{"id":1674,"date":"2012-04-25T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-04-26T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gnrc.ziplinestaging.com\/regional-archives\/arab-states\/local-workshop-for-children-in-preparation-for-the-gnrc-4th-forum-lebanon-february-2012-1415908513\/"},"modified":"2021-11-18T15:00:33","modified_gmt":"2021-11-18T23:00:33","slug":"local-workshop-for-children-in-preparation-for-the-gnrc-4th-forum-lebanon-february-2012-1415908513","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/?p=1674","title":{"rendered":"Local Workshop for Children In Preparation for the GNRC 4th Forum, Lebanon, February 2012"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The GNRC AS Local Workshop for Children in Preparation for the GNRC 4th Forum was organized from 25- 26 February 2012. It was attended by 30 Children and youth from five GNRC youth groups across Lebanon. Moreover, five participants came from Ain El-Hilweh Palestinian Refugee Camp in Lebanon. GNRC Lebanon Committee members and representatives of GNRC Organization members were present throughout the workshop, as well as five Chaperons of Children from different regions in Lebanon. The participants were Muslims (Sunni and Shia\u2019a), Christians (Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Maronite), and Druze. They aged 14-17. The Workshop was held in Our Lady of the Mount House, Fatka, Lebanon. The two working days were facilitated by Miss. Hind Farahat with help from Sister Emiline Tanous and Mr. Elie Barrak, members of GNRC Lebanon Committee. <!--more-->  <em>Saturday 25 February 2012<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The first session started with a silent moment for prayer, as is the tradition in all GNRC AS events. Afterwards, the facilitator welcomed the participants and explained the aim of the workshop. The Program was discussed and agreed upon by the participants and they shared their learning expectations from the workshop.<br \/>\nTo start the training, the participants had the chance to introduce themselves via a small ice-breaking activity. A presentation about Arigatou Foundation, GNRC and the Learning to Live Together Toolkit followed. The Participants were briefed about the plans of the GNRC Fourth Forum, its themes, and the importance of their recommendations for the growth of the Network as a whole.<br \/>\nAfterwards, the participants were led into a discussion to define and discuss poverty and its dimensions. They were asked to define poverty as they see it and write their definition on a piece of paper that was provided.<\/p>\n<p>The participants defined Poverty as follows (quoted and translated):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li> \t\tPoverty is when there is no balance in distributing what each person needs, even within families.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty is the status of the person who is deprived from his\/her basic needs. It\u2019s the status of a person who finds himself having less than everybody else. It can also be cultural and mental poverty. I mean where there is no education and a lot of unemployment.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty is the deprivation of basic needs that allow you to live in dignity. It can be financial like not having a house or food, or educational and mental like not having skills or education. Poverty can also be spiritual and ethical like not having manners, respect or responsibility.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty is not to be able to secure your basic needs.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty is not to have a place to live and lack of money. It\u2019s when you can\u2019t live in dignity.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tThe poor person is the person who finds himself lacking something vital.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty is when a person doesn\u2019t have clothes or a place to live. But also it\u2019s to lack care, love and a family to protect you.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty is not to have equal opportunities and rights like the others. It\u2019s to feel oppressed.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tTo be poor is to lack something. It can be money, social life or spiritual and cultural guidance. It has very bad effects on the personality especially for children.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty is to live less than everybody else. It\u2019s to feel alone and helpless. Financial poverty can lead to mental and poverty and lack of education and awareness. It goes in circles. Also, it depends on your country. If your country is rich, you can be rich easily.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty is not to have enough money because if you have money you get everything else. You can get good education and grow up with all your needs satisfied.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty leads people to think they are worthless because they don\u2019t have money. They stop having social status; they are not really respected much, and they don\u2019t live with dignity. They get taken advantage of and abused.