Peace support for Syrian and Lebanese communities

The project in Tripoli, Lebanon, is entering a new phase!

Highlight of the last months was the Youth Peace Ambassadors Training with 25 young youth from violence-affected backgrounds. Syrian and Lebanese, boys and girls from different schools and areas in Tripoli mingled together and became a strong bonded group over the 7 day duration of the training. They learned and deepened their practice of powerful stress and trauma relief techniques, learnt new social and emotional skills to deal with other people and challenging situations, engaged in different forms of art to explore their selves and give expression to their inner world, analysed their living contexts for the causes and drivers of violence, designed peacebuilding projects to reduce the violence in their lives and the lives of other children, they ate, played and celebrated together. Watch this youth to see which changes they are bringing about in themselves and their city, now and in the future!

"I cannot imagine my life anymore without it" (Yavap graduate)

"I feel such a burden lifted from my shoulders" (Yavap graduate)

Another highlight is the sucess of our newly trained trainers from Syria, who are now giving Stress Relief and Resilience workshops on a massive scale for children of all backgrounds in Tripoli. After having experienced IAHV's Professional Care Program, practiced regularly at home and in group follow up sessions, followed the Training of Trainers, engaged actively in assisting and observing, and practiced almost daily in delivering supervised SRR workshops, they have grown into very appreciated, strong, sensitive and reliable IAHV team members, who have expanded the capacity of our team to reach out to more children in need. 

With the start of Ramadan this week, everything in Tripoli now lives and moves at another pace for a few weeks, but the enthusiasm and commitment of our team keeps the flame burning. 

Links:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t8GCj_ncOM&t=2s