Press Releases

In an article published in the Washington Post, the U.N. special envoy for global education and former prime minister of Britain, Gordon Brown praised the unique experiment of the new ‪curriculum‬ being introduced in the Lebanese schools, born out of the Adyan’s work in education, in partnership with MEHE and CERD, and its “National Charter for‪ ‎Education‬ on Living Together in ‪‎Lebanon‬”. According to Brown, this work is a model in challenging the extremist propaganda of the Islamic State, by “the promotion of coexistence”, embracing “inclusive citizenship to religious diversity”, and...

In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the end of the Lebanese civil war, the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) is holding a youth photo contest to raise awareness about the importance of truth seeking and truth telling about people’s experiences of the war and post-war violence. The photo contest, titled, “THE WAR AS I SEE IT”, is aimed at young people in Lebanon, to encourage them to explore how they understand the war, as part of the past and the present. The winning photographs will be part of a traveling exhibition intended to spark collective reflection on the...

Advancing sexual health and healthcare for sexual minorities in Lebanon - LebMASH Crowdfunds with Zoomaal The Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health (LebMASH), a local non-governmental organization that works on advancing sexual health and the healthcare of sexual minorities in Lebanon, has announced the launch of a crowdfunding campaign for its Break the Silence (BTS) competition. BTS calls on student to submit an academic paper about sexual health or health of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) individuals. The winner will be sponsored to a trip to attend an...

Adyan Institute calls for applications from young leaders to participate in a six month online and face-to-face course on “Islam, Diversity and Peace building”. About Adyan Institute Adyan Institute is part of the Adyan foundation, a Lebanese foundation for interreligious studies and spiritual solidarity, founded in 2006 by members from Christian and Muslim denominations as an independent organization that works on valuing religious diversity in its conceptual and practical dimensions, and on promoting coexistence and diversity management among individuals and communities, on the social...

Besme is doing its best to create more opportunities for the youth in Lebanon. Upon the agreement done with Lebanese International University, Besme acquired discount special to itself, from the university administration. Except for the Faculty of Pharmacy, students will receive high percentage of discount in the LIU campuses of Akkar, Tripoli, Jdedieh, Tyre, Nabatieh and Riyak as well as the campuses of Beirut, Saida and Khiara. Students with a reference letter from Besme International Group for Humanitarian Assistance will have the opportunity to benefit from the discount. For further...

Besme continues to serve Lebanese people in time of holy Ramadan. In collaboration with Lebanese Foodbank and Nestle Company, Besme distributed 100 food boxes as Ramadan Eid supply to the villagers in need at Hebbarieh and Kfarhammam in Hasbaya Al-Arkoub. Upon the agreement signed with Lebanese Foodbank on 11 June 2015, Besme received 100 food boxes, which were distributed on 12 July 2015. The Muslim population of the very south of Hasbaya Al-Arkoub in vicinity of Isralei border, benefited from the supply boxes, which involved staple food products. The distribution was coordinated by Mr...

As a result of Besme’s effort to promote and encourage higher education opportunities for Lebanese and Syrian youth, Besme and the Near East University (NEU) – Cyprus signed an agreement. Besme was promoted as representative of NEU and University of Kyrenia, in Lebanon and Syria. نتيجة لجهود Besme لتعزيز وتشجيع فرص التعليم العالي للشباب اللبنانيين والسوريين, وقعت بسمة وجامعة الشرق الأدنى (NEU) – قبرص اتفاقية. اعلنت بسمة ممثلة NEU وجامعة كيرينيا في لبنان وسوريا.

أقامت «جمعية سوا للتنمية»، في اليوم العالمي للاجئين، ورشة رسم للاطفال في مخيم بلال الساروط في بر الياس، للاضاءة على هذا اليوم والتعرف عما يعبر به الاطفال عن واقعهم من خلال الرسم، والاضاءة على تلك الفئات المهمشة في المخيمات. وأشارت رئيسة الجمعية نوال مدللي الى ان «الجمعية لم تنس هذا اليوم»، داعية الى «الوقوف الى جانب هؤلاء الاطفال المحرومين من أبسط الحاجات والحقوق الانسانية مع دخول الازمة السورية عامها الخامس».وأسفت «لاننا ما زلنا نطلق عليهم اسم نازحين كون لبنان لم يصادق على اتفاقية اللاجئين وبالتالي لا تطبق عليهم صفة «لاجئ» ولا حقوق الانسان

With the ongoing advance of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria and its recent taking of the city of Palmyra, the Syrian conflict lingers and every day thousands of people are forced to leave their homes in emergency and fear. In four years of war in Syria, over 210,000 people have lost their lives, 10 million people have been displaced, and 1.5 million are refugees in neighboring Lebanon. Today in Lebanon, one person out of four is a refugee. Shocking as these statistics may be, they don’t give a complete picture of what life is like for the Syrian people in Lebanon. That’s why SOLIDARITÉS...

In the second half of June, Besme distributed health insurance cards to 100 needy people in partnership with Alwake3 Association. Aiming at securing the Lebanese citizens’ rights to receive medical and health services especially for people who are not in good economic conditions. Besme and Alwake3 provided insurance cards with the cooperation of UFA Insurance Company and distributed them in Beirut on 11 June and in Kuashra and Aydamoun, Akkar on 15 June. Besme is planning to increase the number of insurance card holders in order to expand health services to the all segments of Lebanese society...

