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www.dar-alamal.org info@dar-alamal.org 00961 1 483 508
61 1 483 508
Index
1. Statement of the President
2. About Dar Al Amal
3. Specialized Prevention Centers for Children
Nabaa
Sabra
Tripoli
4. Project “Equitable Prevention and Response for Child Sex Trafficking”
Partner: Diakonia
5. Project “Piloting socio-legal defense” Partner : Connect Children Now
6. Project “Child protection support for the most vulnerable children in North Bekaa
and Mount Lebanon” Partner :TDH
7. Project “Child protection Project – Beirut Blast” Partner: World Vision
8. Social Rehabilitation and Reintegration Center for Vulnerable Women-Sin El Fil
9. Social Rehabilitation and Reintegration project in Women’s prisons Partner: Diakonia
10.Shelter in Choueifat- Amrousiye
11.Social Solidarity during Crisis since 17th October 2019
12.Internships and volunteers
13.Advocacy and Media
14.Fundraising Activities
15.Resources and Expenses
16.Partners
17.Board Members
18.How to Help
www.dar-alamal.org info@dar-alamal.org 00961 1 483 508
2
Statement of the President Dear friends, partners, colleagues, We would like to wish you all, a new year of Safety ,Good Health, Security ,Success, with more Humanity, Peace and Social Justice. The year 2020 was the most difficult year in the history of Lebanon at all levels. The political and socio-economic crisis became worse than last year, with still around 1,500,000 Syrian refugees in all Lebanese territories, and 500,000 Palestinian refugees. Increase of the poverty, the misery, no electricity, no water, unemployment, children in the streets, violence, delinquency, drugs, prostitution, and exploitation of children and women. The spread of the Corona Virus had made the situation worse and dangerous. The closure of the Country and the confinement affected all the people, especially the poor families who could not anymore ensure their basic needs .The Port Beirut Blast 4th October 2020, wiped out what was left in Beirut and in Lebanon. Absence of Government, public and private structures, health sector, all collapses. Our responsibilities increased towards the weakened, vulnerable children, women and families living under the poverty line. We supported together, without any discrimination, hundreds of families affected by the Beirut Blast, vulnerable children, at risk of all sorts of violence and children victims of violence, and young girls and women victims of sexual exploitation, and women in conflict with the law. We faced very difficult challenges. Together, we could repair wooden damaged homes, ensured electrical appliances destroyed by the port explosion, medications, operations for children injured from the explosion, food baskets, milk, hygiene kits, masks, sterilizers, blankets, stationaries for children. We ensured psychosocial support to traumatized children living in the affected areas by the explosion, and we ensured support to the families. Without your generous donations and your support, for sure, we would not have been able to help all these desperate families who live in distress under the poverty line. We are proud of Dar Al Amal multidisciplinary team who faced the challenges and the difficulties, risking their health with the possibility of contracting the corona virus. The team working in the centers and those who work in the field are all committed for the protection of Children and Women Rights. Our core values are the respect and the acceptance of each other’s, and to live with dignity. We work for the prevention and protection and resilience, and for gender equality, social rehabilitation and reintegration and personal and community development. The coordination continued and increased with the partners, in the public and private sectors, at the international and the national levels, and with all our supporters. We would like to thank all our partners and supporters. Together, we will continue to help and protect the greatest number possible of vulnerable and survivors children, youth, women and families in need, and to ensure their rights for a better quality of life, and to advocate for their causes. Hope, good will and good action will always remain. Sincerely yours, Habib Hatem President of Dar Al Amal 3
Organizational Profile
About Dar Al Amal (DAA)
Dar Al Amal is a Lebanese non-Governmental Organization founded in 1970, recognized of public utility
by the decree number 9176, dated 8-07-1974.
Dar Al Amal is directed by a board, elected by the General Assembly. It is run by a multidisciplinary
professional team, with the collaboration of volunteers.
Dar Al Amal works in partnership with the public and private sectors, both nationally and internationally,
for the development of the prevention and protection of vulnerable children and the empowerment of
weaken young girls and women.
DAA has two agreements with the Ministry of Social Affairs and collaborate with the Ministry of Interior,
the Interior Forces of Security, and other Ministries, and with several Municipalities. DAA runs common
projects in partnership with international and local organizations.
Vision:
Safeguarding Children and Women Rights without any discrimination
Mission:
Prevention and protection vulnerable children to consolidate their identity, achieve their full
potential, improve their skills and life conditions, and provide them with the opportunity to
successful lives and helping them achieve their rights.
Social rehabilitation and reintegration of young girls and women, in situation of violence,
exploitation, prostitution, and women in conflict with the law, to be empowered, to improve their
life conditions, and offer to all the beneficiaries opportunities for personal and community
development.
Values of Dar Al Amal:
Service to Humanity: It’s one main value of DAA. The Board and the team believe that serving others is
more important than self-interest and put the needs of the beneficiaries ahead of their own.
Social Justice: Social justice is one of the key values of DAA work. The Board and the team do efforts
to improve the standards of lives of vulnerable, weaken people who are in need of support and
unable to advocate for themselves. The team support the Right Holders to raise their voices.
Human Rights and Dignity: Dar Al Amal understand the inherent value of every human life, regardless
of background or beliefs. It respects the differences between their personal beliefs and those of the
beneficiaries, taking into account ethnic and cultural diversity.
Integrity: DAA respects the beneficiary’s confidentiality, unless the team required to do so in certain
circumstances by law. The team act with integrity, and also promote integrity in other volunteers,
students, professionals, offering services in all the centers. The team and the volunteers must sign
the code of conduct in all the centers.
Competence/Expertise: Since 1970 and until now, DAA practice in its areas of expertise. The team is
qualified and has experience. Continuous capacity building of the team and the beneficiaries is
fundamental to develop competencies and skills that can make them more effective and
sustainable.
