27 December 2016, Inaugurating a project to establish a sewer line in Siir Al Dunniyeh, RMF’s Executive Director Michel Moawad said:

“The centralized system has failed to bring development. It is time to implement decentralization because real development happens only through the municipalities and local authorities, like is observed in all the developed countries of the world. ”
The project’s launching ceremony was organized by the municipality of Siir. The ‘Establish a sewer line in Siir’ project is in partnership with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), and in cooperation with MOEW (Ministry of Energy and Water). It falls under the ‘WASH Assistance for Syrian Refugees and affected Populations in T5, North Lebanon’ project, funded by UNHCR.

The event was attended by: Mr Michel Moawad, Mr. Elie Hilal representing UNHCR, the president of the Union of Municipalities in Dunniyeh Mr. Mohammed Saadia, the president of Mokhtars association Daher Bou Daher, the mayor of Siir Hajj Ahmad Alam, a number of mayors, educational and social dignitaries, directors of schools, representatives of the security services and citizens from Siir.

After the national anthem, Mrs. Chantal Shehadeh welcomed the presence. This was followed by a speech by the mayor of Siir Hajj Ahmad Alam. After giving his best holiday wishes to all the Lebanese and the Christians in particular, Alam said:
“We meet today to offer our thanks to Mr. Michel Moawad, on my behalf and on behalf of all our people in Siir Al Dunniyeh, for his help in this project which is vital for our region. This project is to establish a sewage line, as part of the highway project, which passes through Saki Siir.”
He explained that this highway was planned for execution by the CDR but without addressing the infrastructure’s needs, which would have led to environmental issues. This is where RMF intervened to implement the project, with UNHCR bearing the costs. The project built the needed sewerage line to go along the highway passing through Sakki Siir. ”
He added: “This is not the first time that RMF provides assistance to our town. This care is carried on from Mr. Michel Moawad’s father Martyr-President Rene Moawad, and his mother Her Excellency Minister Nayla Moawad.”
Alam then gave a brief on the projects carried out during the past six years and those that are planned to be implemented, and concluded addressing Moawad: “God bless you, our friend Michel Moawad, in following the national and political path of our Martyr-President Rene Moawad and pursuing the historic role of the family.”