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty can mean lack of resources, but it can also mean the bad distribution of resources. What we see today is people who have too much of resources and others who have too little, although, if distributed well, the resources can be enough for all.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty for children means not to have their rights.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty and its manifestations can lead to sickness and sometimes death.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty is to be sad, if you\u2019re not joyful and peaceful inside then you\u2019re poor.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty means injustice.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty means not being able to reach your potential and be active in your society.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty of children means that their families are poor. They might not be able to give them good education. Maybe it can lead to child labor, begging, bad hygiene, and malnutrition.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty is not only a personal problem; it\u2019s a big social problem. It degenerates societies and communities.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tPoverty is to be worried about your future, to be insecure about the resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignleft size-full wp-image-1672\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/DSC_0037-Medium1.JPG\" style=\"width: 350px; height: 231px; margin: 5px; float: left;\" width=\"349\" height=\"231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/DSC_0037-Medium1.JPG 349w, https:\/\/gnrc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/DSC_0037-Medium1-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 349px) 100vw, 349px\" \/><br \/>\nA discussion followed that linked poverty with Child Rights, wants, needs, as well as the types and manifestations of poverty.<\/p>\n<p>The second session was dedicated to discussing the first Sub-theme of the Fourth Forum: Unequal Distribution of Resources. The participants were guided through the LTLT Activity \u201cDiminishing islands\u201d that was slightly adapted to convey the needed ideas. A discussion with inhabitants of each island followed with reflection on how empathizing and reconciliation with others and the universe could be one way to elevate poverty.<\/p>\n<p>The participants touched on the global structures that widen the gap between the rich and the poor. They reflected on how ignorance of the other and their circumstances, and indifference to their problems can increase poverty and estrangement between peoples.<\/p>\n<p>The Participants pointed out two approached to solving the problems of poverty, Charity and Justice.<\/p>\n<p>They were divided into two groups who imagined themselves working to elevate poverty in both the fields of Charity and Justice. They were asked to list things they would do in these fields.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The \u2018Charity\u2019 group listed the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li> \t\tRaise awareness about the importance of empathy and solidarity and the need to give the poor.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tEncourage Ethics Education and Socialization that is based on values.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tArrange campaigns to gather donations for poor children. For example, clothes, food and books.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tIn their groups, arrange to help poor children, who usually don\u2019t have money for tuition classes, in their studies and homework.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tContribute to the happiness of people who are less fortunate especially in religious festivals and social occasions, like celebrating Christmas or Eid with orphan or disabled children.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tBuy gifts for poor children on religious festivals.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tGather children from all backgrounds and schools in sports days and events so they can become friends and feel included and empowered.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tCreate a fund for the GNRC youth groups in Lebanon so they can gather money to support their plans.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tFundraise for different activities by Charity car washing, concerts and plays by talented youth, cake sales\u2026 etc.<\/li>\n<li> \t\tEncourage Social Work and service. Organize service days for elderly; help them around their households and in their errands.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The \u2018Justice\u2019 group planned the following:<\/p>\n<p>The basis of justice is to distribute resources and developmental initiatives and projects in a just way through communities and societies. What our group can do is use our arenas, contacts, social media, and lobbying powers in the following:<\/p>\n<p>Encourage local authorities to hold workshops to raise the capacity and effectiveness of laborers in all fields. For example, train farmers and villagers on new agricultural methods.