Training sessions in Volunteer Management, Corporate Volunteering, and School Volunteer and Community Service Programs will be offered in Lebanon by the Learning to CARE Institute between May 18 and June 13. Through these training sessions you can learn how to improve existing programs and develop new ones that are strong, effective and beneficial to all involved. To express your interest and preferences, complete the Interest Form no later than May 8 at www.learningtocare.com/interestform. This will give you the opportunity to state the days and times that suit you best. It also offers your...

Launching Crowd-funding Campaign for “Flying Gardens” Project - Youth volunteers from UTOPIA Organization launch a crowd-funding campaign for their community development project, “Flying Gardens” in Tabbaneh, Tripoli - Tripoli, Lebanon, April 20– Youth volunteers from UTOPIA Organization in Tripoli launched a crowd-funding campaign early April on ZOOMAAL, a crowd-funding platform that makes it easy for innovators in the Arab world to get their work funded. The campaign aims to mobilize funds needed to implement their community development project, “Flying Gardens”. The project entitles...

Besme Group paid a visit to the South Lebanese village of Hebbarieh on 03 April 2015. After the Besme Aid 2015, which took place in January 2015 and aimed at distributing relief supplies to Lebanese locals and Syrian refugees, Besme Group has been committed to contributing at the socio-cultural and socio-economic development of the region. To this end, in March 2015, Besme Group appointed a South Lebanon Coordinator in order to reach reliable information, which will lead itself to be more active in the region. During this visit, Besme Group had a warm welcome from the villagers, which was...

MARCH is happy to share with you its legal hotline. 70 235 463is a number that internet users in Lebanon can contact should they be called in to the Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Rights Bureau for questioning. Lebanon’s Cybercrime Bureau is responsible for investigating serious cybercrimes, including cyber-terrorism and theft, but it also investigates cases of free expression on the internet. In its interactions with Lebanese bloggers, activists, and regular social media users, the Bureau has used unfair and underhanded tactics to bring individuals in for questioning and to gather...

يسرّ جمعية "مارش" الإعلان عن إطلاق "خطها الساخن". بواسطة هذا الرقم 70 235 463 يمكن لأي مستخدم إنترنت في لبنان، الإستفادة من المشورة القانونية المجانية فيما لو تعرّض لأي استدعاء أو استجواب من قبل مكتب "مكافحة جرائم المعلوماتية وحماية الملكية الفكرية". إن "مكتب مكافحة جرائم المعلوماتية" مكلّف بالتحقيق في الجرائم الإلكترونية والرقمية الخطيرة بما فيها تلك المتعلقة بالإرهاب أو النصب الإلكتروني هذا إضافة الى أي مسألة متعلّقة بحرية التعبير على الإنترنت. وهنا تلفت "مارش" إلى أن طرق تعاطي المكتب مع المدونين اللبنانيين والنشطاء أو حتى مع مستخدمي الشبكة ومواقع التواصل الاجتماعي العاديين ، يمكن وصفها...

In the first week of March Besme Co. and Alwake3 Cultural and Social Association concluded a partnership agreement. According to this agreement Besme and Alwake3 will be partners in distributing the health insurance cards for needy people, in cooperation with UFA insurance company. Aiming at securing the Lebanese citizens’ rights to receive medical and health services. Besme will distribute health insurance cards to 100 people, which are non-insured citizens between the ages of 18-45 in Beirut and Akkar. Besme is planning to increase the number of insurance card holders in order to expand...

Besme group visited Ein El-Hilweh Camp with support of Nashet Association to observe the situation in the camp and find out the needs of people in there. Thanks to Mr. Zafer Al-Khateeb, General Director of Nashet, Besme was received very warmly in the camp. With his efforts, Besme team had meetings with the ‘Popular Committee’ and the ‘Committee of Palestinian Refugees’ by which Besme had been briefed with the current situation in camps and negotiated on the cooperation opportunities to help people in need.

Besme Group have been donated with a land by Mr. Yassin Youssef at the heart of the Hebbarieh/Hasbaya on which there is a plan to build a Condolence House. We are working on this project to provide the villagers with a nicely built multi-purpose social facility, in which training programs and conferences might also be held.

Yemeni Minister of Human Rights Izzeddin Asbahi paid a visit to Besme office in the second week of February. Being honored with Mr. Minister’s visit, Besme staff was glad to receive information on the current situation and to hear his opinions about recent events in Yemen. As the director of Human Rights Information and Training Center (HRITC), Mr.Asbahi also discussed the humanitarian assistance opportunities for Yemeni people with Besme team. He emphasized the importance of educating youth on human rights and expressed his willingness to work with Besme Group on this issue together.

The Middle East Partnership Initiative - Lebanon Alumni Association (MEPI - LAA), held its annual Ordinary General Assembly at La Cigale Hotel, Zalka during which a new Executive Committee was elected for the period of 2014-2017. The meeting was an opportunity for the outgoing President Ramzi El Hajj to discuss the work and achievements done by the outgoing Executive Committee during the 2011 -2014 term and to announce the uncontested winning of the members of the new Executive Committee who introduced themselves and shared their future vision with the Alumni. The General Assembly approved...