Saadia
In his speech that followed, the President of the Dunniyeh Union of Municipalities, Mohammed Saadia said:
“I have the honor with my colleagues to welcome Mr Moawad, who is not a guest here but in his own home, and who has a special status for us, both on a personal and on a moral level. He is a friend and represents a family which is a friend for our whole region. He never favored any individual, but worked along a strategic plan for development, and thus succeeded. He did not work according to particular considerations but according to sustainable planning through which each project remains sustainable on a very long run.
“All the projects implemented by the Rene Moawad Foundation are fingerprints which remain forever not only in Dunniyeh, but in the whole of Lebanon. The Foundation worked with most of the international donors institutions and despite the difficulty to deal with these donors, which I am very much aware of, the Foundation was able to prove its merits and seriousness in work.”
He added: “We at the Dunniyeh Union of Municipalities have accomplished a strategy of development for the region, which has come up with a list of 193 development projects needing to be implemented in the Dunniyeh region which has been classified as the poorest in Lebanon. In 2012 the poverty rate was 68.5% of citizens living below the poverty line. Today, with the presence of the Syrian refugees in the region, according to UN studies, the ratio has reached 85.3% of people living below the poverty line, a rate of heart-breaking cruelty. Our partners in this big project, UNHCR have adopted the plan of 251, and have worked along this plan. The plan has been modified several times and they are still adopting it.”
After naming the sanitation problems in Dunniyeh and Rachiine, Zaghrata, Saadia said that he feels very sad that back in 2004, he participated in the launching of a plant of refining waste water in the Chouf, while “we are in the 2017 and in Dunniyeh, we are still working on achieving the bare necessities. Our region depends on Agriculture and Tourism as key sources of livelihood, and today, these two sectors are facing a crisis.”
He concluded: “Our relationship with you, Mr. Michel is special. It is enough to remember that you are the son of a person who offered his blood for the sake of his country.”
Moawad
RMF’s executive director Michel Moawad spoke next, and said:
“I am very happy because I am here today in this region with which we have historical ties based on love, generosity and faithfulness, a region that was dear to President Rene Moawad’s heart and remained in the conscience of our institution, the Rene Moawad Foundation.
“Starting with the mobile clinic, to providing the municipality with a truck for the collection of waste, to contributing along with CHF and the funding of USAID in the establishment of a sports center, to organizing sessions to raise awareness and guidance on a permanent basis, in addition to many other various development projects that we have implemented from Minnieh to the outskirts of Dunniyeh. Siir Al Dunniyeh in particular remained at the heart of our Foundation’s concerns and we stayed together, in good days and bad days.
“We are gathered today to celebrate the completion of a 438 meters sewage line in the Al Shakaa area of Siir, carried out by RMF, in cooperation with the Siir Municipality and the North Lebanon Water Establishment and with the funding by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – UNHCR.
“This project is a continuation of a project implemented in 2015 in two phases: 700 meters executed by the municipality and 350 meters by RMF in partnership with the Italian organization CISP, and also funded by UNHCR.
“This means that since 2015 around 1,500 meters have been built, which were needed to connect the Siir sewage line with the main sewerage network, and to eliminate the harm that the sewages of Bqarsouna and Bakaasafrine were causing to the Siir River, by connecting them to the executed network.
“1,500 meters do not cost millions of dollars, but achieving the project has brought a radical and a real change in the lives of the people of Siir.
“Siir isn’t a small village. Siir is a town with 10,500 inhabitants, in addition to the 6000 displaced Syrians. All of those inhabitants were paying a heavy price due to the open sewages around them resulting in bad odors, germs, diseases, the contamination of the environment and the pollution of the irrigation water in a region where Agriculture provides the main income (70 percent of contamination, according to tests conducted)…
“All that was needed to solve this problem was just a sewerage line of 1500 meters.
“This example represents the reality of generalized deprivation in most of our cities, towns and villages, and in all the Lebanese regions. This example proves that the centralized system has failed to bring development. It is time to implement decentralization because real development happens only through the municipalities and local authorities, like is seen in all the developed countries of the world.

“The project that we are inaugurating today gives the example of the needed and successful cooperation between three parties:
1- Local authorities, meaning the municipalities, which know how to determine the needs of their communities.
2- International donors institutions, meaning today the High Commission for Refugees UNCHR, whose support we always need due to the shortage of means.
3- NGOs such as RMF, which has the capacity and enjoys today a vast experience for the implementation of this kind of projects.
“We at the Rene Moawad Foundation belief that the freedom and dignity of the Lebanese individual and his sticking to his land are the basis of our mission, and we promise you that we will put all the needed efforts, with the support of our international partners, to provide a dignified life for the Lebanese citizens so that they ‘stay in their land’.
“Finally, allow me to thank UNCHR represented here today by Mr. Elie Hilal, and the mayor of Sirr along with the municipality members. This is not the first project that we worked on implementing together. I also thank the work of the RMF team, which proves day after day its professionalism and efficiency, and its ability to handle responsibilities. “Farewell for now, with more projects and development in the future.”

In conclusion, the mayor of Siir presented two honorary shields: One to the Executive Director of the Rene Moawad Foundation Michel Moawad, and one to the Foundation.

Marielle Moawad: “Christmas is the family’s holiday. We in Zgharta are like a big family. That is how we have been and that is how we will always be…”

The René Moawad Foundation launched its annual event ‘Christmas Village 2016’, under the theme ‘Live Love Zgharta’. The three days event (December 21^st to 23^rd), which includes a variety of activities and event-shows for children and adults, is taking place at the St. John the Baptist Church square, Zgharta.

Present at the inauguration were: The event coordinator Lawyer Marielle Michel Moawad, Father Estefan Franjieh representing bishop Boulos Abdul Sater, Mrs. Randa Jawad Boulos, the mayor of Zgharta-Ehden Dr. Cesar Bassim along with the members of the Municipal Council, the head of the Zgharta Lebanese Red Cross branch Mrs. Josephine Harfouch, the president of the ‘Ajyyal’ association Ms. Marianne Sarkis, the head of Caritas’s Zgharta province Mrs. Dora Akila Abdullah, the head of the Women’s Cultural Committee Mrs. Amal Tadros along with ladies from the Committee, the president of INNERWEEL-Zgharta Ms. Roula Yammine, the president of the ‘Al Khair wa Al Tanmiya’ Foundation Mikhael Doueihy, in addition to representatives from the Educational Cultural Council and the ‘Richat Ater’ Forum, representatives of cultural, social and educational instances and associations, and a crowd of Zgharta-Zawiyat citizens.

