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UN ESCWA
PROJECT PRESENTATION THE E-CARAVAN
The E-Caravan-Phnix is a fully equipped mobile computer and
internet school, aimed to empower the localcommunities in the
formerly occupied areas of South Lebanon through teaching computer
and IT skills,especially for youth, women and persons with
disabilities. In January2006, Fondation Saradar in partnership with
UNESCWA launched theE-Caravan project. The project builds on the
original E-Caravan projectthe vehicle which was destroyed on 29
July 2006 while parked at theIntermediary School of Ayta Al-Shaab
in South Lebanon.The new E-Caravanis equipped with a network of ten
PCs with flatscreens, one laser printer, one LCD projector with
screen, two satelliteconnection modems, an air-conditioning system,
a water dispenser, andother accessories. The E-Caravan-Phnix also
includes a ramp thatfacilitates the access of physically disabled
persons and specialsoftware to provide the blind and the visually
impaired with the necessary IT knowledge. The content of
thedifferent training sessions is based on the needs of the target
population. The courses range from ones
specifically for beginners to courses for future trainers and
for small and medium enterprises. Sessions willbe offered 6 days a
week, and will last for two to four hours. Sessions will include up
to eight participants at atime, allowing for a close learning
relationship between the trainer and the participants.A website
network will be created through 4 public libraries affiliated to
the Ministry of Culture to link not onlythe cazas of Tyre,
Nabatiyeh, Marjeyoun and Bint Jbeil together but also to the rest
of the country and theworld.The project is implemented in
partnership with private companies involved and in collaboration
with theconcerned municipal councils, existing local and
international organizations and UN agencies.The project will be
managed and executed by Fondation Saradar in cooperation with
UNESCWA, ItalianNGOs operating in South Lebanon, UNIFIL, and other
potential partners which could provide additionalresources to the
project. The main local partners of the project will be the
municipal councils of the variousvillages. The municipal councils
are expected to provide administrative support, coordination and
networkingwith the selected participating municipalities, security
arrangements and power supply. Partnerships will alsobe created
with private companies and existing local and international
organizations.
BACKGROUNDThe post-occupied region of South Lebanon has around
70,000 inhabitants, or 22% of the total inhabitantsof South Lebanon
(excluding the population increase during summer). A quarter of the
households have amonthly income of less than $300 and an average
family of 4.8 persons. Poverty in the region is increasedby social
problems directly related to the years of conflict.
Institute of Urban Planning of the Region of Ile-de-France
(IAUIF): Regional Socio-Economic Development Programme for South
Lebanon. A reportprepared for the High Relief Committee (the
Lebanese Republic) in collaboration with the United Nations
Development Programme. Beirut 1999.
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Compared to other regions, the post-occupied region of South
Lebanon is inhabited by a young population.For example, 45% of the
population in the Cazas of Tyre and Bint-Jbeil are under 19.
Illiteracy andunemployment rates are significantly higher than the
national average and there are disproportionatenumbers of orphans,
disabled, and ex-prisoners. Female-headed households make up about
18.5% to 21%,compared to a national average of 14%.The communities
of the post-occupied regions of South Lebanon face many challenges,
not the leastsignificant of which are IT related. Although efforts
are being made to improve the Information andCommunication
Technologies (ICT) infrastructure, there are still significant
unmet needs, especially inremote areas where accessibility is
rather difficult. There is also a scarcity of accredited technical
institutionsavailable to provide training and certification for
those who seek it.
Israels war against Lebanon has left a trail of
unimaginabledestruction and immense destitution. Israeli air
strikes havereduced numerous villages in Southern Lebanon to
rubble. Alleconomic sectors have been crippled: manufacturing
facilitieswere targeted heavily by both bombing campaigns as well
assuffocating air, land, and sea blockades. Certain sectors
andareas of the country were subjected to more severe damagethan
others. As a result, while unemployment ranged between10 and 12%
prior to the war, it has multiplied in most sectorsand regions.
Agriculture was affected severely since mostharvested crops were
either burned or left unharvested. The
tourism industry, a crucial sector of the economy generatinghuge
foreign reserves and capital inflow into the country, has
come to a complete standstill.