4
Organizational structure
*Sin El Fil Center: Social Rehabilitation and Reintegration day Center addressed to weaken young girls
and women
*Sabra,Nabaa,Tripoli :Specialized Prevention and Protection day Centers addressed to vulnerable children
*Women Prison: Social Rehabilitation and Reintegration Program addressed to incarcerated and
Released women in three women prisons
*Shelter in Choueifat: Protection day and night center addressed to young girls and women
5
Children’s Rights
Specialized Prevention and Protection Centers
Nabaa/Bourj Hammoud
Partners: Ministry of Social Affaires- Dar Al Amal
Each Child has the right to protection from violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect
Each Child has the right to education, free time and cultural activities
Historical overview: the center has been founded in 1987
Mission: Promoting children’s rights especially girls and
achieving a better future with them
Objectives:
To protect children and especially young girls from all
risks and from all forms of violence
To help the beneficiaries to build a self-confidence and
improve their social connections
To support the parents and family members
To support the raise of children’s voices
To increase awareness in the local community concerning
children’s rights and the protection of the children from
violence and exploitation
Beneficiaries:
Direct Beneficiaries: Every child aged between 7 and 18 years old
suffering from social, psychological and economic conditions
threatening their healthy social and psychological development.
They are in need for support, follow up, guidance, prevention, and
protection
Indirect Beneficiaries: The families and the local community
The number of beneficiaries during 2020 is 590: 500 children,
90 mothers
All Beneficiaries suffer from difficult life conditions that affect them:
Learning difficulties accumulated through the years which are
caused by the lack of ability of the parents to help their children or
by the
Absence of a suitable atmosphere to help them study as a result of family problems:
• Domestic violence –Family dislocation
• Health problems
• Deterioration of the economic situation -Unemployment
• Addiction to drugs, alcohol: social, economic and psychological problems
• Narrow houses and their lack to health conditions and privacy necessary to secure decent living conditions
All of these obstacles affect the emotional, psychological and social growth of the children
Children are also vulnerable to all kinds of violence and exploitation in their environment: overpopulation,
ethnic diversity, refugees’ crisis, very narrow streets, lack of infrastructure. The team stress in its work on
6
the social and psychological intervention with the individual, the family and the community, in order to
reach the children's best interests, and to safeguard their rights.
Current Problems of Local Community:
The social and economic problems that families suffer from have been exacerbated by the spread of the
Covid-19 pandemic, the deteriorating economic conditions in Lebanon and the Beirut bombing.
According to estimates, the percentage of poverty in the population doubled from 28% in 2019 to 55% in
2020, and the percentage of people living in extreme poverty tripled, from 8% to 23%, during the same
period. Today, the United Nations Social and Economic Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is raising the
alarm in a new study entitled “Poverty in Lebanon: Solidarity is imperative in order to reduce the effects of
multiple and overlapping shocks”.
International studies show that children who were victims to war, immigration and humanitarian crises are
more vulnerable to risks.
Among the risks they face:
Violence in all its forms
School dropout
Worst forms of child labor
Early Child marriage
Sexual exploitation for commercial purposes.
In addition to many other risks that threat the physical
and psychological development of the child.
7
Activities During 2020
With the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, and in compliance with the instructions of the Ministry of Public
Health, we have taken the following measures:
-The first phase: From March 2020 until April 2020: The two specialized prevention centers were closed and
remote interventions were adopted in all the activities.
-The second phase: From May 2020 until August 2020: We resumed our work in the centers for individual
and family follow-up only. As for the activities within the group, we completed them remotely.
-Third phase: From September 2020 until December 2020: The center began receiving small groups of
children in addition to the remote interventions.
It should be noted that the two specialized prevention centers adhered to all preventive measures as
recommended by the Ministry of Public Health.
Psycho-Social Support Intervention
Intervention Type of activity In charge Results
Individual follow up - Individual interviews Social worker The center received a total of 98 child and
- Case management helped them overcome their difficulties and
Psychotherapist prevent them from the risks of violence
Familial follow up - House visits Social worker The Specialized Prevention Center followed
- At the center about 70 families and involved them within an
- Familial guidance Psychotherapist action plan that would help them improve their
conditions, cope with the difficult living
conditions, and carry out all their duties
towards their children.
Group interventions Periodic meetings with Social worker Follow up with 90 women and helping them
with mothers the mothers within gain information about: -the Coronavirus
small groups Psychologist awareness - Psychosocial support to face the
emerging health and economic crisis, follow up
with the children in a positive manner, and
protecting them from the increasing violence
due to the home quarantine.
Psychosocial Psychosocial Support Educators 180 children aged 6 to 13 years benefited from
support to refugee for children psychosocial support activities and case
children and Social worker management, in order to enhance child
vulnerable children Case Management protection and child well-being in Nabaa
from the host services Psychologist community.
community
Working groups with Awareness seminars Educators 98 children aged between 7 and 14 years
children benefited from awareness sessions on
Social worker combating violence and their rights to reject all
forms of violence. They were also introduced to
Psychologist a particular type of sexual abuse, its types and
ways to protect themselves. In addition to
various talks concerning life issues with the aim
of changing some behaviors and protect them
from delinquency.
8
Educational program:
Activity Person in charge Results
Remedial classes Social workers 85 children participated at remedial
Teachers specialized in foreign classes.
languages, math and science
Academic support Social worker 20 girls benefited from scholarship: cover
school inscription and supplies (books,
copybooks…).
Accelerated learning program Educators 80 girls Syrian refugees benefited from this
program.