RMF Executive Director Michel Moawad personally participated in the second day of the events at the Christmas Village.

The inauguration had kicked off with the Lebanese National Anthem, followed by Mrs. Marielle Moawad’s welcoming speech:
“Like each year, we are all gathered here for this event. Christmas isn’t complete in Zgharta without this now traditional ‘Christmas Village’. It is thanks to our efforts and your cooperation, that we were able to create this special atmosphere in our city.
“Like each year, we are always here for the occasion, whatever the circumstances. Christmas is the holiday of joy, love, giving and sharing. It is the holiday of our children and we insist on giving them the opportunity to rejoice with the birth of the Savior. It is also the family’s holiday, and we in Zgharta are like a big family. That is how we have been and that is how we will always be, God willing.
“Tonight and over the next three days we will try to sow joy in Zgharta and in everyone’s heart, young and old, despite the rainy weather… May God bless us with all goodness! Christmas is for all and we all want to celebrate and rejoice.
“I thank you all for coming tonight, and I thank all those who joined us for the Christmas Village, especially the team who worked hard to do the preparations so that we can offer something special for our children and for our city.
“I wish you a Merry Christmas in the hope that the New Year brings to you and your families Health, Goodness and Blessings.
“Our slogan remains “Live Love Zgharta”. Wishing you a great holiday!”

After the official launching, the participants walked around the village, while enjoying the music and beats of the Parade and the Christmas songs and melodies. They were briefed on the exhibits and tasted freshly cooked snacks.

A distinguished feature for ‘Christmas Village 2016’ is that it is held in the heart of Zgharta. This has created an atmosphere of joy and vitality in all the streets of Zgharta and its commercial market, despite the rainy weather.

The ‘Christmas Market’ is a special feature this year. It is spread in homes and wooden platforms exhibiting Christmas products and decorated Christmas candles, kits, towels, cups and boxes of chocolate. All the products are hand-made by local social associations.

The ‘Food Market’, occupies a large space at the Christmas Village square. It offers a wide range of food and cuisines including an Italian kitchen, a French kitchen, a German kitchen and a Japanese kitchen, and of course Lebanese sweets, especially prepared by local women for Christmas. Portrait painting occupied a special corner, where face drawing was done on old CDs.

As part of Christmas Village 2016, the ‘Golden International Circus’ offered its breath-taking performances at the theater of the Milad Ghazal Moawad Cultural and Sports Center. The various shows witnessed a lively interaction from the children in the audience, who were amazed by the performances with special music in the background.

Ghinwa also staged her show “Ghinwa La Magie de Noël”. It was attended by a big crowd of children who interacted by singing along, dancing in great joy and taking souvenir photos with Ghinwa and her show characters.

During the month of December, around 50 students from RMF Center for Education & Protection Services (Bab El Tebbaneh) participated in a drug awareness activity under “Save the children” project.

Held in Tripoli in partnership with Oum El Nour and CPG group, the event gathered around 150 youths from “Likaa Nissai”, CPG group and RMF Center for Education & Protection Services and included various activities to raise awareness on the danger of drugs and its bad consequences on the youths.

The reservoir has a 324,000 liter capacity to serve 4,000 people, including 1,000 Syrian refugees.

RMF launched the “Establishing of an elevated reservoir for drinking water in Qalhat, Koura” project, in Qalhat, in partnership with the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and in cooperation with the North Lebanon Water Establishment (NLWE) and the Municipality of Qalhat- Koura. The project is part of the “WASH assistance for Syrians refugees and affected population in Tripoli (T5), North Lebanon” Program.
The event took place at the St. George Hall, in Qalhat.

