* To develop the capacities and abilities of youth in organizing activities within their community
* To encourage non-governmental organizations in providing youth-friendly services and engaging
   youth in decision making and development of community based programs  

     "Charek" seeks to encourage and support youth to actively participate in their community through building their capacities, developing their skills and discovering their talents. Youth engaged in the project will be able to play an active role within community. The project, based on the work of these youth, will also help build the relationship between them and local and municipal bodies on the long term. The youth will also be trained in the areas of developing programs and action-plans based on needs. The development of these projects, which are owned by them but developed in close cooperation with institutions and association in the area of residence, will test their abilities in different areas.

    "Charek" is anticipated to be a starting point for similar programs based upon needs of youth in Lebanon in order to strengthen their faith in their future and the ability of institutions to absorb their homeland, and benevolence.


A.   Location:  

The project activities will be focused in the area of Sin El Fil, which is divided into four neighborhoods: Horsch Tabet, Jisr El Bacha, Hay el Baldi, and New Sin El Fil. The population of this area includes families from all cultural, social, and religious levels. It is also brings together a number of organizations and associations engaged in socially and various youth groups. 

B. Target Group:

* 30 youth volunteers between the ages of 16 and 25 years that are residents of the area of Sin el-Fil,
   whether they are students in schools and universities, youth workers or full-time workers.
* 50 youth volunteers / officials of the youth programs of the partner associations and other institutions
   from all regions of Lebanon
* Approximately 5000 young people, parents and children and other community groups to benefit from
   the project activities
* Institutions and civil society associations and the municipal council (mayor of Sin el-Fil)

    

Phase One:

* Recruitment of 12 youth volunteers between the ages of 16-25 years for a study of the needs of young people and their abilities and talents and their desire to develop a strategy to support positive participation in their community.

* The implementation of a preliminary study on a group of 200 youth between the ages of 16-25 years

* To organize a consultation meeting to present and discuss the results of the study to institutions and civil society groups in the region and the local authority to support the young people, and to propose recommendations for action.

* A two-day workshop for 30 youth between the ages of 16-25 years in order to acquaint the youth and aiming at team-building, discussion of the recommendations of civil society in regard to the study, acquiring skills in accountability, and brainstorming ideas on which to build major youth programs in the community. Young people will have a key role in the development of the main ideas and come up with a plan of action for a period of 18 months.

Phase Two:

* Organize follow-up meetings for team-building, developing the self-confidence of youth, empowerment, communication skills and conflict resolution through a dynamic approach to the group and the use of active learning.

* Organize meetings for dialogue between young people and the municipal council (mayor of Sin el-Fil) aiming at the development of a youth committee representing the youth of the region to activate their role in decision making and representation at meetings of the social institutions in the region.

* Establish rules of procedure of the Commission on Youth, composed of 12 youth between the ages of 15 and 25 years old, in cooperation with the support of the municipal council. The rules of procedure for the Commission aims to put youth in a formal setting and to ensure continuity and prove its credibility and seriousness of their work and open partnership between young people and decision makers.

* Develop a plan of action of 4 programs of work involving all parties in the community and dealing with health, social, and professional topics of their choice and according to the results of the study and recommendations of the previous workshops.

* A 3-day training course for a group of 30 youth, with the aiming at providing them with information and skills that will form the main topics to enable them to carry out peer education activities among the four programs of work selected

The preparation and implementation of four community programs; each program will include 4 community-based activities on various topics involving community groups in collaboration with various associations and organizations in the area. Four activities will be implemented in each district of the four target neighborhoods in the area of Sin el-Fil, amounting to a total of 16 community-based activities.    

Phase Four:

Organization of a 3-day national workshop for 50 youth that are not residents of Sin El Fil. The workshop will also include decision makers from different institutions and civil associations, organizations and ministries engaged in programs of development of community youth. The workshop will include a presentation of the experience of young people in this project, especially with regard to their work in cooperation with institutions of their area (including the municipality) and the diverse experiences of Lebanese youth in all areas of health, community, technical, etc. The workshop aims to introduce the civil society to the concept of youth development and community and come up with recommendations on how to activate the role of youth in institutions and communities.  

 

The project was initiated on 15/10/2008 and will extend over a period of 22 months.