Back Into Community Press Conference

"Taking part in the courses was the best period of my life; the course really benefited me since now I can find a better job and in the future I can help my children with the information I have learned. The impossible dream I had became a reality with the team of Back into Community..." These are heartfelt and inspiring words by Christine, one of the beneficiaries of the project "Back into Community". During a press conference heldon May 17^th 2017,"Cénacle de la Lumière" (CDLL) invited its sponsor the US Embassy in Lebanon to attend. The US Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) is a project that aims at offering free training for 60 young men and women to raise their educational and vocational skills thus enabling them to have better work opportunities in their life. Throughout this project, the CDLL also started fruitful partnerships with 10 Municipalities, more than 15 companies, individuals and institutions active both in the social and educational affairs in the local community inJbeil, Kesrouan and Metn. These partnerships offer allprojectparticipants the opportunity to train for work; they also provide them with job opportunities in pioneering and leading companies and businesses. Furthermore, the project will present an official certificationfor courses that include English, Arabic, Business and Computer studies as well as Architectural Drawing and Beauty courses delivered in small groups.

The conference started at 11AM at "Le Royal" Hotel-Dbayeh and gathered more than 120 participants. It was held in the presence of MPs Dr. WalidKhoury, Farid Elias El-Khazen and Mr. George Aldridge, MEPI coordinator in Lebanon and representative of her Excellency the US Ambassador, Mrs. Elizabeth Richard. In attendance were also numerous representatives of MPs, General Directors and Mayors as well as representatives ofcivil society organizations and institutions and program beneficiaries.

The press conferencewas inaugurated by MrsSourayaFrem, head of CDLL who has worked for 10 years in helping more than 700 drug addicts and alcoholics through various recovery programs and looking into the root causes of their problems. Through the "Back into Community" project, CDLL is trying to develop the framework of its intervention as well as serve and develop a bigger segment of the Lebanese youth who are in danger of facing major behavioral delinquencies from crimes to reckless sexual relations, violence and specially drug use. These are results of low academic level in addition to the constant chaos and turmoil in the region. Hence, 60 applicants from more than a 150 were selected.

In his speech, Mr. George Aldridge highlighted the role of the US Middle East Partnership Initiative in the region. "More than 200 persons have indirectly benefited from the project including family members and members of the community. Listening to the testimonies of the beneficiaries made me proud to see that the US taxes are being spent wisely since they are helping in creating opportunities for the youth mainly those deprived and at risk as well as those longing to learn, make drastic changes to their lives, build a strong future and have a decent life away from drugs and violence."

His Excellency MP Dr. WalidKhourysaid: "unemployment rate in Lebanon reached around 25% of the workforce while the official declared rate is only 10%. It is worth mentioning that unemployment among youth reached 40%."

He offered several solutions to this scourge, most importantly "refraining from employing non-Lebanese in the sectors of tourism, services and trade and limiting these jobs to the Lebanese, except in specific cases and in the absence of Lebanese workforce." He added that it necessary to motivate the education institutions to teach the disciplines that the work market in Lebanon and the region needs. He also stressed the importance of promoting vocational education and training during the pre-university levels.

Mrs. Frem commended the importance of the strong partnership between the private sector and civil society which is not only based on giving individuals the chance to be productive; but also offers sustainable solutions by helping the youth become financially independent and alleviating the impact of poverty. This partnership promotes the standards of solidarity and exchange which are the principal components for stability and peace in our country.

Afterwards, the representative of business partners, Mr. WissamMoubarak, Deputy Director of Human Resources at Indevco Group, also had a word to say. He quoted the former late Minister and MP George Frem, founder and head of Indevco Industrial Group who used to say that "Man is not a number. He has both an individual and a divine value that should be considered." The partnership that links Indevco Group to CDLL is strong and started in 2009. It aims at reintegrating those in need in a work place by providing them with jobs at the Indevco Group companies.