The project’s goal is to expand Qalhat’s water reservoir managed by the North Lebanon Water Establishment, in order to offer to the inhabitants from Qalhat, and the Syrian refugees the ability to benefit from this reservoir.

Present at the event were: Mrs Itta Schuette the head of the UNCHR North Lebanon sub office, representing the head of the UNCHR Commission; RMF’s Executive Director Michel Moawad; the president of the Union of Municipalities in Koura, Engineer Karim Abou Karim; the Qaemakam of Koura, Catherine Kfoury Angol; the mayor of Qalhat Dr. Bakhos Wehbe; in addition to mayors for the Koura region, representatives of political, social, cultural and educational instances, and a crowd of local citizens.
The event started with the national anthem followed by a welcoming speech from the event presenter Chantal Shehadeh. The first speaker was the mayor of Qalhat Dr. Bakhos Wehbe, who spoke about the importance of the project and the needs it is fulfilling. “On this occasion, he said, I first wish for our Syrians brothers to be able to return to their homeland without delays, and in a decent and honorable manner. This is not said with any feeling of burden for their presence here, but out of love.”
He concluded by hoping that “the project will be taken over by the North Lebanon Water Establishment, who will oversee its proper implementation and maintenance in the future.”
Mrs Itta Schuette then delivered UNCHR’s address, after sharing her personal appreciation for the project. In the address she explained the UNCHR’s dedication to support governments by meeting the needs and protecting the rights of the people who are forced to flee their countries.
She added: “It is recognized worldwide that Lebanon is bearing a heavy burden in receiving Syrian refugees. On behalf of the UNCHR Commission, I wish to express my high appreciation for the support of refugees in Lebanon. We know well that all the municipalities are affected by this presence, including the municipality of Qalhat. Therefore, the Commission is very committed to providing the needed funds for this water project, which will benefit all the community here in Qalhat. At its initial stages, the project was presented to us by the North Lebanon Water Establishment as a project that would improve the living conditions of the people living in Qalhat.”
And she continued: “With the new reservoir, more water will be stored which will increase the water pressure and power. The existing users will get enough water to meet their needs, as will the new users who will be joining the network later. It is estimated that 4,000 people at the least will benefit from this project.”
She concluded thanking all the partners in the project: “I am aware that the construction of the water tank is just one step on a long path which we will walk together. We hope that this project will continue so that this initiative turns successful. We are confident that the municipality will take all the necessary measures for this: maintenance, networks and subscriptions, so that the project proves to be successful on the long term.”

Nasr
Mr Gaby Nasr, representing the director general of the North Lebanon Water Establishment, spoke next, presenting an overview of Qalhat’s history and its conditions. He revealed that “It was due to the insistence of the North Lebanon Water Establishment (NLWE) on the importance of Sustainable Development that Qalhat got this significant support. The NLWE believed that this town deserved all possible backing. The UNHCR paid special attention to the water sector in Lebanon considering its direct impact on people’s lives.”
Nasr concluded by thanking the UNCHR for the assistance that it is providing to the North Lebanon Water Establishment. He extended his thanks to the Rene Moawad Foundation (the director and the implementing managers), the Municipality of Qalhat and ‘Karamco’ the implementation contractor. He shared his hope to complete the implementation of all the water projects planned for, in coordination with the responsible authorities.

