A busy first part of 2023 for HEAD in Lebanon

The first half of 2023 was a busy one for MIO-ECSDE Member Organisation Human Environmental Association for Development (HEAD).

On the occasion of the World Environment Day and the Clean-Up the Med campaign, organized yearly by Legambiente, HEAD co-organized, with the Development for People and Nature Association (DPNA), also a member of MIO-ECSDE, a national coastal clean-up campaign covering around 12 beaches running from the north to the south of the country. The full day campaign that took place on the 4th of June gathered some one hundred volunteers from youth associations, the Red Cross, university students, NGO representatives, etc. At the end of the campaign, in the north, the collected bottles and plastic containers were placed in a fish model that HEAD had placed at the entrance of the ancient port of Byblos, and the proceeds (from selling them to recyclers) were given to the Kids First Association, an association working to help children battling with cancer and blood disorders by providing them with the necessary medical care and to secure the high cost of medication. In the south, an anthropomorphic turtle was placed on the beach to educate hikers and visitors about the dangers of plastic. Planting activities ran in parallel with the clean-up campaign and artists, who were also invited, got the chance to ‘capture’ the day and hold an exhibition of their paintings.

To celebrate Earth Day, HEAD organized on April 15th, 2023 tree planting campaign in Amchit, in the north of the country, under the auspices of the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism where volunteers planted pine trees at the entrance of the town.

On April 1st 2023, HEAD co-organized a hiking Trip in the Mtein Nature Reserve where participants had the chance to discuss the value of conservation and the effects of deforestation while planting trees and hiking through the newly restored forest.

On March 16th 2023, a participatory activity for university students promoting women’s empowerment was organized by HEAD and the Antonine University, in cooperation with the Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED), one of MIO-ECSDE’s founding members, where the participants were trained on how women can use their skills to become financially independent, learning the craft of candle making and working with resin.

In June 2023, HEAD signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Antonine University, represented by its Rector Fr. Michel Jalakh. The MoU aims to engage the students, the Green Club volunteers and the community across all three campuses, in targeted environmental activities organized by HEAD.

Read in French here