Awareness Activities

Non-confessional Activities:
 
First Flash-mob on Non-Sectarianism
Date: Tuesday the 27th of November 2012
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: City Mall – Dawra
This flashmob tackled non-sectarianism through a dance prepared by the youth in CitiMall; a loud music was put which dragged the audience…

Second Flash-Mob on Non-Sectarianism
Date: Thursday the 27th of December 2012
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Hamra – Main Street
In this flashmob, the youth came up with an idea that shows the dreadful face of sectarianism and its results; in which they embodied a violent conflict between the Lebanese and how sectarianism leads to death and destruction.

Cross-Communal Celebration:
 
Christmas Celebration
Date: Tuesday the 25th of December 2012
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: Ashrafieh – Downtown – Beirut Suburbs
In this event, the youth wanted to show that we can celebrate our religious events together despite the confessional and religious difference. They designed a bus with Christmas colors and drove it from Ashrafieh to downtown to Beirut suburbs singing and dancing with the audience and distributing CitiAct flyers; in order to promote CitiAct and its work.

Awareness Sessions & Workshops

During December, the youth had attended different awareness sessions and training workshops; noting that all of them took part in the awareness sessions, but they were divided for the training workshops.

Awareness Sessions:

Citizenship Sessions
First Session: Date: Thursday the 6th of December 2012 / Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Second Session: Date: Tuesday the 18th of December 2012 / Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: CitiAct Office
Trainer: Rana Bechara (Director of CitiAct)
During the sessions, the trainer prepared a powerpoint presentation on citizenship, noting that it was an interactive session enclosing questions, answers and open discussions. The trainer had illustrated to the youth how what they are doing with CitiAct is part of citizenship values.

Non-Confessional Cooperation Sessions
First Session: Date: Sunday the 9th of December 2012 / Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Second Session: Date: Sunday the 23rd of December 2012 / Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Lebanese Association for Civil Rights Office in Gemayzeh
Trainer: Dr. Ogarit Younan (Pioneer in Training on Non-Sectarianism – Writer of the Manual on Training on Non-Sectarianism)
Assistant Trainers: Hala Abou Ali & Tony Daoud (Trainers on Non-Sectarianism and Non-Violence)
The sessions on non-confessional cooperation were divided into 2 full days due to the timing and the necessity to have 1 fruitful full day; and accordingly the youth were divided between these 2 days.
The sessions tackled sectarianism within oneself, in our unconscious and how it affects our behavior; mainly there were 3 parts in the program: tolerance, the other and the danger of sectarianism. The youth interacted during the sessions since they are under the umbrella of a sensitive matter that touches every aspect of Lebanese life. The session was an interactive one enclosing exercises.
As a follow up to these sessions, and since the youth are in deep need to such sessions on non-sectarianism and non-confessional awareness, we decided to continue such training and try to organize a training weekend on non-sectarianism during February, and we will be contacting Dr. Younan to carry it. 

Conflict Mitigation Sessions
First Session: Date: Thursday the 20th of December 2012 / Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Second Session: Date: Wednesday the 26th of December 2012 / Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: CitiAct Office
Trainer: Tanya Awad Ghorra (Local & International Trainer on Non-violent Communication and Conflict Resolution)
This session was a very interactive session, in which the youth interacted with the trainer and the matters discussed. The main focus of the session was the non-violent communication and the “empathy,” hence, how we put ourselves in others’ place when we are in conflict.

Training Workshops:
 
Filming and Editing Techniques Workshop
Date: Sunday the 2nd of December 2012
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: CitiAct Office
Trainer: Tony Daoud
The training workshop enclosed direct and practical exercises on filming and editing techniques; in which the youth brought their laptops and the trainer download the editing program on their laptops; he introduced the program and its main tools. Then the youth used the rushes of the first flashmob carried to edit it with the guidance of the trainer.

Needs Assessment Workshop
Date: Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th of December 2012
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: CitiAct Office
Trainer: Nizar Rammel
This training workshop was divided into 2 sessions on 2 consecutive dates, in which the trainer presented on the first day the needs assessment tools and ended the day by giving the youth a practical exercise to prepare for the next day; in which the youth were divided into groups based on the areas that they live in and they had to define the needs of their areas/streets. In the second day, the groups presented their work and the trainer evaluated it giving them advices.

Social Media Workshop
Date: Sunday the 16th of December 2012
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: CitiAct Office
Trainer: Salim Al-Lawzi
This day was an interactive day, in which the trainer presented the main tools of social media and how we can benefit from them in our work. Then the youth were divided into 2 groups: a group pro-presidency candidate and a group against this candidate; the 2 groups had to carry a social media campaign in favor to their positions.

