Medrar Social Awareness Program

Health on a Budget – Awareness Program by Medrar Foundation and LAU Civic Engagement Students

In collaboration with the Lebanese American University’s Civic Engagement students, Medrar Foundation launched an innovative community awareness initiative titled “Health on a Budget.” This program was designed to empower individuals and families to make informed health decisions despite economic constraints — a critical issue in Lebanon’s current socio-economic context.

Program Overview and Analysis

The initiative began with a needs assessment conducted across several communities served by Medrar Foundation. Findings revealed that a significant portion of households face barriers to maintaining proper nutrition, preventive healthcare, and access to affordable medical services. Rising living costs and limited public health support have pushed many families to deprioritize healthcare expenses in favor of daily necessities.

The program analyzed these gaps through surveys, focus groups, and interactive discussions led by LAU students, identifying three main challenges:

Lack of awareness about affordable preventive healthcare.

Limited knowledge on nutrition using local and low-cost ingredients.

Dependence on expensive medications rather than preventive habits.

Practical Solutions and Implementation Methods

To address these findings, the “Health on a Budget” program adopted a solution-oriented model combining education, demonstration, and sustainability:

Community Workshops:
Interactive sessions taught participants how to prepare balanced meals using seasonal, affordable Lebanese products, reduce food waste, and substitute costly processed foods with nutritious local alternatives.

Preventive Health Awareness:
Medical volunteers and LAU students provided short talks and demonstrations on basic hygiene, stress management, affordable physical activity routines, and early detection of common diseases.

Local Resource Mapping:
The team identified low-cost or free local health resources — such as municipal clinics, NGO-supported pharmacies, and community medical days — and compiled them into an easy-to-use guide for residents.

Behavioral Change Toolkit:
Participants received illustrated leaflets and short digital videos summarizing key takeaways — such as “10 ways to stay healthy under $1/day” — to encourage lasting habits.

Feedback and Follow-up:
LAU students conducted pre- and post-program questionnaires to measure changes in awareness, knowledge, and behavioral intent, ensuring that the program outcomes were data-driven and scalable.

Impact and Future Directions

The initiative not only improved participants’ understanding of affordable health management but also inspired local partnerships with pharmacies, nutritionists, and community leaders. The collaboration between academia and the NGO sector demonstrated a replicable model for civic engagement that combines research, outreach, and measurable impact.

Medrar Foundation aims to expand this program to additional villages in 2026, integrating mobile clinic visits and local workshops to sustain the long-term behavioral change achieved through this pilot phase.