Our motto : Positive thinking and permanent optimism Our approach the 3’ P’s : Principle, Position and Practice
HEALTH TABLE OF CONTENTS
About Amel
Page 1
Syrian Emergency Response
Page 3
Health
Page 5
Education & Child Protection
Page 6
Livelihood
Page 7
Amel’s House of Human Rights
Page 8
Migrant Domestic Workers
Page 9
Partners
Page 10
The following pages will offer the reader a more detailed view of our activities in the field of Health, Education, Child Protection, Livelihoods, Human Rights and Migrant Domestic Workers. Thereafter, our action towards the vulnerable populations in Lebanon is recounted through their eyes and experience, aiming to highlight our achievements, our challenges and the impact of our actions on the lives of our beneficiaries.
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ABOUT AMEL Amel Association International is a non-governmental, civil and no sectarian organization established in 1979 . Through its 24 centers and 6 Mobile Medical Units, Amel provides access to healthcare services (in the medical, psychosocial) and implements development programs (vocational training, rural development, protection of Children and promotion of human rights), in the most deprived areas of Lebanon, Beirut and its southern suburbs via Mount Lebanon and trays Bekaa (east of Lebanon) to the south of Lebanon. Amel’s projects target underprivileged populations, regardless of their nationality or political and religious affiliations.
Amel Association International also aims to strengthen the culture of rights among citizens, refugees and migrants and to promote access to their rights and their involvement in public life.
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CONTEXT In August 2014, the situation related to the
The crisis is also compounded by the severe
Syrian crisis dramatically changed, as extremist
decrease in funds allocated to the response to
elements affiliated to Daech and Al-Nosra Front
the crisis.
carried out attacks against Lebanese army
In December 2014, tens of thousands of Syrian
checkpoints in Ersal. For more than a week,
refugee families were threatened by WFP food
these Islamic militants took over large parts of
cuts and only 15% of the Syrian refugee school
the town of Ersal and fierce fighting with
children have access to education. Moreover,
Lebanese security forces and army ensued. Many
the changing beneficiaries’ targeting process
residents of Ersal, Lebanese as well as Syrians,
poses serious dilemmas to
left
many
including Amel, which have to prioritize
damaged.
between the most vulnerable amongst the
Moreover, many of the informal camps (ITSs)
vulnerable and to address increasing needs with
surrounding the town were burned to the
heavily reduced budgets.
the
area
houses/shelters
at
that
were
time severely
and
aid agencies,
ground. In their withdrawal, the militants took dozens of Lebanese soldiers and police officers as hostages, who are now being used as bargaining tools for the demands issued by militants. Despite these serious security incidents, Amel was able to maintain its presence in Ersal and to deliver aid to the affected populations, when almost all other agencies were abandoning the town. In the first days after the crisis, Amel provided healthcare services to more than 500 people, severely distressed by the events. Child protection and Livelihood activities also resumed promptly in order to bring a sense of normality to the affected populations. Distribution, Mashghara, August 2014
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This crisis has also caused heated debates in the government regarding the status of refugees in Lebanon. Opinions converge between political actors that Lebanon is not able to host any more refugees and the way of managing the refugee crisis (setting up refugee camps, limiting the entry of refugees) is much disputed among the authorities. Already, stricter regulations are applied on entry to Lebanon for Syrians and coming and going across the border is
Beneficiaries from Kfair and Iblsaki, learning technique of production training, Chiah center
forbidden for registrered refugees.
In this sense, Amel has actively contributed to the design of Lebanon Country Response Plan 2015/2016, a strategic and fundraising document for
concerted
and
effective
action.
By
reinforcing fair partnerships with beneficiaries, as well as with the local communities and other
Mobile clinic, photo: Quentin Bruno
civil into the trap of inaction and pessimism. Strong in its experience in Lebanon, both in and
development
periods,
and
particularly in the context of this protracted crisis, Amel aims to adopt simple and coherent ways of action to serve the basic needs of the affected populations,
while
paving
the
way
actors,
we
are
certain
contributing to a better, common future.
Despite these challenges, Amel refuses to fall
emergency
society
for
development and stabilization.
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of
HEALTH
Since its creation in 1979, Health has always
Amel medical teams also provide family planning
been
and promote health and hygiene education
a
priority
for
Amel
Association
international. Indeed, one of the main Amel’s
through awareness sessions (basic hygiene rules,
main principles is to guarantee to the most
contraception and STDs, etc). In its programs,
vulnerable and marginalized people the Right to
Amel also provides also vaccins (as an
access
integrated activity in the national vaccination
qualitative,
affordable
and
non-
campaign) and distributes hygiene kits.
discriminating healthcare to the most vulnerable and marginalized population. The demand for healthcare has continuously increased in the past four years, due to the massive arrival of Syrian refugees to the Lebanese territory, and the alarming conditions of hygiene, promiscuity, overcrowding malnutrition or water scarcity that those populations are suffering from. In this context, Amel has continued to increase the number of Primary, Secondary and Mental healthcare services provided to both Lebanese
Kamel el Loz, photo: S.Chatelier
and refugees through 24 Centers and 6 Mobile clinics. FACTS in 2014:
pregnant women, so we ensure specific
80 212 consultations in the Amel’s centers and mobile clinic
attention is given to making maternity and
12 242 vaccinations
Fourty per cent of our beneficiaries are
reproductive care a specific concern.