9
Intense awareness campaigns: With the spread of the Corona pandemic, the Specialized Prevention Center deliberately produced educational materials with the aim of spreading prevention against the virus among families. It has produced separate educational materials for children and others for adults. 10
Capacity building:
Trainings and Workshops for the team :
Beneficiaries Topics
Social worker Remote SIR training
Social worker Referral Minimum Standards
Social worker Viva Family Mentoring program
The specialized prevention center manager Training on how to develop a work strategy for
(Nabaa) associations (Sin El Fil and Bourj Hammoud
Coordination Committee)
Social worker Psychological First aid -online training
Psychologist
Social worker Lay Counselling - online training
Psychologist
Social worker Child protection in Humanitarian Action -online
Psychologist training
Social worker Safeguarding Policy-online training
Psychologist
Social worker Safe identifications and referral-online training
Psychologist
Social worker Disability Inclusion-online training
Psychologist
Project Coordinator Remote psychosocial support for caregivers
Social activist Coronavirus training, how to prevent it
Project Coordinator Assessment data cleaning
Project Coordinator Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment
11Children Rights
Specialized Prevention and Protection Centers
Addressed to Children
In Sabra and Chatila –South Suburb-Beirut
Introduction
Sabra-Chatila is one of the very needy suburbs of Beirut. The Children living in this area belong to poor and
dislocated families. They are at risk or victims of all sorts of violence, exploitation. They are from several
nationalities, schooled and unschooled children, street children, working children, etc. . . . Emergency
situations like the Syrian displacement to these regions have increased the problem.
Dar Al Amal centers in Sabra receive vulnerable boys and girls subject to violence and exploitation.
This area suffers from all sort of problems:
1. Diffusion of CORONA virus.
2. The lack and the weakness of official control
health care.
3. Waste spread between homes.
4. Houses stick to each other and lack sanitary
systems,ventilation and moisture
penetration
A multidisciplinary team ensures in the 2 centers
these services:
1. Social follow up: individual follow up ,family
and group worker by online
2. Psychological: individual and family follow
up, and also by online.
3. Educational and awareness activities through
videos sent by Whatsapp about corona virus and auto protection.
4. Capacity building and acquisition skills through follow a specialized courses.
5. Awareness raising sessions.
6. Community Development
Objectives
To prevent and protect children from all sort of violence and exploitation, especially sexual abuse.
To Support and Empower children and mothers to develop their abilities and to consolidate self-
confidence.
To raise awareness within the community and to advocate together for Children rights.
Standards
Boys and girls who are victims of poverty, violence and all sort of exploitation.
From all region Lebanese.
From all nationalities.
12Beneficiaries:
Number of beneficiaries during 2020: 540 children and 190 mothers
Direct beneficiaries: Children, boys and girls, aged 7-18, Lebanese and Syrians and Palestinians refugees,
and children with no ID.
The children suffer from:
Poverty, misery, violence and all kinds of exploitation.
Dislocation of the families , unemployment, social problems, drugs,
Health problems ,no social and medical services, no infrastructure
Pollution , unhealthy environment , unhealthy very narrow houses
Indirect beneficiaries: families, local community
Intervention methodology:
The multidisciplinary team adopts a comprehensive intervention methodology, reaching all levels:
Individual
Family
Community
Activities:
Social follow up:
Individual and familial intervention at the center and through Whatsapp due corona diffusion.
Psychosocial support:
From 6 years to 14 years old
Objective:
- To support children with difficult social situations
- To enhance their expressive abilities through activities.
- To help Children to have more self-confidence and have the ability to express without fear.
With taking the preventive procedures (social distance, mask…),
Also, the psychologist sent by Whatsapp 20 videos about corona virus for children and their
parents.
13Educational Program: Literacy, Arabic, English
Addressed to:
Non solarized children
Working and street children aged 8 and above
Objectives
DAA team is using the official Arabic book
Children made “remarkable “progress in studying Arabic. In the first and second levels, they
learned letters and words, and their visual memory is developed.
Children in the third level, started learning Arabic grammar
Train the children on how to use the pen
Developing fine motors and listening skills
developing concentration skill
Learning numbers and letters - identifying themselves, their ages, their address, their gender and
nationality.
Learning colors, days of the week, months, seasons and its characteristics.
English grammar.
The communication with the children and parents had been by whatsApp .
14Computer: Teaching children: - How to use computers - How to Access educational games - How to insert geometric shapes, sizes, colors into documents - Microsoft Word office program - Microsoft office Excel - Training on safe surfing the internet This activity has stopped on April 2020 due the Covid-19 and the confinement. Yoga Classes: Yoga benefits for children: Develop their awareness Develop mental abilities through focus and relaxation exercises Improve balance skills Strengthening the body and getting rid of cramps conveying awareness from the outside to the inner world and calmness developing imagination and creativity Also, this activity has continued at home when Covid-19 hit the country and we were all in confinement. 15
Awareness raising programs: Auto protection sessions: Target group: Children between 9 and 15 years old Objective: To prevent sexual violence by strengthening children's self-protection behaviors to counteract sexual violence and sensitizing societies. Results: A large number of children had the courage to speak about the issue of sexual violence. A number of children also requested help in solving problems they had been exposed to. These children were followed up by the psychological specialist. When Covid-19 hit the country and we were all in confinement, The team tried to find the most suitable way to proceed with the sessions without causing any additional expenses on the parents. The team found that WhatsApp application might be the easiest to use especially that the family lacked strong internet connection. Rare are those who have many device at home except their mobile phone. So the team tried as much as possible to assess and evaluate the impact of each activity on the children, their parents and the environment by analyzing several points: -The children and caregivers participated and interacted through WhatsApp during the session (by sharing opinion, photos…..) - The result of the pre and post-test sent to children to evaluate the knowledge and the acquisition. -The individual social follow up for parents and children at the center -The feedback of the psychotherapist - Conducting a focus group to evaluate the acquisition and learn about their feedbacks and take recommendations. -By the feedback on Whatsapp (videos, pictures, questionnaire …) -Individual calling. -Evaluation at the center for every family by (questionnaire and individual interview.) 16
Children Rights
Specialized Prevention and Protection Centers
Addressed to Children
In Tripoli
Introduction:
Dar Al Amal runs a center in Tripoli, in one of the very needy areas, in Sahet Al Nejme. It’s a first floor in
a building provided since 2011 from the Tripoli Municipality to Dar Al Amal.
Tripoli is the neediest town in Lebanon. The Children living in this area belong to poor and dislocated
families. They are at risk or victims of all sorts of violence, exploitation. They are schooled and unschooled
children, street children, working children, etc. . . . . Hundreds of Syrian refugees live in the area of the
center. Displacement to these regions have increased the problem.
