 
"Al-Tilal" headquarters in Maad (caza
Jbeil).
Amchit.
Daroun.
"Welcome to Al-Tilal Association and
Fondation Saradar" - "Welcome ot the supporters of knowledge and
progress".
|
EMPOWERING RURAL
WOMEN
The second sector targeted by our IT programme was rural
development. Two villages were selected in the northern part of
the country - Tannourine and Eddeh (caza Batroun) - where the
training primarily focused on women.
Pursuing its capacity-building activity in disadvantaged rural
areas, the Saradar IT Programmeฎ
dedicated its October 2004 sessions to Tannourine and its
neighbouring villages. This time, IT courses focused on rural
tourism, a theme widely solicited by inhabitants. Tourism could
indeed constitute the answer to reverse migration trends in rural
areas, whilst preserving traditional craftsmanship, and the
regions' specificities, as well as supporting and sustaining
small-scale family based businesses.
In this perspective, the Institute for Rural and Touristic
Development Al Tilal initiated a training programme in order to
help create and sustain local jobs, and expand economic
opportunities in villages. This objective cannot however be
achievable without the support of information and communication
technology (ICT). Hence, the Saradar IT Programmeฎ
joined in this effort, putting IT at the service of villagers
interested in increasing their potential to attract visitors
towards their less known or abandoned - but rich and culturally
diverse regions.
From October 18 to 30, courses were delivered to 50 persons from
Tannourine, Douma and surrounding villages. A special curriculum
was tailored to meet Al Tilal's project objectives: the 18-hour
training sessions focused on the use of IT programmes as practical
tools in achieving efficiency and bringing improvement to various
activities related to rural tourism development and promotion,
such as: preparing menus, elaborating food labels, managing
financial tasks including billing, handling administrative and
communication tasks, etc.
The success of the Saradar IT Programmeฎ
in October prompted the caravan to head towards another rural
area overlooking Batroun: Eddeh, a village encountered on your way
to Rachana or Kfifane. In this small community, women represent
the largest part of the local population. Even though rural women
are often aware of their role in the family and society, they
cannot fulfil their potential if they lack the necessary skills to
improve their status. Building capacities based on information &
communication technology remains the prerequisite to empower rural
women to make the change.
From November 29 to December 11, 2004 the Saradar IT Programmeฎ
provided, in collaboration with the Municipality of Eddeh (Batroun),
free training sessions to the local population who benefited from
96 training hours during a period of two weeks.
Additional sessions were scheduled at Al Tilal headquarters in
Maad (caza Jbeil).
From January 21st to February 5, 2005 the Saradar Mobile Computer
School stationed at Al-Tilal headquarters in Maad (Jbeil). The
85 training sessions scheduled over a period of 14 days targeted
47 local inhabitants and registered a large majority of women
motivated by the need to acquire new skills and build their
capacities in order to become employable.
The same programme was delivered in the village of Blat and its
immediate surroundings from April to May 2005.
Consolidating family businesses in rural areas was the objective
of the new round of IT training courses launched in partnership
with Al Tilal Institute in the villages of Bijjeh, Sghar and
their surroundings (caza of Jbeil), between January and March
2007.
Over 200 candidates, among which 125 women, participated in this
training programme which included more than 500 training hours.
The graduation ceremony was held in Bijjeh on May 11. The
municipality welcomed us at the entrance of the village with a
large banner expressing the inhabitants appreciation and thanks.
Speeches were delivered by the presidents of the municipalities of
Bijjeh and Sghar, in the presence of H.E. Ms. Lyndall Sachs,
Ambassador of Australia in Lebanon, during which 11 PowerPoint
presentations prepared by the trainees were displayed. Al Tilal
institute then distributed DVDs promoting tourism in Lebanon to
the graduates,, while certificates were handed to the
participants. The ceremony was followed by a cocktail reception.
|
Village / NGO |
Caza |
Dates |
|
Tannourine |
Batroun |
October 2004 |
|
Eddeh |
Batroun |
November 2004 |
|
Maad |
Batroun |
January 2005 |
|
Blat |
Jbeil |
April 2005 |
|
Amchit |
Jbeil |
January 2006 |
|
Daroun |
Kesrouan |
February 2006 |
|
Bijjeh |
Jbeil |
January 2007 |
|
Sghar |
Jbeil |
February 2007 |
| Monsef |
Jbeil |
March 2009 |
|
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