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Project on “Promoting the Acceptance of Vulnerable groups of Children and Youth in Lebanon”
The project on “Promoting the Acceptance of Vulnerable groups of Children and Youth in Lebanon” was initiated by the Lebanese Autism Society – LAS in partnership with Caritas, Friends of the Handicapped Association and Al-Hadi Institution for the Blind, Deaf and Language Communication difficulties since July 2007 within the framework of AFKAR II Program managed by the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform – OMSAR and funded by the European Union.
2- Capacity building of NGO’s staff
4- Training workshop targeting public and private school teachers.
5- Innovative awareness and advocacy activities targeting students.
6- Advocacy activities initiatives undertaken by youth advocates.
7- Development and production of a parents guide:
8- Public service announcement in the form of TV spot.
9- TV programs, documentaries and talk shows.
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July 2007 – June 2009
The main objectives of the project are to:
1- Reduce the intolerance barriers that face groups of children with special needs in their daily lives and improve their opportunities to claim and fulfill their rights as well as lead independent, productive and rewarding lives.
2- Decrease the burden of unproductive and dependent individuals on the future society.
3- Promote the role of school systems in advocating for these issues
The specific objective of this project is to effect sustainable change in the knowledge and beliefs of the public in general and the youth in particular about the rights of children and youth with special needs and promote a positive and active role for the general public, civil societies, school system and the media in promoting acceptance of and dialogue with this group of children and combating intolerance towards them.
The main end beneficiaries include children and youth with special needs in Lebanon (and indirectly in the Arab world).
Other groups targeted through this project include:
a- Staff of NGOs concerned with children and youth with special needs
b- Public and private school teachers in Lebanon
c- School administrations
d- Media sector
e- Students in the public and private schools of Lebanon
f- General public in Lebanon and the Arab world
g- Professional experts and private sector
h- Governmental bodies including the ministry of Education, the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Information.
Activities to be implemented within the context of the project include:
1- A survey of schools implementing inclusion programs for persons with disabilities in Lebanon: The project undertook a comprehensive survey of private schools in Lebanon applying inclusion programs for persons with disabilities. The survey results were compiled into a special directory. The directory book (which is still in the final stages of production) provides a comprehensive database of available inclusion programs in the public and private schools of Lebanon, their type, scope and beneficiaries. The directory will be made available and distributed to all concerned including NGOs, Ministry of Social Affairs and parents of children with special needs in general. Around 1000 copies of the guide will be printed.
2- Capacity building of NGO’s staff:
The project organized two training workshops targeting the staff of NGOs concerned with children and youth with special needs with particular emphasis on autism. The training workshops aimed at providing the NGOs staff with new knowledge, skills and innovative techniques based on art and play activities to be used in their interventions aiming at the social integration of children and youth with special needs.
Workshop I: “Creation and use of puppets with children with special needs” was implemented on February 4, 5 and 6, 2008 by the trainers Mrs. Lamia Abi Azar and Mr. Junaid Sarieddine.
This workshop was based on the techniques of the creation and use of puppets in drama therapy context as an expressive medium.
Workshop II: “Bringing theatre Arts to children with Special Needs- especially children who have autism” was implemented on April 1,2 and 3, 2008 by Ms. Zena Dackache.
This workshop aimed at providing participants with innovative, theatre and art techniques to be used in their activities with the children they work with.
Around 30 professionals from NGOs of different geographic areas of Lebanon participated in these training workshops.
The training workshops have allowed the participants to gain knowledge in communication techniques and skills in the implementation of interactive learning activities with children and youth with special needs that promotes their communication skills, dialogue and social interaction and integration.
4- Training workshop targeting public and private school teachers.
5- Innovative awareness and advocacy activities targeting students.
6- Advocacy activities initiatives undertaken by youth advocates.
7- Development and production of a parents guide:
The project developed and produced 2000 copies of a parents guide titled “Play with me”. The guide targets the parents and families of children with autism and aims at upgrading their understanding of appropriate methods and approaches in promoting communication with their children and their social integration. The guide was made available to all concerned including families of children with autism and other concerned professional groups and bodies.
8- Public service announcement in the form of TV spot.
9- TV programs, documentaries and talk shows.
10- Parents support group sessions.