Objectives:
To protect vulnerable children from violence, exploitation and all forms of child labor
To improve the living conditions and increasing the social protection of children working and children
at risk.
To improve protection mechanism by enhancing the financial situation of families in order to protect
their children from school dropout and child labor.
To support women and girls victims of violence, exploitation and difficult economic conditions, to be
empowered and reintegrate into society and to improve their living conditions
.
Target group: vulnerable children and young girls and women from the community and ex-prisoners
Beneficiaries:
Girls and boys who belongs to poor and dislocated families and at risk or victims of violence and
exploitation of all kinds : street children , working children
Lebanese children.
Syrien refuges
Number of beneficiaries during 2020: 40 children and 65 women
17Activities:
individual follow up
Family follow up: Home visits: follow up the child at home
also. Improving the relationship between the child and the
family.
Psychological support: individual and family follow up.
Group Therapy
Program Auto-protection addressed to children and
mothers
Educational activities : literacy sessions-advanced Arabic
sessions - English sessions, and computer sessions
Awareness raising sessions addressed to the parents,
especially mothers.
Recreational activities: Games, role plays, art and drawing.
Capacity building: acquisition of skills from vocational
training sessions.
Children protection
During the confinement, the activities with the children continued remotely.
Educational Program: Literacy, Arabic, English
Addressed to
Non solarized children
Working and street children aged 8 and above
Objectives
DAA team use the official Arabic book
Children made “remarkable “progress in studying
Arabic. In the first and second levels, they learned
letters and words, and their visual memory has
been developed.
Children in the third level, started learning Arabic
grammar
Train the children on how to use the pen
Developping fine motors and lestining skills
developing concentration skill
learning numbers and letters - identifying
themselves, their ages, their address, their
gender and nationality.
Learning colors, days of the week, months,
seasons and its characteristics.
English grammer.
.
18Recreational activities:
Games, role-playing, acting and drawing
Objectives:
- keep them away from the danger of the
street
- Acquire new technologies
- Learn to focus on work that requires time
and effort
- Acquire the ability to express through
drawing
- Learn nonviolent verbal and behavioral
concepts
- Learn to participate and be cooperative
member in a work team
Awareness raising session’s addressed to children and their parents:
Participation of children at several sessions which help them to know how to protect themselves
from all sorts of violence and to acquire tools
Participation of children mothers and women from the Community at awareness raising sessions
aboutchild protection from all forms of violence and exploitation ,
Participation of children mothers and women of community at awareness raising session about
COVID-19 and how to protect themselves to reduce risk and stay safe .
Distribution of Food-parcels and hygiene kits:
Dar al Amal Tripoli center distributed 40 food parcels and detergents and sanitary kits to families of the
children beneficiaries, helping them during the very hard economic crises.
19Children’s Rights
Project
“Equitable Prevention and Response for Child Sex Trafficking”
Partners: Diakonia Lebanon Office –Dar Al Amal
Duration: From 1st January 2018 to 30 June 2020.
Implementation areas: North and South Beirut Suburbs: Sabra and
Nabaa areas.
Objective: Empowering Children, families and community to
combat child sex trafficking in Sabra and Nabaa Area
Beneficiaries: -Boys and girls at high risk and survivors of child sex
trafficking from Nabaa and Sabra communities
-Families of boys and girls at high risk and survivors of child sex
trafficking
-Community
Number of beneficiaries: 709 of boys and girls aged between 7 to
14 years old at high risk and survivors of child sex trafficking and
451 caregivers from Sabra and Nabaa community.
Implementation areas: Bourj Hammoud-Nabaa and Ard jalloul
Sabra Area
Activities:
1-Provision of auto protection and awareness sessions for
children and families
2-Training Boys and girls on auto protection tools and technique to
be peer advise giver
3-Provision of PSS Individual and group sessions
4 –Individual and familial social follow up (through Whatsapp and
individual meetings) for children at high risk and survivors and
their families
5-Life skills training sessions including literacy, computer and
English sessions
6-Special recreational activities focusing on prevention
7-Art and Yoga therapy sessions
8-Creating peer network of families to support other families
9-Conducting workshops with local NGOs about child sex trafficking
20Children’s Rights
Project: Piloting socio-legal defense for vulnerable children
Partners: Dar Al Amal and Connect Children Now
Place: Dar Al Amal Association at Sabra Center
Duration: this project started in Jun 2020 and will be
continued until 31 May 2021.
Number of beneficiaries during 2020: 100 children &
100 mothers.
Target group: 150 vulnerable children at risk of
being exploited abused and are protected
rehabilitated and are empowered. Most of the
children are working in very bad conditions.
Objectives: improved awareness on legal rights
among vulnerable children and their families.
Activities: awareness raising workshops for children
and parents and counselling sessions.
The Lawyer M.Basem Hamad conducted 4 legal
workshops for the children and 4 legal workshops for
the mothers.
*The children learned how to protect themselves. The
lawyer informed them and encouraged them to call the
999 hotline number, and ask for legal protection. The
lawyer told the children that they have to defend their
rights which are protected by the law. They must not
been afraid .He will be always available for their defence.
*The mothers, who most of them are illiterate, learned
how to protect themselves from domestic
violence, and how to protect their children
from all sorts of violence.
*The Lawyer did and is still ensuring legal
counselling to several mothers and children.
21Children’s Rights
Project “Child protection support for the most vulnerable children in
North Bekaa and Mount Lebanon”
Partners: Fondazione Terre des Hommes Italia (TDH Italy) Dar Al Amal
Target groups: Vulnerable boys and girls at risk or survivors of violence, and their parents, especially mothers
Number of beneficiaries: 320 children in Sabra center
Implementation areas: Mount Lebanon (Bourj Hammoud –
Ard Jalloul- Sabra)
Activities:
*Provision of case management and referral to specialized services
*Provision of focused PSS activities for high risk children.
*Community based child protection activities
*Caregiver programs
Expected results:
1- Boys, girls and women at risk or survivors of violence have access
to an integrated package of quality prevention and response services
in most disadvantaged localities in Lebanon.