<br \/>\nPressure the authorities to take concrete moves to fight poverty through peaceful demonstrations and media appearances [three in the group have their own local radio and internet channel].<br \/>\nEncourage small projects especially for families and women. Lobby local organizations to adopt micro-finance projects to benefit local communities.<br \/>\nWork with teachers and educators so they raise and teach their students ethical values including justice, solidarity, responsibility and empathy.<br \/>\nWork to find a strategy within the GNRC youth groups to monitor their work and keep sustainability [The youth were not sure how this could be done].<br \/>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignright size-full wp-image-1673\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/DSC_0069-Medium1.JPG\" style=\"width: 350px; height: 231px; margin: 5px; float: right;\" width=\"349\" height=\"231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/DSC_0069-Medium1.JPG 349w, https:\/\/gnrc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/DSC_0069-Medium1-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 349px) 100vw, 349px\" \/><br \/>\nThe participants were asked to do a small evaluation exercise to monitor their learning before heading to lunch.<\/p>\n<p>The third session of the day discussed the second theme of the GNRC Fourth Forum: Violence and Wars. Children were asked to share, in small groups, how they see and experience violence in their own situations and contexts. They were divided into small groups to write and prepare a drama sketch expressing how they see poverty related to conflicts and wars.<\/p>\n<p>In the fourth session the participants were given the time to present their sketches that were followed by discussion. The sketches touched on:<\/p>\n<p>Conflicts and violence in the household and how it relates to poverty.<br \/>\nReligious and ethnic conflicts, with their implications on the country and the communities.<br \/>\nConflicts due to lack of respect amongst people, use of violence and how it affects families and futures.<\/p>\n<p>After discussing the participants\u2019 ideas, they were, again, divided into groups and asked to choose one type of conflict or violent situation. They were asked to list the causes of this conflict and its results.<\/p>\n<p>Due to lack of time, it was agreed that the presentation of the results of this task will be done the next day so the participants would have more time to discuss their ideas. The outcomes of the groups were as follows:<\/p>\n<p>Group 1: Religious Conflict<br \/>\nReasons:<br \/>\nInadequate upbringing and education.<br \/>\nThe wrong understanding of the concepts: minority and majority.<br \/>\nLack of awareness of good citizenship.<br \/>\nLack of understanding of others.<br \/>\nPutting personal interests before the common good.<\/p>\n<p>Results:<br \/>\nDeterioration of personal relations and friendships.<br \/>\nCivil wars.<br \/>\nForced migration.<br \/>\nInsecurity and chaos.<br \/>\nDivision and separation of lands and communities.<br \/>\nViolence and problems even within the same community.<\/p>\n<p>Group 2: Violence and conflicts within families (domestic violence)<br \/>\nReasons:<br \/>\nInflation and high expenses of goods.<br \/>\nA bad life-style.<br \/>\nBad housing and accommodations with no health standards.<br \/>\nInterventions from in laws and friends of the family.<br \/>\nLack of trust between members of the family.<br \/>\nCheating, deception, and adultery.<br \/>\nFinancial difficulties.<br \/>\nLack of communication and mutual understanding.<\/p>\n<p>Results:<br \/>\nChildren get affected by conflicts and disagreements. They might become violent themselves.<br \/>\nChildren will grow up with a bad picture of what a good family is.<br \/>\nDivorce and separation.<br \/>\nViolence against children in the household.<br \/>\nStress and lack of peace.<br \/>\nPhysiological problems and disorders for family members.<br \/>\nChildren\u2019s academic performance might suffer.<br \/>\nChildren can turn to drugs or crime.<br \/>\nRespect and love will not be there in the family.<br \/>\nDeterioration of the family unit in general.<\/p>\n<p>Group 3: Political Conflict (between leaders and their people)<br \/>\nReasons:<br \/>\nPoliticians divide people to conquer and reach to power.<br \/>\nBad governance leads to conflicts especially of the space for freedoms is limited.<br \/>\nIgnorance on the part of the people, following politicians and parties regardless of their agendas.<br \/>\nLack of respect for diversity and the beliefs and opinions of others.<br \/>\nTyranny and oppression.<\/p>\n<p>Results:<br \/>\nLack of security in the country which will affect all divisions of life and economy.<br \/>\nPeople will start creating closed and radical groups that are not open to the others and maybe hostile of change.<br \/>\nPeople might be forced to migrate to another country to avoid insecurity and poverty.<br \/>\nThe possibility of civil wars if the situation worsens.<br \/>\nConflicts and disagreements between people that can result in violence.<\/p>\n<p>Group 4: Ethnic\/Religious Conflict<br \/>\nReasons:<br \/>\nUse of religion as an excuse for separation of peoples and communities.<br \/>\nLack of ethical education and awareness.<br \/>\nReligious extremism and lack of respect for other religions.