The areas hit during the war were already the most impoverished
in the country. The juxtaposition of thegeography of poverty and
the geography of destruction necessitates special reconstruction
programs aimedat building local capacities for poverty alleviation
and employment creation. The proposed mobile computerschool will
help the rural communities in the devastated areas of the country
to upgrade their skills ininformation technology and thus provide
them with more job opportunities and increase in income.To tackle
these challenges, The Italian Cooperation for Development Embassy
of Italy, UNESCWA &Fondation Saradar identified the need to
introduce IT-related assistance, and thus initiated the new
E-Caravan-Phnix Project.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECTAs a mobile computer school the
E-Caravan-Phnix will travel to remote areas and villages that lack
ITcenters, technical institutions or adequatetelecommunication
infrastructure. Furthermore, satelliteInternet connection will be
provided for areas that have noInternet access. The E-Caravan will
be able to cover theentire Southern region during the life of the
project, with atarget of participation of 65% women and 5%
disabledpersons.The E-Caravan-Phnix will hire an IT training
institution,Formatech Integrated Learning Centers, which is a
CertifiedTechnical Educational Center for Microsoft, Oracle, CIWand
CompTIA as well as the largest Prometric Authorized
Certification Testing Center in Lebanon. Formatech willutilize
its experience gained from Fondation SaradarsSaradar IT Programme
(SITP) and the former E-Caravanin delivering a customized training
package suitable for rural areas and targeting subjects such as
ruraltourism, women, disabled persons, Training of Trainers,
supporting small and medium enterprises andothers.
OBJECTIVESThe objective of the project is to combat the lack of
IT awareness and IT education amongst underprivilegedcommunities in
South Lebanon; especially, youth, women and persons with
disability, who are at a
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disadvantage in the job market. In cooperation with ESCWA and
the Italian NGOs operating on the ground,the project will ensure
the access of populations in remote regions to cultural and
educationalactivities/events though the Internet.In addition, the
project will seek to disseminate collective security information
and advice relevant to post-warsituations through public awareness
campaigns.
PILOT PHASE CALENDARThe E-Caravan-Phnix will be heading towards
the Cazas of Tyre, Nabatiyeh, Marjeyoun and Bint Jbeil foran
initial period of 12 months, with a possibility of renewing the
following year. The E-Caravan will bedeployed according to a
tentative itinerary, subject to change. The first scheduled
stations areDeir QanounEl Nahr, Qana, Barish, Srifa, Nabatyeh,
followed by Marjeyoun, Houla, Majdel Salem, Aytaroun and BintJbeil.
Each of the stations is expected to also serve users from
neighbouring villages.
Tentative itinerary of the E-Caravan Phnix in South Lebanon
E-CARAVAN-PHNIX PARTNERS
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
(UNESCWA)promotes economicand social development through regional
and sub regional cooperation and integration, serving as the
main
socio-economic arm of the United Nations in Western Asia. As
part of its work, UNESCWA formulates andpromotes development
assistance activities and projects commensurate with the needs and
priorities of itsmember countries and acts as an executing agency
for relevant operational projects.In 2001, a pilot project for post
conflict reconstruction called ESCWA Assistance for South Lebanon
(EASL)was launched as an initiative to help in the socio-economic
development of the region In response to on-going crises, political
tensions and conflicts facing the region, ESCWA established, as of
January 2006, theUnit for Emerging and Conflict Related Issues
(ECRI). The Unit aims to reduce the impact of conflict
andinstability on socio-economic and political development in
Western Asia. The E-caravan project is one ofESCWAs initiatives in
post-conflict areas to support rehabilitation and revival of
countries afflicted by crisis.The Italian Cooperation Ross Program,
Embassy of Italy The ROSS Program Emergency Initiative for
Rehabilitation, Employment, Services and Development is aprogram of
the Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Italian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Itwas launched for the management and
implementation of 15 million euros of the Italian pledge at
theStockholm Donors Conference, through a fund established locally
with the Embassy of Italy in Beirut.Thirty-eight projects are
currently being financed by the ROSS Program and implemented by
Italian andLebanese NGOs in partnership with 29 local NGOs,
operating in 103 locations in Lebanon and focusing onfour main
sectors: economic activities, socio-educational and healthcare
basic services and humanitarianassistance to Palestinian camps.