2- Children, families and communities in most disadvantaged
localities have increased capacities to promote practices that protect
them.
22Children’s Rights
Project: Child protection Project – Port Beirut Blast.
Partners: Dar Al Amal & World Vision
International.
Geographical area: The most affected areas from Beirut
Port explosion Bourj Hammoud, Karantina & Karm El-
Zeitoun.
Duration: 5 months: 09/08/2020 - 05/02/2021.
Number of beneficiaries during 2020: Children 605,
Caregivers 360.
Target group: Children aged between (6 – 17) years old,
Caregivers (parents of children under 18 years old)
Objectives: Providing Community based psychosocial
support for children & their parents.
Activities: Awareness sessions & goal-oriented activities,
such as dealing with Beirut explosion trauma, emotion
regulation, stress management, relaxation techniques,
mindfulness, identifying types of abuse, using the internet
safely.
23Women Rights
Social Rehabilitation and Reintegration Center addressed to
Young girls and women
Introduction:
Violence against girls and women increases in times of wars and crises, this is a fact proved by local and
international reports. In Lebanon, the difficulties women and girls face, have doubled due to the political
and economic crises, the spread of the Covid19 virus and Beirut blast. In light of the continuing absence of
official strategies that deal with economic, social and health conditions and the failure of policies as well,
women in particular - as one of the most marginalized groups - have suffered from the consequences of the
downfall.
What changed?
The tragic events of this year cast a shadow on the Lebanese reality, and Sin el Fil Center had to deal with
urgent challenges, especially Beirut blast and the spread of Corona virus. Although the objectives of our
work have not changed, our activities and interventions have taken different forms and were largely based
on emergency intervention.
Dar Al Amal Association and Sin El Fil Center played a key role in trying to:
I. Responding to the Economic Crisis:
Lebanon has always lived through successive economic crises, but the trend this crisis has taken during the
year 2020 was dramatic and calls for an immediate emergency response:
In-kind assistance
Since March 2020, Dar Al-Amal started providing
food parcels to the beneficiaries. In Sin El Fil
Centre, 75 families benefited from periodic food
parcels that were either delivered to their houses
or distribution in the centre.
Medicines
Sin El Fil Centre continued to provide health
support to its beneficiaries by providing medicines
for chronic and mental illnesses
School aid
Sin El Fil Centre provided in-kind school supplies
(stationery and school supplies)
24II. Coronavirus response
In light of the current health crisis that the whole world and Lebanon is experiencing, and due to the
confinement and quarantine, Dar Al-Amal continued its work using alternative ways, especially as it targets
the groups most in need of all support and help. The centre is keen to maintain the quality of services, by
always relying on safe and reliable sources of information, respecting the principles and values of work, and
referring to the concerned authorities in case of need.
During this period the team did its work through:
Social media
Direct phone calls with beneficiaries
Meeting with the beneficiaries when necessary and within the terms and safety standards
Awareness
o Awareness sessions concerning Coronavirus
(Coronavirus and its way of transmission - Prevention
and protection - Practical methods to deal with the
current situation...) for small groups (6 beneficiaries)
while ensuring safe distancing.
- Training the beneficiaries on prevention methods,
especially washing hands, using sterilizers, and how to
clean the house and food.
- Providing the centre with posters about the virus
- Daily program with beneficiaries via WhatsApp
(WhatsApp groups and broadcast)
o coordinating with the Ministry of Public Health to
produce a brochure dedicated to female sex workers,
which was provided to them via WhatsApp
- Involving the beneficiaries in interactive exercises that
included expression and photography
o coordinating with the International Red Cross and
Beirut Governmental Hospital to receive one of the
beneficiaries
o Coordinating with the Social Workers Syndicate
regarding the mechanism for submitting assistance
requests to the municipalities.
Survey "Coronavirus: Reaching Out to Sex Workers"
Sex workers represent one of the most vulnerable groups
during the Corona pandemic, due to the nature of their work
on one hand and the economic crisis they face on the other
hand. It was necessary for Dar Al-Amal to explore their
knowledge of Coronavirus and the difficulties they face, in
addition to knowing the extent of their commitment to
25protection measures, identifying alternatives that keep them alive during this difficult
period and monitoring their needs. Therefore, and for other
reasons, Sin El Fil Center designed a survey targeting 50 sex
workers, in cooperation with the International Organization for
Migration (IOM) and the National AIDS Control Program (NAP).
The most prominent recommendations of the survey were as
follows:
- In-kind support (food - medicine - clothes)
- Supporting programs to reach key groups (providing
condoms – HIV self-test and rapid test - masks – hygiene
kits - brochures)
- Supporting and financing non-governmental organizations
specialized in implementing such programs
- Spreading awareness on regular HIV test
- Providing alternatives in light of the economic collapse in Lebanon and the spread of Coronavirus
- Push the government and the concerned authorities to secure periodic financial support
- Activating social media platforms to spread awareness on HIV and Coronavirus
Services in numbers
Projects
implemented
… 52 52 52 during 2020
…
22 “Raising
33 awareness about
9 11 HIV / AIDS and
other sexually
transmitted
infections and
referrals for care and treatment under the MER 2 grant (International Organization for Migration) and
encouraging the use of self-test”.
An agreement was signed between the World Health Organization (WHO), the National AIDS Control
Program (NAP) and Dar Al Amal Association (DAA) to implement the project on all Lebanese territories
(Beirut - Mount Lebanon - Tripoli - Baalbek - Saida - Tire ...) targeting Palestinian and Syrian refugees in
general, and Key populations in specific.
26"Advancing the advocacy efforts for the Human Rights network"
The Human Rights Network (HRN) includes NGOs,
universities, local institutions and individuals working
advocating for human rights. The network aims to defend
and protect marginalized groups and fight discrimination,
violations and stigma in health, social and economic
facilities.
With the support of Baladi-CAP project and funded by
USAID, this project aims to urge media institutions and
universities to take measures to eliminate discrimination
and stigmatization against vulnerable population groups,
including women, to develop mechanisms to eliminate
discrimination and stigmatization in the media, and to
increase public participation, and expanding and
strengthening the human rights network.
