Overview

The post-occupied region of South Lebanon is characterized by a young population that suffers from high illiteracy, and a rate of unemployment significantly higher than the national average.

The areas hit during the war were already the most impoverished in the country. The juxtaposition of the geography of poverty and the geography of destruction necessitates special reconstruction programs aimed at building local capacities for poverty alleviation and employment creation.

To tackle the above-mentioned challenges, UNESCWA & Fondation Saradar identified the need to introduce IT and thus initiated the E-Caravan® Project that was launched in January 2006, in cooperation with Italian NGOs operating on the ground. The objective of the project is to combat the lack of IT awareness and IT education amongst underprivileged communities in South Lebanon; especially, youth, women and persons with disability, who are at a disadvantage in the job market.

Struck down by two missiles over South Lebanon

During the July 2006 war, the E-Caravan® became another casualty of the hostilities that gripped Lebanon for more than thirty days. The Mobile Computer School® was struck down by Israeli missiles in the southern border village of Ayta al-Shaab where it was delivering IT training courses since May.

Fondation Saradar was committed to reactivate the E-Caravan® project in South Lebanon. In April 2008, Fondation Saradar re-launched the ‘E-Caravan®’ Phoenix, in partnership with UNESCWA and thanks to the generosity of faithful partners who helped in building and furnishing the new mobile hub.

Partners

  • United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
  • United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
  • Bank Audi – Audi Saradar Group
  • Bankers Assurance
  • British Embassy in Lebanon
  • Carrosserie Abillama
  • Compagnie de Construction Immobilière (CCI)
  • Compagnie des Sources du Liban, Sannine
  • Crown House Group
  • Early Bird
  • Formatech Integrated Learning Center
  • Inconet – Data Management (IDM)
  • Information Management (IML)
  • Inmarsat Limited
  • Librairie Halim
  • Saccal Systems
  • Triband Middle East s.a.l Off Shore