A training on Gender-Based Violence started after Bekaa Alumni training on the same topic. In total, eleven clusters took this training with Ms. Rana Aoun who is a Gender activist and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Specialist working in Lebanon and the MENA region on research, tool and curricula development and capacity-building on Gender and GBV. Rana has contributed to various women empowerment projects, supporting adolescent girls, boys and women including survivors of GBV. Her sessions were of a great value to the ladies and some of them had a follow-up with her on personal issues.
They discussed how Gender is perceived in their communities, what GBV incidents are most common and how to protect themselves, their children and their loved ones. Participants were encouraged to challenge their own perception of who they are and what they can achieve as women. They were empowered to become aware of the self-limitations and harsh self-criticism that they have built over the years, due to growing up in a deeply patriarchal community. Many participants also realized their active role in educating their children and instilling them with the values of Gender equality and unconditional respect for others.
It is to be noted that many participants shared personal testimonies on how participation in the TWE program has changed their lives: Some women acknowledged that this is the first time they take part in a program to develop their capacities and care for themselves. “It is the first time I do something for myself!” shared a 70-year-old participant in the Zahle class. Others shared that they have gained a valuable support network with their peers and teacher. For many, the classes are the only activity they take part in outside of their household.
The fourth training on Conflict Transformation with an introduction to CVE was conducted by Dr. Ziad Fahed who is a Professor at Notre Dame University and the Founder of Dialogue for Lebanese Reconciliation DLR. The training took place at the centers of Adloun and Nabatiye in South Lebanon, Arsal and Qaa both border villages in North Bekaa, Chiyah in Baabda and Bshari in North Lebanon. The training sessions were so deep and influential and raised a lot of questions among attendees. It is worth to note that those are clusters from closed communities where fanaticism is highly likely to happen. The objective of this training is to empower women who are taking TWE courses through skills and tools that help them have an influence on their families to counter violent extremism and maintain peaceful ways of communication as well as countering escalation of the conflict. The ladies were introduced to the definition of conflict and conflict ladder and escalation of conflict and how it can become a tragedy. The ladies applied conflict management skills in practice activities that trained them on negotiation skills and mediation. The clusters discussed means that create an inclusive community for diversity and the ways that limit the escalation of conflict in our lives and transform a conflict to a learning lesson.
The fifth topic of training was on Sexual Reproductive Health and Early Marriage was given by the former representative of y-peer in Lebanon, Miss Sara Rifai who is also a staff of TWE. The training was very important, especially for Syrian refugee women. The training took place in the clusters of Wadi Khaled in Akkar, Hermel and Saadnayel in Bekaa, Hasbaya, Saida and Adloun in the South. The topic is not only important for health care and hygiene but also to get aware of early marriage.
The sixth training session was on Campaigning and it was based on the Gender-Based Violence Training and Campaign that started with the alumni. The trainer, Maria Elissa Makhlouf, a young trainer on campaigning, has contacted USPEaK to ask if she can help with her experience in training on advocacy and campaigning just in the time we were looking for one. Maria Elissa trained the clusters of Chiyah in Baabda, Sarafand in South Lebanon, Mrouj in Metn, Kfarhay in Batroun, Arsal and Qaa in North Bekaa on our campaign that promotes for gender equality and marriage respect and partnership. The training focused on the message and the use of social media tools to spread this message. Today the online campaign has reached more than 12,700 people, and a seminar in Rashaya was organized for two classes as well as the alumni at the castle of Rashaya. The seminar was a panel discussion with a Psychologist from Hasbaya, Dr. Dalal Halabi who studies the effect of GBV on women and the trainer on GBV, Miss Rana Aoun and facilitated by the Project Director, Miss Rawan Yaghi. The seminar was followed by questions and answers.
