The post-occupied region of South Lebanon
has around 70,000 inhabitants, or 22% of the total inhabitants
of South Lebanon (excluding the population increase during
summer). A quarter of the households have a monthly income of
less than $300 and an average family of 4.8 persons. Poverty in
the region is augmented by social problems directly related to
the years of conflict. These include mainly a displaced
population, orphans, disabled, and ex-prisoners. Female-headed
households make up about 18.5% to 21%, compared to a national
average of 14%. In addition, compared to other regions, the
post-occupied region of South Lebanon is characterized by a
young population (proportion of youth under 19 years reaches 45%
in Cazas of Tyre and Bint-Jbeil) that suffers from high
illiteracy, and a rate of unemployment significantly higher than
the national average.
The communities of the post-occupied regions of South Lebanon
have been facing many challenges, some of which are within the
context of development and the introduction of IT. Although
efforts are being made to improve the Information and
Communication Technologies (ICT) infrastructure, there are still
significant unmet needs especially in remote areas where
accessibility is rather difficult. There is also a lack of
sufficient technical institutions that could cover the region
and that can provide accredited certificates.
To tackle the above-mentioned challenges, UNESCWA & Fondation
Saradar identified the need to introduce IT and thus initiated
the E-Caravan Project. A memorandum establishes a partnership
between both organizations, whereby an “E-Caravan” will be
launched, based on the “Saradar IT programme” model, to
introduce computers and the Internet to populations of the
liberated areas of South Lebanon.
‘Fondation Saradar’ will use ESCWA existing two development
centres in ‘Marjeyoun’ and ‘Kfar Kila’ to implement its training
programme in a region that suffers from the absence of
infrastructure. Hence, the necessity to recourse to a mobile
school, autonomous and well equipped to disseminate IT knowledge
even in the most remote and less populated areas of the country,
in an effort to overcome their inevitable social and economic
exclusion.
An Additional Project Agreement was signed on December 3, 2004,
regulating the terms of this three-year partnership.
Our previous mobile computer school has
already proved its capability in creating job opportunities for
the unemployed as well as enhancing the skills of beneficiaries
whose working conditions require a more advanced usage of IT.
Furthermore, Inmarsat Regional BGAN will provide Internet
connection for areas that have no Internet access. As a mobile
computer school the E-Caravan can travel to remote areas and
villages that lack IT centers, technical institutions or
adequate telecommunication infrastructure.
The contents of these pages are the property of Fondation Saradar. This information cannot be used partially or totally for any purpose other than related to the above-mentioned project and without the prior written approval by Fondation Saradar.
®" PROJECT BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES
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