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EDUCATION AND CHILD PROTECTION Children are one of the main victim in times of war. Within the Syrian crisis, more than 50 per cent of Syrian refugees in Lebanon are children, according the UNHCR registration figure. Amel,
in
cooperation
with
UNICEF,
is
implementing Child Protection programs in six Amel community centers in the Bekaa and Beirut. Amel
Association
International
Amel’s Center, Kamed el Loz
considers
education to be a fundamental human right of
In this programs Amel has included remedial
the human being and a ground-stone of to any
classes and an Accelerated Learning Program
healthy society, as it opens up new prospects
(ALP).
for a better life. In fact, a lack of education makes
Arabic, French, English and mathematics classes
children an easy prey for any kind of abuse and
are provided to Syrian and Iraqi refugee as well
exploitation, from early marriage to child labor
as Lebanese children in Amel community
or delinquency.
centers.
In this regard, Education and Child Protection
FACTS :
projects targeting both refugees and local
66 714 children have access to education due to the Amel’s work
populations have been developed over time and have become one of the main areas of expertise
10 118 beneficiairies have benefited from Amel’s psychosocial support
of the organization. 5 000 children and family
8 283 beneficiairies Protection Program
are target in this project in which Amel develops components in recreational activities,
in
Amel’s
Child
Amel has employed more than 250 staffs to support the education program
awareness sessions, psychological support and community events.
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LIVELIHOOD The current crisis in Syria has put immense
Mann Hiya, is an excellent example of the
pressure on the Lebanese economy and is
program’s initiative. It’s a cooperative of women
bringing it to a breaking point. The massive influx
who produce
of refugees, having left their jobs behind in their DISTRIBUTION
jewellery, to put in place an
income-generating activity.
country of origin, have entered in competition with the local community for low skilled jobs,
In 2014, Amel has upscaled its livelihood activities
strongly disrupting the job market and causing a
to include a higher number of people affected by
high rise in prices of rent, goods and services.
the Syrian crisis, including refugees and host communities. This is was thanks to the support of
Access to the labour market through professional
UNHCR, the European Union and the Ministry of
trainings has been one of Amel strategic goals.
Social
Affairs.
These
activities
have
been
In this regards, Amel is implementing various
implemented in Amel’s centers of Beirut (Haret
programs with the aim of integrating youth and
Hreik, Ain el Remmaneh, Chiah, Hay el Sellom)
refugees into the social and formal labor market
and in the Bekaa Region (Ersal, El Ain).
structure. Amel’s livelihood program includes the following activities: educational and courses
in
languages
and
computer
training skills,
vocational trainings (handicrafts, hairdressing, mechanics, nursing, computer maintenance, cell phone maintenance, etc.), life skills trainings (conflict resolution, communication, human rights, health), recreational activities and psychological consultations. These classes are provided in order to allow for a significant and effective change in the lives of men, women and youth in marginalized areas, and to improve their chances of integration into the labour market.
Training courses, Photo: René Clément
In 2007, Amel expanded its program to include refugees (Iraqis, Sudanese, etc…).
FACTS : In 2014, 539 children have benefited of the Livelihood Program
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AMEL HOUSE OF HUMAIN RIGHTS AMEL HOUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
In 2009, Amel House of Human Rights was
As an expression of its commitment, Amel
created and aims to become a leading provider of
Association has been organizing since 2005,
high-quality human rights education and DISTRIBUTION training in the Arab world, and a hub for UMAN RIGHTS knowledge, know how and advocacy for legal
periodical educational sessions and seminars on Civil
Rights,
Citizenship,
Peace-building,
International Justice, Democracy, and other related issues, targeting mainly the youth of
protection.
Lebanon in order to promote dialogue among all As such, AHHR has specialized in delivering legal
categories of the communities of Lebanese
education
International
society. As in other year, 2014 saw Summer
Humanitarian Law and International Criminal Law
School on Law and Armed Conflict, organized by
in
Refugee
Law,
DISTRIBUTION in Lebanon and the Arab world to meet the needs
Amel House of Human Rights, part of Amel
of the students, activist, experts, politicians and
Association, in partnership with the Law Faculty
legal practitioners in order to see a legal
of the La Sagesse University in Beirut.
frameworks emerge for human rights in the Arab world. Being an active member of Lebanese and Arab Civil Society during the past 35 years, Amel has continuously noticed and been concerned by the underdevelopment and lack of awareness of the Human Rights theme throughout the Arab World.
The Summer School on Law and Armed Conflict, in Beirut in September 2014
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MIGRANTS DOMESTICS WORKERS Migrant Domestic Workers in Lebanon face
Amel’s staff provide support on social, legal,
major lack inegal and social protection needs.
psychological
and
Their numbers are estimated between 150.000
therapy, using
therapies and
and 220.000 originating from Asia and Africa
MDWs who are victims of violence or human
continents (mostly from Sri Lanka, Ethiopia,
trafficking.
DISTRIBUTION Philippines, and Bangladesh).
health
services
for
repatriation
of
This population
represents almost 6% of the population of
At least, Amel raises awareness among employers
Lebanon and it is vital that we pay close attention
and employees on the Rights of Migrant Domestic
to the promotion and the protection of their
Workers, Slavery and Human Trafficking, in such
rights.
a way fulfilling its mission of providing information to beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
In February 2011, Amel established a program to support Migrant Domestic Workers, developed in different sectors and geographical areas all over Lebanon. Within this program, Amel has developed various activities. Amel, with its expertise on advocacy, carries out research on the status of Illegal Migrants Domestic workers in Lebanon (and in the region). Amel plays an important lobbying role and coordinates NGOs for the promotion and adoption of a specific law for MDW. Education, Empowerment and Therapy for Migrant Domestic Workers, Chiyah center
But most of all, its action is concentrated on empowering Migrant Domestic Workers through English classes, computer literacy and capacity building activities.
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AMEL THANKS ITS PARTNERS FOR SUPPORTING :
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AMEL, PLEASE CONTACT :
Amel Association International info@amel.org 00961 1317 293
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