APVM School Support Project
This project supports the beneficiaries’ children by providing school fees and supplies
“Sustainability of services for KPs in MENA region”
It is a three-year, multi-country program funded by the Global Fund, targeting HIV, which will be
implemented by civil society organizations from Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Tunisia and through
regional networks.
The project focuses on the following three priorities:
- Developing and implementing regional and national advocacy strategies to reduce structural barriers
to access services and increase state participation and local funding.
- Strengthening the resource mobilization capacity of regional and national networks and civil society
organizations.
- Promote innovative and sustainable service delivery models
27Women Rights
Partners: Ministry of Social Affaires –Diakonia Lebanon Office – Dar Al Amal
Project “Social Rehabilitation and Reintegration program addressed to
imprisoned and released women “
Three women prisons: Baabda, Tripoli, Zahle
Tripoli women prison Baabda women prison Zahle women prison
Introduction:
During 2020, the situation of all the prisons in Lebanon and all the prisoners became very difficult. The
political and socio-economic collapse and public structures in the Country affected the prisons. No
responsibilities whatsoever were taken by the Interior Ministry to tackle the bad life conditions of the
imprisoners in Lebanon. The overcrowding continues in the Lebanese prisons. Imprisoners and judicial
system are one of the most critical issues in Lebanon. The slowness of the judicial process contributed in
increasing the number of prisoners. Many detained women had been waiting and are still waiting their trial
for months, and even years. The transfer of the Prisons administration from the Ministry of Interior to the
Ministry of Justice is still pending. The Government didn’t take any serious decision to be in charge of the
prisons in covering the needs of the location prisons and the imprisoners. They always express the problem
of very slow decisions at IFS and the bureaucratic. Any demand of needs addressed by the prisons managers
to the Interior Forces of Security need months to have an answer.
Reports had been issued locally and internationally emphasizing the bad situation of the Lebanese prisons.
Dar Al Amal is supporting the women prisons and the imprisoners since 1996.
A multidisciplinary team from Dar Al Amal work in the three women prisons: Baabda, Tripoli, and Zahle. They
ensure the needs of the women prisons and the prisoners (equipment, material, maintenance, detergents,
28food, clothes, medicine, legal assistance, phone calls to parents ….). The imprisoned women since they enter
the prison until they are released, are in need of psychosocial support, health care, educational and support
that would facilitate their reintegration in the society after their release.
The spread of coronavirus affected the prisons. Since the first infection of the Covid -19, precautions had to
be taken to avoid the infections. The average is around 10 to 15 women in each cell with one bathroom.
NGOs stopped to enter to the women prisons. Parents and other member families of the imprisoners could
no more visit them in the prison. The Interior Ministry and the Interior Forces of Security couldn’t ensure
most of the basic needs of the locations of the prisons and the imprisoners.
Dar Al Amal had been the only NGO, which always ensured the needs of the three women prisons and the
imprisoners: Digital thermometers, Masks, gloves, sanitizers, atomizers, food, detergents, medications,
vitamins, zinc, vegetables, Even though , several imprisoners had been infected .
The FSI took the decision, 16 March 2020, to prevent the entrance in the cells. The team of Dar Al Amal,
social workers and psychologists, continued to be in contact with the imprisoners, through the telephones
between the imprisoners and their families. The team continued to ensure all the psychosocial support, the
legal assistance, the contacts with the parents, and the needs of all ex-prisoners.
Objectives:
To improve the life conditions in the prisons
To help imprisoners to develop their potential ,acquire skills ,be empowered and to prepare
their social rehabilitation in the prison
To help them maintain relationships with their families
To help them to reintegrate the society after their release
Social rehabilitation in the prisons:
A multidisciplinary team ensures these activities inside the prison in order to support the imprisoners
to prepare their social rehabilitation. The same activities addressed to ex-prisoners are ensured in
the centers of Dar Al Amal outside the prisons for their social reintegration:
Individual support : social , physical and psychological , legal assistance
Education sessions: Arabic, foreign language, computer sessions
Vocational training sessions :waitresses, embroidery, sewing, handicrafts, false jewelry, mobile
maintenance
Awareness raising sessions: basic living skills, health education, human rights
Production items inside the prisons
Reintegration of released women: facilitating access to economic activities
Raising the community’s awareness on conditions of women prisons
Training sessions: for prison staff on how to deal with imprisoned women using the guide issued by
Promoting Human Rights Policy and Practice in Lebanese Women’s project
Recreational and sports activities
29(Beneficiaries):
a. Numbers of imprisoners:
Prison Imprisoned No. who Total No. Detained Convicted Released
women in 1-1- entered
In 2020
/2020 prisons in
2020
Baabda 501 76 561 144 12 28
Tripoli 96 18 114 76 37 8
Zahle 44 25 69 36 2 35
Total 245 110 355 256 73 71
b. Ages of imprisoners:
Age Baabda Tripoli Zahle Total
Under 18 0 0 0 0
18-28 16 26 13 106
28-38 70 47 11 131
38-48 37 27 51 77
48-58 57 14 7 36
Above 58 3 0 1 7
Total 172 116 76 357
C. Number of convicted and detained women in the three prisons in Lebanon ( Baabda – Zahle – Tripoli)
Prison Detained Convicted
Baabda 77 82
Arab: 50 Foreigners:27 Arab:26 Foreigners :2
Tripoli 38 76
Arab ;29 Foreigners:17 Arab:56 Foreigners :20
Zahle 46 8
Arab: 33 Foreigners: 13 Arab:8 Foreigners :0
3056
27
17 convicted Arabs
13
26 20 convicted Foreigners
detained arabs
2 detained foreigners
8 0
baabda prison
tripoli prison
zahle prison
Physical and Medical care:
Women prison No of imprisoners supported with medical care No of medication
Tripoli 67 )vaccine child 1) 48
Zahle 60 70
Baabda 67 48
Total 206 239
Psychological support:
Prison No. women in No. women in groups No.
