Giving At-Risk Youth an Edge
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| Participants in the ADA project pose at the Akkar Week in Beirut exhibition.
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Young people in northern Lebanon often feel disconnected from the capital and other regions of the country. Job prospects in the North are few, but many youths choose unemployment in the communities they know rather than seek opportunities in unfamiliar places. In search of security and a sense of belonging, some of these young people find refuge in extremist groups that offer financial and social incentives.
The Association for Development in Akkar (ADA), however, is working to improve the outlook for marginalized young people by giving them a competitive edge. ADA, with support from USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives, provided English-language and computer training to more than 140 youths from 11 underprivileged villages in Akkar.
The training was complemented with workshops on municipal governance, citizenship, and conflict resolution, as knowledge and skills in these disciplines are important in advocating for change and bridging rivalries between groups. "I am from Mishmish and I don't usually interact with people from Fnaideq; that's what [our parents] taught us. The past eight months changed my perception of the others. The workshops helped me get rid of these prejudices," said 15-year-old Maysaa Al Khalidi.
To help expose trainees to opportunities existing beyond their insular communities, ADA organized Akkar Week in Beirut, an exhibition of local products and crafts. Youth from ADA played an important role in preparing the show. They helped craftsmen install stands, greeted visitors, and handed out brochures about the event and ADA. "I thought the residents of Beirut were different from us; I didn't know they would appreciate our products and crafts that much," Maysaa said.
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"The exhibition has given the organization, the youth, and the region a great exposure. Staying in the dark won't help us eliminate marginalization."
—Ali Al Baarini, 19, participant in the ADA project
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The young people also helped ADA present two lectures: the first focusing on the history of Akkar and a second highlighting business opportunities and aimed at attracting investors to the region.
For many of the young people, it was their first time in Beirut. "It's everybody's responsibility to fight marginalization," said Ali
Al Baarini, 19. "The youth have to extend their help to the municipalities because group efforts lead to improvements."
Many praised ADA's initiative, including the mayor of Beirut, who inaugurated the event.
For further information, please contact:
Marialice Ariens, Program Manager, 202-712-4031, mariens@usaid.gov
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