The Access-Mena Project
Alternatives To Combat Exploitive Child Labor Through Education And Sustainable Services

The legal working age in Lebanon is 15 years of age, however, many families who struggle financially choose to have their children work and earn wages, even if they’re younger than the legal limit. They were the primary target beneficiaries for this project, along with those children who were at risk of dropping out of school due to learning difficulties or financial reasons. The project, also had a specific focus on the need to expand access to education to girls. One of its successes was its ability to build models that strengthened the institutional capacity of schools and communities to eliminate exploitative child labor.
Project activities included:
• Literacy classes
• Accelerated Vocational Training sessions (AVT)
• Remedial and catch-up classes
• Provision of school supplies
• Infrastructural rehabilitation of select schools/educational centers
• Awareness raising on the promotion of children’s rights and the risks associated with child labor
• Capacity building of teachers in schools for the application of Student Learner Centered Learning Methodology
• Advocacy for, and development of, national policies aimed at improving and facilitating enrollment and retention of children in schools