individual therapy of sessions
therapy
Tripoli 155 87 3
Zahle 96 144 12
Baabda 86 09 09
Total 319 321 35
31Social support to the imprisoners and their children:
Prison No. women in No. women in groups No.
individual support of sessions
Baabda 150 100 5
Tripoli 155 87 15
Zahle 697 77 64
Total 501 247 38
Legal Assistance:
Legal Assistance No. Tripoli No. Baabda No. Zahle Total
prison prison prison
Appoint a lawyer 1 1 1 3
Follow- up with lawyers 77 19 20 107
Apply release request 9 1 4 14
Decrease bailment 3 0 10 15
Follow up in court 96 09 80 216
Transfer case to the legal aid 7 9 2 9
Transfer files to a lawyer 193 40 117 364
from commission on human
rights
Services provided to imprisoners
physical – medical care
364 239
Psychosocial support
675 Social support to the
786 imprisoners and their children
Legal Assistance
32Vocational training sessions:
Prison Sewing Manual False jewelry Decorating crochet painting Total
Embroidery candles
Tripoli 7 0 0 0 0 0 7
Zahle 0 0 0 12 0 0 12
Baabda 0 51 8 0 11 7 41
Total 7 15 8 12 11 7 60
At the end of the vocational training sessions, the participants who succeeded in the exams had a
certificate.
Most became skilled, and could produce artisanal items, and earn income for each item produced.
F. Educational activities:
Educational No. Baabda prison No. Tripoli prison No. Zahle prison Total
activities
literacy 7 13 8 27
English 51 5 8 25
Computer 50 0 0 10
Total 28 18 16 62
Dar Al Amal ensured better life conditions in the prisons:
Ensuring equipment needed and their maintenance
Ensuring better health care: doctors, medication, medical eye
glasses. In Tripoli gynecologist, orthopedist.
Ensuring detergents, sterilizers ,digital thermometers ,masks
,and the needs for cleaning
The prisons, shampoos, washing clothes….
Ensuring the basic needs : clothes, towels, tooth brushes,
toothpaste
Ensuring the necessary ingredients of food not ensured by
the FSI
Rehabilitation of the outdoor space ”Nouzha” for sun and
fresh air
33Baabda women prison
Zahle women prison
Tripoli women prison
34Social Reintegration of the released women
The team from Dar Al Amal working in the prisons support the imprisoners for the preparation of their
Social reintegration after their release. Each imprisoner receive the addresses of Dar Al Amal centers in
Beirut, Tripoli and Zahle, and the phone numbers. The team help each imprisoner to plan what she will
do after her release.
The social workers and psychologists in the three Dar Al Amal centers, in Sin El Fil, Baabda, and Zahle,
receive the ex-prisoners and ensure the support needed to each woman. Most of the released women
belong to poor families. They are marginalized and rejected by the community and the society. Dar Al Amal
help them at all levels. Many continue to need support during years .The team helped 349 ex-prisoners
during 2020.
Support to women ex-prisoners during 2020:
Prison Released Psychological Ensure Social Legal Support Ensure Medical
during support job aid assistance to their shelter care
2020 (money) children
Baabda 51 11 7 27 8 3 1 19
Tripoli 52 71 9 32 7 5 6 33
Zahle 33 30 8 15 4 2 5 51
Total 76 510 24 19 57 15 10
35Dar Al Amal Shelter – Choueifat, Amrousieh
Dar Al Amal Shelter in Choueifat Amrousieh is addressed to
vulnerable young girls in need of protection. The building is in a
very calm and healthy area in Choueifat -Amrousieh. The first
floor will start to receive for emergency the children, in order to
protect them in a safe and secured place. Later other floors
totally separated will be opened for young women victims of
exploitation. The ground floor will be a restaurant for catering.
A multidisciplinary team will support the beneficiaries at all levels
in order to consolidate their identity, renew better relationships
with their families, and prepare their social integration. They will
stay in the shelter a specific period of time, depending of their
needs. The activities will be: educational sessions, psychosocial
support, health care, awareness sessions, handcrafts,
recreational activities, sport……. The renovation is finished and all
the equipment and material ensured.
Due to the Covid pandemic, and the instability and insecurity, the
opening of the center had been delayed. The shelter will be
released directly when the situation somehow will be stabilizes.
Dar Al Amal thanks the public and private sectors for their
support: The Ministry of Social Affairs, the Municipality of
Choueifat, and the volunteer engineers, the Companies which
are offering reduce prices materials.
Special thanks to Ms. Eleni Sacre and her friends in Boston. Since
years, Mrs. Sacre created an Ngo “Friends of the House of Hope
Shelter “in Boston, for helping the shelter. Despite all the
difficulties and challenges, Mrs. Sacre continued, until now, with
her friends, to ensure financial support to the shelter.
Special thanks to the architect engineer Mrs. Joyce Hatem, who offered her work since the starting of the
renovation of the building. Also many thanks to Ms. Reem Richani, Mrs. Nayla Naufal, Mrs. Mirna Feghali,
and to all DAA Board members and friends for their generous donations.
36Social Solidarity during Crisis Since January 2020 and until the end of the year, the general political, social, economic, and health conditions in Lebanon, became worst month after month. The situation was deteriorating after the collapse of the corona virus since February 2020, the confinement, and the port Beirut blast, 4th August 2020. The disaster to which the capital Beirut had been exposed, doubled the needs of the population, in the absence of official support for affected population. Dar Al Amal and other NGOs had to fill this gap through emergency interventions. The continuous support of Dar Al Amal, to very needy families and to children and imprisoners, had been increased with the spread of Covid-19 and after Beirut Port Blast. – Distribution of food parcels, hygiene kits, masks, gloves, sanitizers, medications to the families through Dar Al Amal centers in Sin El Fil- Nabaa-Sabra- Tripoli –Zahle. -Distribution also the same items to the three women prisons: Baabda- Tripoli-Zahle and to several police stations -Young Volunteers boys and girls from Dar Al Amal participated in eliminating the debris resulting from Beirut explosion . - A team ensured psychosocial support to traumatized children affected by the explosion. - Members of the staff of Dar Al Amal had been in the field,directly after the port Beirut explosion, in the areas affected. They visited damaged houses, children who were injured, collected all the information and recorded the essential needs of the families. Later, the data had been reviewed by a sub-Committee from Dar Al Amal Board, which decided the families to be helped, according to specific criteria. Name Name Number of What are What are Detailed Mobile head Wife children & Damages Specific Address Phone family ages in house needs 37
Urgent relief after the Port-Beirut Blast
Dar Al Amal received financial and in kind donations from many friends and Ngos, in Lebanon and abroad,
for urgent relief to children and families.