<br \/>\nUpbringing and education that is based on superiority of own religion and hatred of others. Emphasis on what differentiates each religion or belief and not what is similar and mutual.<\/p>\n<p>Results:<br \/>\nEach community or ethnicity regards itself as a state inside the state.<br \/>\nLack of mutual cooperation between different groups and communities.<br \/>\nEthnic and Religious discrimination on formal and non-formal levels.<br \/>\nViolence and conflicts between people and groups, which results in more violence, and it goes in an empty circle.<\/p>\n<p>The day concluded with a quick oral evaluation and a moment of reflection and prayer by all present. After having dinner the participants returned to an evening of talents and artistic cultural expressions. They presented music, dances, stand-up comedy, singing, paintings and games.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Sunday 26 February 2012<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The second day started with a silent prayer and a moment of reflection. Four participants presented a recap of the previous day using an activity they prepared.<br \/>\nThe first session of the day was dedicated to discuss the third theme of the GNRC Fourth Forum: Bad Governance. The session started with a discussion about what governance is and how it could be bad. Afterwards the participants joined in the LTLT activity: What I stand for.<br \/>\nIn the second session, the participants were divided into two working groups and were given certain tasks. The first group was asked to share their experiences and observations of bad governance, and then suggest solutions for these problems. The Second group was asked to imagine a world with good governance and no corruption, then suggest how can we reach and accomplish this world.<\/p>\n<p>The answers from the first group were as follows:<\/p>\n<p><em>How do you see and experience bad governance?<\/em><br \/>\nBad governance is not something that only related to leaders and politicians; it\u2019s a personal phenomenon as well. Therefore, we regard corruption as something personal as well. We see it on the personal level as follows:<br \/>\nLack of dialogue between people and lack of respect for others and their beliefs and interests.<br \/>\nBeing tow-faces and dishonest. This manifests itself in deceit, pretence, greed and discrimination.<br \/>\nLack of interest in education and awareness while following shallow interests and unethical life-styles.<\/p>\n<p>On the level of communities and immediate context (within families, schools and friends\u2026) we see bad governance as:<br \/>\nThe inclination of one group (family, school, group of friends\u2026) to dominate other groups with their opinions and behaviors.<br \/>\nLack of respect for everyday systems and regulation like the rules in schools, laws on the road and driving priorities, rules and customs at houses and religious places.<br \/>\nConflicts within families and friends.<br \/>\nLack of needed care and education to raise new generations who are aware of their rights and duties.<\/p>\n<p>On the level of the overall society:<br \/>\nFanaticism and lack of openness and respect for other beliefs and opinions.<br \/>\nCorruption in the government. Lack of equal opportunities between citizens.&nbsp;<br \/>\nBribery and dishonesty. Lack of integrity.<br \/>\nUse of power to serve personal interests.<br \/>\nLack of security and trust between the leaders and their peoples.<br \/>\nOverall socialization on the idea that power gives you rights.<br \/>\nWe are aware that corruption in the leaderships is not solely the responsibility of leaders. Followers take part of the blame because they are either ignorant or afraid to claim their rights and stand up for their interests.<\/p>\n<p><em>What are the solutions?<\/em><br \/>\nAs corruption and bad governance start with the individual, solutions should start with the individual as well. Every person should be encouraged and taught to stop being corrupt himself. Stop being ignorant, selfish, and blind follower. There should be:<br \/>\nAwareness for families to raise children who are open, ethically sound and respectful.<br \/>\nIncrease control in the workplace and make sure that the right person is in the right position.<br \/>\nReligious leaders have a role in uniting peoples from different religions and ethnicities around what unites them in face of common problems.<br \/>\nEncourage dialogue on all levels to reach a point where rights give you power and not power gives your rights.<br \/>\nTo push the idea that respect of the law is the only way everyone can live in peace and with dignity.<\/p>\n<p>The answers from the second group were as follows:<\/p>\n<p><em>What would the world be like with no corruption or bad governance?<\/em><br \/>\nFamily relations would be strong and we would have good upbringing and education for all.<br \/>\nThere would be equality in everything for everyone.<br \/>\nThere would be cooperation between individuals, groups and countries.<br \/>\nCultural expressions would be respected and celebrated.<br \/>\nThere would be respect for all and celebration of diversity.<br \/>\nGovernments and systems would be just and really express the interests of their peoples.