The Start of the Project "From Beirut Suburbs to the Nation"

Recruiting the Youth
The first main activity of this project was recruiting 50 youth to join the project and at certain point to carry it. The communication with the youth that had joined CitiAct previously took place through e-mails, facebook and calls. A brief introduction on the new project was given in this communication and a request was sent to join the launching event to know more about the project. Furthermore, the youth was asked to bring their friends, who they think might be interested in this project and who have never had experience in civil society work.
We have on the list of recruited youth now a number of 53 youth from Chiah, Sfeir, Haret Hreik, Bourj Al Barajneh, Ain El Remmaneh and Hadath – 28 males and 25 females – between the age of 15 and 31 – students and workers.

Introducing the Project to the Youth
First Session: Date: Wednesday the 14th of November 2012 / Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Second Session: Date: Monday the 19th of November 2012 / Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
The project was launched through 2 different sessions, enclosing 53 youth; CitiAct team had presented the project through a powerpoint presentation and space was given to questions, answers and general discussions. In the sessions, the youth filled application stating their contact details and personal information.

Launching of Our Second Project: "From Beirut Suburbs to the Nation"

About the Project
Program title: “Min Dawahi Beirut ila al-Watan” (“From Beirut Suburbs to the Nation”).
Donor: PACE Lebanon
Targeted areas: Beirut Southern Suburbs mainly Chiah, Sfeir, Haret ,Hreik, Bourj Al Barajneh ,Ain El Remmaneh and Hadath.
Project duration: 1st of November 2012 - 31st of May 2013

Project Objectives:

• Engage a core group of 50 youth from the Beirut southern suburbs to act as peace agents through design and implementation of a non-sectarianism campaign encompassing a series of online and offline activities. 
• Deliver awareness sessions on citizenship values and training workshops on community needs assessments, social media, and filming skills.
• Implement 8 initiatives to raise awareness of the dangers of sectarianism and demonstrate the benefits of cross-confessional cooperation through joint community improvement activities addressing local needs. 
• Network with like-minded CSOs in conflict-prone areas to jointly organize a highly publicized event commemorating the outbreak of the civil war (observed on April 13).

"And We Met..." CitiAct First Project

CitiAct First Project Carried
Title: “…And we met”
Duration: 9 Months (July 2011 – March 2012)
Target Groups: 45 youth (males and females); between 18 and 26 years old
Target Areas: 2 areas: (1) Sfeir – Hadath and (2) Chyah – Ein El Remmaneh
Funded by: OTI (Office of Transition Initiatives)

Project Objectives
The main objective of this project is to improve youth activism towards their communities throughout TOT training, awareness raising and joint community-service activities that respond to economic and social needs; focusing on 2 model areas: Sfeir – Hadath and Chyah – Ein El Remmaneh.

Specific Objectives: 

• Objective 1: Provide TOT trainings and awareness raising for at least 30 youth in Southern Suburb of Beirut.
• Objective 2: At least 30 youth aged between 18 to 26 years old will be mobilized and divided into two groups in Southern Suburb of Beirut.
• Objective 3: Identify and implement 8 community projects.

About the Project
The project content lies under the umbrella of 2 values: citizenship and youth participation; its main axes are capacity building for a group of selected youth and community activities carried by the selected youth.

The project was officially launched on the 26th of September 2011 through a celebrative Iftar organized by CitiAct at Rotana Hotel in Hazmieh. The Iftar gathered social, religious, municipal figures and youth from the regions of Sfeir, Hadath, Chyah and Ein El Remmaneh.

45 persons aged between 18 and 26 years old (from the regions of Sfeir, Hadath, Chyah and Ein El Remmaneh) joined the project and declared their commitment to attend the whole trainings and meetings and to carry the implementation phase. The trainings tackled topics such as: citizenship and civil participation, conflict resolution, leadership, communication skills, social media, project management and photography.

Throughout the project and in parallel with the trainings, the youth were involved directly with the project team to carry the community activities. They identified a list of activities in their neighborhoods that respond to their needs, thus implementing social, economical and recreational activities on a monthly base.

We can say that we have faced difficulties and challenges, but what is more important is that we have sensed success and change; we, CitiAct team and the youth, are motivated and devoted to complete this work. 

The project was closed by a festival in Dahyeh on the 13th of July 2012.