The Saradar IT Programme® (SITP)
winter calendar was established according to the needs of
grass-root organisations selected in different parts of the
country and involved in various social activities. Since 2003,
networking with NGOs has proven to be a very efficient and
reliable approach to reach vulnerable social communities in
Lebanon. This year again, the Computer Mobile School toured new
neighbourhoods in the city and its suburbs, to provide courses
on the initiation and use of computers and the Internet to
underprivileged youngsters gathered by 'Voice of the Lebanese
Woman' (Voix de la Femme Libanaise), 'Libami' and the 'Ladies of
Charity' (Dames de la Charité). The caravan first stationed in
Fanar, at the 'Institut Moderne du Père Khalifé' school, then in
'Sin el Fil', and finally at the 'Avianco' company premises in
Achrafieh. And, for the second year in a row, it headed towards
'Oum el Nour', the drug rehabilitation centre in Achkout, for a
period of 2 weeks.
In each station, NGOs' staff members and officers were strongly
encouraged to enrol in this training programme. Special courses
were developed to respond to the organisations' needs: 'Power
Point' and 'Excel' sessions were systematically requested by
computer literate activists and social workers. Empowering NGOs
has become part of the SITP since February 2003, as it seeks to
achieve two objectives: on the one hand, it ensures the
sustainability of this project through a 'Training of Trainers'
activity; and on the other, it provides the association's
members with additional skills, thus increasing their capacities
in managing office administrative and financial tasks as well as
improving their ability to attract donors by preparing and
presenting more elaborated reports and project proposals.
The contacts and working relations established by the SITP have
resulted in most cases in generating a close, active and durable
collaboration with some local associations; a fruitful
cooperation renewed every year in order to ensure the project
proper impact and continuity.
From 2002 to 2005, several NGO's have reiterated their interest
to benefit from the training sessions catered by the SITP. At
the same time, Fondation Saradar has expressed its readiness to
provide its services to institutions that target various social
groups in different regions. Indeed, organizations such as "Oum
el Nour Association" for drug rehabilitation, the "Lebanese
Physical Handicapped Union, Al Tilal institute, Baldati, etc.
have participated more than twice in the implementation of the
SITP in their communities.
This repeated and successful experiences with some NGOs promoted
Fondation Saradar and its counterparts to consider
institutionalizing this working relation into a more structured
collaboration: a written agreement setting the framework for a
new kind of partnership between NGOs. On October 13th, 2005, a
Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Fondation Saradar and
baldati.com organizing their joint activities for 2006. A
similar agreement is under consideration between Fondation
Saradar and two other associations, Al Tilal Institute and ASPAD.
Since 2002, Fondation Saradar has worked to build strong
partnerships with NGOs interested in including IT
capacity-building activity as an integrated part of their own
projects and in promoting IT as a tool for sustainable
development.
In 2003, a steady cooperation was established with NGOs
concerned with disabled people and issues. A close collaboration
started with the ‘Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union’ (LPHU)
within the ‘Accessibility Programme’ and was extended to the
Youth Association of the Blind (YAB), when the ‘Adaptive
Technology Programme’ was launched, as of 2005.
Fondation Saradar also partnered with ‘Al Tilal Institute’ and
‘Baldati.com’ association in 2004 to promote rural tourism, and
remote villages in various parts of the country. Several
training courses were implemented in peripheral regions,
focusing on women and youth, with the objective to face
migration to urban areas through empowering and strengthening
local inhabitants and family businesses.
These various collaborations evolved into formal and official
partnerships through joint programmes developed specifically to
implement common interests and goals, covering not only the ‘Saradar IT Programme®’
activities but also the ‘E-Caravan®’
project.
1. Baldati
The new E-Caravan Phoenix project was designed to respond to the urgent needs of the population of South Lebanon specifically after the July 2006 war. Fondation Saradar and Baldati developed a new joint programme ‘the South Web Network’ linking the 4 cazas covered by the Phœnix Caravan. Baldati intervenes as a crucial actor in setting up and developing websites for local communities.
Recognised as the first NGO in the country to build a “virtual Lebanon” where villages can communicate with each other and link with their families locally and abroad, Baldati is a national development, environmental, and cultural association which works to develop simple and practical methods by which to revive Lebanese villages, reunite their communities, support their institutions, and encourage dialogue among them and their members.
Baldati recognizes the necessity of finding a way to revive these communities - a task it has undertaken by linking villages and community members together through the internet www.baldati.com. Communication is the first step in solving the social problems of villages, since these problems are aggravated by the solitude and isolation of village societies.
Fondation Saradar and Baldati have been cooperating in bringing IT knowledge to rural and remote areas within the ‘Saradar IT Programme’ since 2004:
VILLAGE
CLUSTER
DATE
2007
Ebrine
Bejdarfel
Rachkida
Kfifane
Jdabra
October
Batroun City
September-October
Boqsmaya
September
Bchaaleh
August-September
Mayfouq
July-August
Qleiat
June
Assia
Kour
Boqsmaya
Zen
Sourat
Kfarhay
Antelias
Zalka
Awkar
Bellevue
Dbayeh
Jal el Dib
April
2006
Mazraat Yachouh
Zekrit
Freykeh
Beyt el Kekko
Beyt el Chaar
Kornet Chehwane
Kornet el Hamra
Mtayleb
Deek el Mehdi
April-May
2005
Chabtine
Hadthoun
Mhermesh
Al Aalyaly
Daraya
Toula
Kfifane
Smar Jbeyl
El Douq
Jrane
Mrah el Zeyk
Mrah Chedid
Bejdarfel
Ghouma
October-November
Ain Dara
Mechqayteh
Mreyjet
Bmehriyeh
Al Aazouniyeh
Ain Zhalta
Nabeh El Safa
Sofar
Charoun
Kfarnees
Eghmid
August-September
Abadieh
Ain Mowaffaq
Qteleh
Al Kahlouhiyeh
Ras el Harf
Roueisset El Ballout
Haret Hamseh
Baalechmey
Al Halayliyeh
July-August
Jbeil
Jbeil City
February-March
2004
Rechmaya
Chartoun
Al Ramliyeh
Kfaraamey
Selfaya
Mazraat el Nahr
Ghaboun
Bserrine
Harbamoun
Remhala
Maasarayti
Doueyr el Remman
Ayn Trez
June-July
2. Al Tilal In cooperation with Al-Tilal Institute for rural development, Fondation Saradar was able to initiate several training sessions in various peripheral regions since 2004:
":
NETWORKING
){kind=small}
1. Baldati 