<br \/>\nThere would be more care for the environment and nature. Resources would be efficiently used and not exploited.<br \/>\nThere would be no violence even if there were disagreement.<\/p>\n<p><em>How do you see we can reach that world you described?<\/em><br \/>\nGive people their rights.<br \/>\nParents should be brought aware of how to ethically raise their children and live peacefully.<br \/>\nThere should be a just system governing the relationship between employers and employees.<br \/>\nBring awareness to people about shared values and mutual cooperation.<br \/>\nOpenness and exchange of knowledge, beliefs and cultural expressions.<br \/>\nThe monopoly of power should disappear. Power and recourses should be equally distributed.<br \/>\nIn Lebanon, a real push towards a good institutional government.<br \/>\nEveryone works for the benefit of their countries and communities before thinking about their personal interests.<br \/>\nViolence stops being a solution for conflicts and disagreements.<br \/>\nArms should only be in the hands of armies and for the purpose of protecting countries and peoples.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Participants took another session to discuss issues of poverty, in all its dimensions, in their respective regions in Lebanon. They were asked to identify how poverty, unequal distribution of recourses, violence and bad governance, manifests itself in their own regions. They were also asked to decide what they can do, as GNRC youth groups, to solve these problems. Their answers were taken as action plans in their own communities.<\/p>\n<p>Group 1: North of Lebanon (Bterram and Al-Koura)<\/p>\n<p>Problems:<br \/>\nLack of ethically sound entertainment venues and activities in the region.<br \/>\nParents and local leaders don\u2019t understand the needs and aspirations of new generations and youth.<br \/>\nYouth are filling their time with silly chatter and they have no purpose.<\/p>\n<p>Suggested solutions and actions:<br \/>\nHold seminars in Schools who are part of GNRC to raise awareness of parents and families. Emphasis on Ethics Education and Child Rights.<br \/>\nHold Activities and Workshops for children and youth on various subjects. Use of the LTLT toolkit.<br \/>\nOrganize outings, activities and sports days for children and youth n the communities, especially youth from different backgrounds.<br \/>\nUrge the municipality and our organization and movements to organize competitions, open days and sports events for youth.<br \/>\nOrganize movie nights at different venues, chose movies that are useful and purposeful. Encourage dialogue and activism.<br \/>\nFind a structure for the core groups we have that allows sustainability and mentoring of these activities and plans.<\/p>\n<p>Group 2: South of Lebanon, Al-Moukhtara and Der Al-Moukhales:<\/p>\n<p>Problems:<br \/>\nWe see ethical, spiritual, and moral poverty more widespread in our communities than financial poverty.<br \/>\nA lot of discrimination between students in schools by teachers. Teachers also don\u2019t push students to do their best and excel. Students reach a point where they don\u2019t believe they can make a real difference. Same attitudes are seen in families.<br \/>\nLack of awareness and purpose with children and youth. No good direction or up-bringing.<br \/>\nReligious leaders and institutions don\u2019t care much about social issues or lives and problems of youth.<\/p>\n<p>Suggested solutions:<br \/>\nTrain teachers and educators on mow to encourage children and youth to reach their potential.<br \/>\nEducate children and youth on the importance of mutual cooperation and respect in order to make a difference.<br \/>\nEncourage an overall culture of excellence and high standards. Encourage honest, integrity and hard work. Start with ourselves.<br \/>\nAs youth group, organize joined projects for youth from different communities and backgrounds which will help build trust and understanding.<br \/>\nUse technology and social media in raising awareness, advertising events, and coordinating our work. We suggest a Facebook page and a group online.<\/p>\n<p>Group 3: Central Lebanon, Baalbek:<\/p>\n<p>Problems:<br \/>\nMoral, Ethical, and Spiritual Poverty:<br \/>\nLack of good libraries and cultural centers<br \/>\nLack of good schools for all. The majority go to public schools without high quality education.<br \/>\nIgnorance and illiteracy.<br \/>\nYouth are not interested in reading and informal education.<br \/>\nThere are no community centers.<br \/>\nSocial Poverty:<br \/>\nA lot of people in our community own guns with no license and they use it in irresponsible ways.<br \/>\nYouth have no venues to express themselves like theaters, sports fields, community centers\u2026 etc.<br \/>\nFinancial Poverty:<br \/>\nChild labor.<br \/>\nFamilies that live on donations and alms from different groups (for example political parties).<br \/>\nChild beggars in streets.<br \/>\nHousing that is not adequate for healthy living (no clean water, no sewage systems\u2026).<br \/>\nInflation and raised cost of living and goods.<br \/>\nA lot of robberies and mugging.<br \/>\nIncrease in diseases and lack of money for health services.