USAID Lebanon: From the American People
 

PRESS RELEASE

U.S. CHARGÉ D’AFFAIRES A.I. MICHELE J. SISON VISITED USAID PROJECTS IN THE CHOUF

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Beirut, Lebanon

Today, Michele J. Sison, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires a. i., visited five projects in the Chouf region funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).  She also visited the “American Corner” in Baaklin, which the U.S. Embassy operates in partnership with the National Library in Baaklin, and the Ras Nahel Khalwet Druze structure, restored with U.S funds.  During her trip, the Chargé commented:  “America’s bilateral assistance efforts in Lebanon, through USAID, reflect the very strong friendship between the Lebanese and the American people.  With funds from the American people, USAID creates jobs, invests in youth, and protects the environment in Lebanon.”

In Deir El Qamar, USAID is working with the Catholic Near East Welfare Association/Pontifical Mission (CNEWA/PM) to reforest an area ravaged by fires in October, 2007.  This $100,000 project is providing more than 4,300 pine and carob trees to Deir El Qamar and another 9,000 trees to Qobayat and Andket which were also devastated by the fall fires.  By replacing the wild pine trees with irrigated fruit bearing trees, this project is creating income-generating opportunities for the surrounding communities.

In Baaklin, the Chargé visited the American Corner in the National Library and a restored Druze structure, Ras Nahel Khalwet.  The Baaklin American Corner, opened in July 2007, is one of four American Corners in Lebanon.  The U.S. Embassy forms partnerships with local groups to create American Corners in order to increase understanding of the United States through programs, collections and providing a space for dynamic engagement between Americans and Lebanese.  The Baaklin American Corner is accessible to all area residents and has a collection including over 600 English books, CD-ROMs, videos and DVDs, in addition to computers.   The Chargé was also able to visit the restored Ras Nahel Khalwet structure which is over four hundred years old.  In 2007, the Municipality of Baaklin received a $56, 308 grant from the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation to restore the structure.  This structure, an excellent example of Lebanese architecture, is a place for Druze sheikhs to contemplate.

Since 2003, the Municipality of Moukhtara has been receiving technical assistance from USAID through the Center for Legislative Development of the State University of New York at Albany (SUNY/CLD).   The Moukhtara partnership is part of a $19 million, four-year municipality project which provides specialized computer training using two software applications developed under the program, the Municipal Revenue System and the Municipal Budgeting System, in more than 800 municipalities throughout Lebanon.  With an additional $38,000, USAID also funded the establishment of a town hall in the municipality building to be used for town hall meetings between the community and officials. This town hall project supports improved governance and greater citizen participation in decision-making, and was implemented in partnership with AMIDEAST and the Lebanese Association for the Protection of Natural and Archeological Sites in Chouf (LAPNAC).

The wastewater treatment plant in nearby Khraibeh was the last project the Chargé reviewed.  The plant, which began operating in June 2007, was funded by USAID ($354,000) in partnership with the municipality ($525,000). The plant treats 450 cubic meters per day of wastewater and benefits 3,000 area citizens.  Part of the project was the installation of a 7,343 meter sewage network for the surrounding area.