Together, Dar Al Amal with the generous donations from friends and partners, could support thousands of
families during 2020:
2020
- 6,671 Food parcels (2,756 before the port explosion to families in different areas and 3,915 after the
explosion).
- 600 cleaning tools, hygiene kits and supplies
- 51 Electrical kitchen Equipment
- 100 money assistance to 100 families
- 20 wooden repairs to 20 damaged houses
- 3 operations for young girls injured by the explosion
- 250 medical aid for patients
- 200 bags powder milk and Diapers
- 300 Stationaries and schoolbags to 300 children
- 200 toys and games
- 2400 hot meals
- 10,000 bread packages
Donors for urgent aids : Financial and in-kind donations :
- Board members of Dar Al Amal
- Overseas Software Development Services S.A.L.
- Municipality of Tripoli
-Jubaily brothers
-MTV
-Mrs Latifa Askkar
–Mrs Maudy El Moulla
- Mrs Nayla Naufal
- Mrs Myrna Feghali
- Mrs Jihane Hatem
- M.Abbas Ibrahim (Director General Security)
- Nestle
38- CMA –CGM
- Secours Islamique
- ANERA
- Beit El Nour
- Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)
-Friends of the House and Hope(Boston)
-Association Pour Vivre Mieux ( APVM ) France
- Lebanese Food Bank
-Mrs Souha Ziade
- Mrs Reem Rishani
- Mrs Joyce Hatem
- M.Mazen Hamdan
- Mrs Wafa Sinno
- Montessori England
- Dr Nabil Haddad- Mrs Randa Saoud- Mrs Hoda Harb -Mrs Karen (Netherlands) -
- Mrs Aida Hamwieh - Mrs Lisa Pinsley -M.Karim Kawakibi
- براد الحي-أشرفية
Internships in Dar Al Amal Centers: 2020
At the beginning of every year, Dar Al Amal is asked by several universities to accept internships of their
students in Dar Al Amal centers and in the women prisons .
During 2019, the number had been 32 students in Dar Al Amal centers and in the women persons.
During 2020, the number decreased due to the Covid-19 and the confinement.
Many students asked to do their internships in Dar Al Amal centers, and with the communities and in the
women prisons.
The Interior Forces of Security forbidden the entrance in the cells for avoiding infections of the imprisoners.
The activities with the beneficiaries of the centers had been most of the year remotely.
During 2020, the students for internship had been 11:
Specialization Sin El fil Center Sabra Center
Psychologist 5 3
Social Work 3
39Advocacy and Communication
Advocacy issues during 2020
- Children’s Rights: prevent and protect children from trafficking, the worst forms of child labor and
early marriage
- Women's rights: prevent and protect marginalized women from stigma, discrimination and
harassment in social and healthcare settings, in workplace and in media programs.
- Prostitution and Legislation in Lebanon - Dar Al Amal perspective towards prostitution:
Dar Al Amal is working with the human rights activist, the lawyer Manar Zeiter, in order to adopt a
legal position towards prostitution in Lebanon
- Inmates’ rights: promote human rights policies and practices in women's prisons in Lebanon and
transform prisons into rehabilitation centers.
Media coverage during 2020
Medium Subject Axes
Social Media 588posts, photos and films about: Children : 137
Facebook, Twitter, -The activities of the centers during the quarantine Prisons : 15
Youtube, Instagram and communication with the beneficiaries remotely Women : 48
by text messages and videos Others : 55
-Awareness campaigns for public opinion on
protection from COVID-19 and the use of the
Internet for children
-Dar Al-Amal activities following the Beirut
explosion, including distributing aid, repairing
homes, and psychological support for those
affected, especially children
Keeping up with international days related to the
rights of children and women, official and national
holidays, and painful events.
40Publications 18 Brochures, newsletters, Calendar, Brochure for:
booklets - Children 10
- Prisoners 3
- Women 3
Calendar 1
Booklets about DAA 1
Dar Al Amal contributed to the production of an awareness film about early marriage for children
41Coalition and Networking
Type Subject Details
National Protect children from early Joining a National coalition of 50 National and
marriage. International NGOs to protect children from
early marriage. DAA is member of the Media
comity of the coalition(RDFL)
National Advocating for the Rights Joining a National coalition of 4 National &
of Vulnerable Women international NGOs to develop a national
advocacy strategy to support the Rights of
Vulnerable Women (Baladi Cap)
National Human Rights Network DAA with SIDC Skoun IWSAW established this
network to protect vulnerable women against
stigma, discrimination and exploitation
42Fundraising Activities
During 2020 : Two Fundraising events had been organized by Mrs. Eleni Sacre in Boston for Dar Al Amal
Shelter. Mrs. Sacre is the founder of the NGO: “Friends of the House of Hope” in Boston USA.
Mrs Sacre said “Our faithful donor base is responding as generously as possible “. Mrs Sacre and her friends
organized in Spring 2020 a fundraising mailing for the Shelter.
• During 2020, The NGO “APPRENDRE POUR VIVRE MIEUX” APVM in France organized fundraising projects for
the support to the children of Dar Al Amal centers. The President Mrs. Muriel Matias, and Mrs. Michèle Nozière
and all their Board members did contacts with all their supporters .They collected funds for the educational
activities and for health care of children.
• During 2020, Dar Al Amal Board members did contacts with their friends and relatives’ .They ensured
donations for urgent aid to families.
Mrs Eleni Sacre with Mrs Jumana Jabr in Boston Mrs Michèle Nozière in Lebanon
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