Moawad
In the concluding speech, RMF’s Executive Director Michel Moawad said: “I am very happy today that we are implementing this project in Koura. The Rene Moawad Foundation has been implementing projects in all the parts of Lebanon from the far North to the far South. The Foundation would for sure not forget the Koura region which was very dear to President Rene Moawad and to us. We recently implemented a project in Kousba, and today here we are in Qalhat.
“Where there is no water, there is no life. It is unfortunate, but we have reached a state in Lebanon where negligence is not anymore present in some places, but has spread to all of Lebanon’s regions, confessions and areas.
“Today we celebrate this water project, and we hope that by God’s grace, the skies will be generous with rains and gifts. It will be a pity if we don’t fully benefit from all this water. Just imagine how much water goes waste, how much water goes into the sea without any benefit for us, how much water washes away the soil without us benefiting from it, and how many areas, villages and towns in Lebanon are lacking water…
“In the country of water, the water goes waste! What is lacking to properly benefit from it? Certainly not the lack of knowledge. What we lack is a clear decision and less corruption. We ought to move closer toward decentralization. This way, each region will find its ways to deal with its own needs. The local authorities would for sure know more than any other authority, the needs of their area. If they are given the proper means and powers, they will be able to bring the appropriate development to their regions, in coordination with the local civil society and social institutions. In all the countries of the world, development is the responsibility of local authorities not of the central authority.
“Today, with the joint efforts of the municipality of Qalhat and the Rene Moawad Foundation, in coordination with the North Lebanon Water Establishment, and with the funding of the UNHCR, we were able to build a reservoir with a capacity of 324 thousand liters, and to insure water for about 4,000 people: 3,000 of them Lebanese citizens living in Qalhat and 1,000 Syrian refugees staying today in Qalhat. In the light of all the suffering caused by the war in Syria, which led to the exodus of the Syrian people which we unfortunately didn’t succeed in dealing with properly in Lebanon, the Lebanese people became a part of this suffering.
“The project that we are launching today is part of the work done by the Rene Moawad Foundation to achieve its mission of standing by and supporting the people of Lebanon in spite of all the difficulties, and to help preserve our Lebanese Identity, so that the ‘Lebanese individual stays in his land’.

“Today we see a model of effort and cooperation that can produce useful projects, and for sure there will be many other similar projects, because the needs are high. God willing we will keep working hand in hand to address all the needs of our people in Koura and in all the Lebanese regions.”
Ending the ceremony, the mayor of Qalhat presented honorary shields to Moawad, the North Lebanon Water Establishment (received by Mr. Gaby Nasr), and the UNCHR (received by Mrs. Itta Schuette). Everyone was invited to a post-ceremonial reception.

Under the theme “Live Love Zgharta”, the René Moawad Foundation is organizing its annual “Christmas Village” over three days: December 21^st to 23^rd, 2016. The event will take place at the St. John the Baptist Church square, Zgharta.

“Christmas Village 2016” will host the following activities:

• A Christmas Parade, Carrousel – over the three days.
• The Golden International Circus – on Wednesday 21^st
• Ghinwa (La Magie de Noel) – on Thursday 22^nd
• “Al Fersan Al Arbaah” – on Thursday 22^nd
• Artist Mia Haddad and her band – on Friday 23^rd

“Christmas Village 2016” will also feature Souk El Akel along the duration of the event.

The official inauguration of “Christmas Village 2016” will take place on Wednesday 21^st; at 5pm.

The admission is free to all.

Beirut November 18, 2016 – The Building Alliance for Local Advancement, Development, and Investment (BALADI) program, is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the René Moawad Foundation (RMF).  The program celebrated the completion of the first Table Olive Processing Facility in Jezzine District (located in Roum village), funded by USAID in partnership with the Union of Jezzine Municipalities. This assistance will increase fresh olive sales for 270 farmers in 28 villages of the Union and create 10 new jobs.
The ribbon cutting ceremony took place at the new facility premises and was attended by Chargé d’Affaires, Danny Hall; USAID Mission Director Dr. Anne Patterson; the Head of the Union of Jezzine Municipalities, Khalil Harfouhce; Mayor of Roum municipality, Dany Haddad; Members of the Council of the Union of Municipalities of Jezzine; RMF Executive Director, Michel Moawad; representatives of local farmer cooperatives, and other community members.
USAID, through the BALADI project, assisted the Municipality in constructing and equipping the facility in the amount of $250,000, which will store, sort, grade, process, and package table olives. The facility will produce various types of processed table olive products such as pickled green olives and black olives, tapenades, and pickled sliced olives which are in high demand in the local market. The municipal union, including 28 municipalities, contributed around $268,000 worth of land, engineering designs, legal permits, construction services, and electric and water connections. The Union will also oversee the long-term operation and sustainability of the activity in partnership with two local olive producing cooperatives and the private sector. The inauguration of this project coincides with the beginning of the olive harvesting season in Lebanon
The five-year BALADI project supports municipal-led development activities. BALADI is currently assisting 59 activities which engage 157 municipalities for socio-economic development throughout Lebanon. More information about BALADI can be found on http://baladi-lebanon.org/en.