<br \/>\nChildren drop out of schools because parents can\u2019t afford tuition fees.<br \/>\nPollution and exploitation of environmental recourses due to the increase of population and lack of planning.<\/p>\n<p>Solutions we can be part of:<br \/>\nCreate groups that help children who drop out of schools to go on with basic education (reading and writing and math).<br \/>\nOrganize awareness campaigns and campaigns to plant trees and clean places.<br \/>\nOpen school libraries to the public in the afternoons and increase the collections of books in these libraries.<br \/>\nEncourage children and youth to read.<br \/>\nPresent plays and performances for children that deal with vital issues.<br \/>\nUse the venues and theatres in our schools to screen films and documentaries. Funds can go to help poor families.<\/p>\n<p>Group 4: Central Lebanon, Mashghara, Zahle, and El- Qaa:<\/p>\n<p>Problems:<br \/>\nLack of activities that are directed to youth and children. No cinemas or good places to gather and spend time.<br \/>\nFinancial poverty of families which causes children to drop out of schools.<br \/>\nBad housing and no services.<br \/>\nIn villages, children drop out of school for certain periods to help their families in agriculture and picking the fruits.<\/p>\n<p>How can we help?<br \/>\nUse the hall in our church as a small cinema for youth, create a committee to bring movies and run the shows twice a month.<br \/>\nFundraise money and donate to the poor. Use help from our contacts, families and teachers.<br \/>\nTalk to families in villages and convince them to send their children to schools in exchange of our whole group helping in picking up their fruits on weekends.<\/p>\n<p>Group 4: South of Lebanon. Marje\u2019oun:<\/p>\n<p>Problems:<br \/>\nNo places for youth to spend time and learn.<br \/>\nNo facilities for entertainment like sports courts and community centers.<br \/>\nLack of care and services for children and youth.<br \/>\nNot enough social activities in schools.<br \/>\nYouth do not find job opportunities.<br \/>\nOur whole region does not have a university or a good collage.<\/p>\n<p>Solutions:<br \/>\nOffer project proposals to local leadership to use some facilities and venues in our towns for entertainment.<br \/>\nUse the channels we have, like representatives of classes, to talk to schools leadership and organize more social events in schools.<br \/>\nWork with local NGO\u2019s on giving small project funds for families and individuals.<br \/>\nCreate pressure on politicians to care about youth and child issues.<br \/>\nUse Social media and local Radio Channels.<\/p>\n<p>A group of participants took the responsibility to offer ideas for sustainability of GNRC work in Lebanon and to give general recommendations. Their recommendations were as follows:<\/p>\n<p>To consider this group present as a core group for GNRC youth in Lebanon. To be responsible of coordinating our work and sharing our experiences.<br \/>\nWe ask that we have a follow-up workshop in six months to evaluate our work and plan forward.<br \/>\nWe recommend that this core group gathers every month in a shared activity.<br \/>\nWe ask from each regional group to spread the vision and mission of GNRC and include more children and youth in their work.<br \/>\nParticipants of this workshop will have the responsibility to prepare a report of activities to the core group, which, in turn, will report to the GNRC National Committee.<\/p>\n<p>After agreeing on these recommendations and plans, the participants signed their names inside a figure of a palm drawn on a sheet, to symbolize their commitment and agreement.<\/p>\n<p>The participants evaluated the workshop in terms of logistics and the content of the training before receiving certificates of participation from GNRC Arab States Secretariat. The Workshop ended with a silent moment of prayer by everyone present.<\/p>\n<p>The GNRC AS Secretariat thanks the board of Our Lady of the Mount House for giving a discount of 50% on accommodation for all participants as a contribution for the GNRC and its work in Lebanon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The GNRC AS Local Workshop for Children in Preparation for the GNRC 4th Forum was organized from 25- 26 February 2012. It was attended by 30 Children and youth from five GNRC youth groups across Lebanon. Moreover, five participants came from Ain El-Hilweh Palestinian Refugee Camp in Lebanon. GNRC Lebanon Committee members and representatives of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1672,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[49,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1674","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arab-states","category-in-the-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1674","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1674"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1674\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12417,"href":"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1674\/revisions\/12417"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1674"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1674"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1674"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}