Particular attention is paid to environmental and gender issues.The
Program Office carries out coordination, technical assistance,
monitoring and evaluation of theinterventions assigned to Italian,
international and local NGOs. Wherever necessary, the ROSS
Programtakes direct action to support and integrate projects in
progress. Two of the crucial responsibilities of theProgram are to
identify common strategies and synergies amongst the different
actors present locally, and
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assist them to collaborate and coordinate. This systemic
approach enhances the impact of and guaranteesreal sustainability
for their interventions.Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, Embassy
of CanadaThe Canada Fund in Lebanon is a financial assistance
program administered by the Canadian Embassy inBeirut to support
small projects related to poverty alleviation, civic engagement and
human rights. TheCanada Fund has been operating in Lebanon since
the mid 80s and has provided financial assistance tomore than three
hundred development projects. The Government of Canada is fully
committed to assistpopulations that have been affected by the
July-August 2006 war. Funding priorities focus on post
conflictrecovery linked to sustainable livelihoods, assistance to
internally displaced persons, mine victims and minerisk awareness,
and psycho-social support to children suffering from war trauma.The
Canada Fund in Lebanon also attaches a high priority to projects in
Governance, Civil Society andDemocracy; Assistance and Protection
of Refugees; Child Protection and Empowerment of Women.Protection
of the environment and gender equality are cross-cutting themes and
are taken into account in allprojects.Fondation Saradar (FS) is a
Lebanese NGO registered with Lebanese Ministry of Interior
(December 2000).In 2002 it launched a pilot project titled Saradar
IT Programme (SITP), in the villages of displacedpopulations in the
Cazas of Aley, Baabda, the Chouf and Jezzine, under the patronage
of the Minister of theDisplaced, H.E. Mr. Marwan Hamad and former
Minister of State Pierre Helou. The SITP seeks to provideIT
training to disadvantaged communities in remote areas of Lebanon
with the participation of the
municipalities and local NGOs.The Accessibility Programme was
initiated in 2003 to ensure the integration of physically
handicappedpersons in the world of IT. The caravan was equipped
with demountable ramp and handrails to facilitate theaccess of
wheelchairs.In January 2006, Fondation Saradar launched its second
Mobile Computer School, the E-Caravan, inpartnership with UNESCWA.
The caravan caters to clusters of villages, introducing the world
of IT tocommunities of the formerly occupied South Lebanon region.
The E-Caravan was struck by missiles anddestroyed on 29 July 2006,
and since then efforts were made by Fondation Saradar, supported by
partners,to reactivate the project.The Adaptive Technology
Programme was launched in July 2006 to provide IT learning
opportunities to thevisually impaired, in partnership with the
Youth Association of the Blind (YAB).
PARTNER NGOsBaldati www.baldati.netLebanese Physical Handicapped
Union (LPHU) www.lphu.comYouth Association of the Blind (YAB)
www.yablb.orgSPONSORSWe could not bring you this important project
in the regions of South Lebanon without the help of a numberof
partners and sponsors. We would like to express our deepest thanks
for their generous contributions andtheir invaluable support.
An Nahar
Bankers Assurance s.a.l
www.annahar.com.lb
www.bankers-assurance.comCapital OutsourcingCarrosserie Abillama
s.a.lCompagnie de Construction Immobilire (CCI)
www.c-o.comwww.abillama.netwww.cci-lb.com
Compagnie des Sources du Liban, Sannine www.sannine.comCrown
House GroupThe Daily Star
www.crownhousegroup.comwww.dailystar.com.lb
Early Bird s.a.l [email protected] Integrated
Learning Center www.formatech.com.lbInconet-Data Management (IDM)
www.idm.net.lbInmarsat Limited www.inmarsat.comLibrairie Halim
www.librairiehalim.comLOrient-Le Jour www.lorientlejour.com
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Murex Services www.murex.comOxfam-Qubec / CIDASaccal
SystemsTriband Middle East s.a.l Off Shore
www.oxfam.qc.ca /
www.acdi-cida.gc.cawww.saccal.com.lbwww.tribandmiddleeast.com
Triple C www.triplec.com.lbUnited Nations Interim Force in
Lebanon (UNIFIL) www.un.org/Depts/dpko
CONTACT INFORMATION
Fondation Saradar Tabaris 812 Bldg.Bloc C, 3rd Floor,
AshrafiehCharles Malek AvenueP.O.Box: 11-1121Beirut, LebanonTel:
+961 (0)1 339 012Fax: +961 (0)1 338 698Email:
[email protected]://www.fondationsaradar.org
United Nations Economic and SocialCommission for Western Asia -
(UNESCWA)United Nations HouseRiad el Solh SquareBeirut Central
District, LebanonTel: +961 (0)1 981 410Fax: +961 (0)1 981 510Email:
[email protected]://www.escwa.org.lb
Italian Cooperation Ross Emergency Program
Embassy of ItalyHazmieh Square Bldg. 4
thFloor
Hazmieh, LebanonTel: +961 (0) 5 451 494Fax: +961 (0) 5 451
483Email:[email protected]://www.utlbeirut.org
Canada Fund for Local Initiatives
Embassy of CanadaCoolrite Building43 Jal el-Dib HighwayBeirut,
LebanonTel: +961 (0) 4 713 900 Ext. 3420Fax. +961 (0) 4 710
595Email :
[email protected]/beirut/cidahttp://www.international.gc.ca./beirut/cida-en.asp
