On January 19, a team from USAID visited the Rashid Nakhle information and Cultural Center which was rehabilitated under the USAID BALADI program in 2015 accompanied by Rene Moawad Foundation team. Both teams met with the project’s partners from Barouk municipality, Shouf Biosphere Reserve, volunteers and students from the Lebanese University, to know more about the project’s objectives, work and socio-economic/cultural benefits, in addition to its importance to the area.
The tour continued with a hike to the trail sections leading to the “Noss Mill”, one of the historical sites that was rehabilitated by USAID BALADI project. The team also had a short hike to the Barouk cedar forest overlooking the trail. The tour ended with a lunch at the “Cedar House” for light village snacks prepared by one of the women micro-entrepreneur from the village.
“Promoting Sustainable Tourism in the Shouf Region-Barouk-Fraidiss Patriotic trail” is a USAID BALADI project that was inaugurated in August 2015 and its main objective is to promote sustainable tourism in the Shouf region through rehabilitating the Rashid Nakhleh center and developing hiking sites that present natural and historic attractions and activities in an eco-friendly manner. The project improves the livelihoods and incomes of local residents through rural tourism economic activities. The project has so far benefited 52,080 persons out of which 29,400 are youths.
