'Build up the difference' Project -
Training programmes to support women micro enterprises in Lebanon

Duration of the project
March 2008 – March 2009

Funding partner
Emilia Romagna Region (Italy)

Implementing partners
CESTAS (Center of Health Education and Appropriate Health Technologies) – an Italian NGO
ARCS (Associazione Ricreativa Culturale e Sviluppo) – an Italian governmental association
Ain Ebel Municipality (South Lebanon)

Beneficiaries
45 beneficiaries from Tebnine, Bint Jbeil, Rmeich, Ain Ebel and Yaroun. Mostly younger women with low family income.

Objectives
To facilitate the creation or the involvement of women in social networks formal and informal, in order to promote and strengthen the women role and ability to work.
To increase the cultural activities in the area, facilitate the access to computer labs and internet, and link with the charity in the area that provides services for disable working people.

Description and Time frame
In August 2008 the project group was constituted with Italian and Lebanese staff, and a Committee of Coordination and Evaluation was formed.
In November and December 2008, training programmes for micro enterprises are being held, for 45 beneficiaries from Tebnine and Bint Jbeil, mostly younger women with low family income. The trainings aims at creating or rehabilitating women’s professional abilities, and include the topics of Administartion, Marketing, Management of the micro enterprise and IT.
In December 2008 and after the completion of the training programmes, an employment fund for 30 investments will be activated for the development of micro entrepreneurships. The projects (investments) will be implemented by the beneficiaries with the help of expert consultants and trainers.
From November 2008 to February 2009, training, assistance and follow up programs will be held, to ensure the completion of the training and support the role of the working women providing assistance to the micro entrepreneurs at all levels.
A seminar in the Emilia Romagna Region (Italy) is planned to take place in February 2009, to inform about the results of the project and contribute to strengthen the collaboration between the area of the project and the Italian citizens and local authorities.
Information will also be spread on websites, newsletters, magazines, newspapers, radio, etc.
The project will be concluded in March 2009 with a visit from Italian staff to Lebanon with focus on assessing the project and explore further opportunity for collaboration.

Activities
Periodic meetings between the beneficiaries and the thematic experts for the development of general skills on the job, through participatory methods, giving the skills for self-training, self-esteem, attitude to regular training and improvements.
This will aim to gradually empower women as relevant actor in society.
This activity will be conducted trough interview methods to understand and report on changes since the beginning of the project, to assess
- how it is change their condition with respect to the family environment.
- how it is changed their private and social life of the beneficiaries.  

Extra schools activities for children -cultural exchanges / with the collaboration of the school of Ravenna in the Emilia Romagna region. This will include:
- Support to the Kindergarten already existing in the area, and activities with them.
- Organisation /support to after school classes, to diminish the cost of parents that have to pay for private extra lessons for their children
- Activities with the five public schools in the area

All the project’s activities will be monitored by the committee of coordination and CESTAS staff, through collecting data from the partners, interim reports and field visits.