halabi Charity Foundation, said, "Protecting children has become a global area for concern. Countries are keen to support children protection initiatives, as children are the leaders of tomorrow and the way a child is raised will significantly affect the future of the country. We regret to see that this ambition is less prominant in some countries due to surrounding dangers and community unrest."

"In the first instance of the event, hosted by Al Halabi Charity Foundation, we see children whose faces were filled with fear, exhaustion and hunger, and who have survived the trauma after the loss of parents. We at Al Halabi Foundation are trying to alleviate their sufferings as much as we can, and are working hard to erase some painful memories by engaging them in hobbies they like and want to develop," she added.

Al Halabi Charity Foundation targets children directly affected by the Arab Spring uprising, who have lost one or more of their first degree relatives or provider such as parent or guardian and are therefore in a psychological, financial and moral disadvantage.

Exposed to various dangers and inability to meet basic needs of life, and sometimes to death, the foundation intends to nurture them and integrate them back into society with the free training courses.

The training and talent development centers will be organized in four locations in Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt and the UAE, and will be supervised by senior children educational experts.

Registration will be taking place online through the foundation's social media channels. SAHARA Communications will be managing the charity foundation based on its exceptional track record in managing social responsibility and charity programs, both locally and internationally.

The foundation will organize free courses led by experts in fields such as illustration, music, acting, sculpture and photography in addition to psychological rehabilitation programs to help affected youngsters integrate with various communities.

Applications are reviewed and evaluated to select the affected children by a dedicated committee.