In The Middle East, Pockets of Life Amid Crisis

Armed conflicts, forced displacement, and economic collapse in Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestine, have resulted in thousands of families living in incredibly vulnerable situations, often cut off from essential services, education, and psychosocial support. In response to these realities, Libraries Without Borders, with the support of the French Development Agency, is implementing its Ideas Box’s alongside local partners, in educational and cultural spaces designed to reach people who are most in need.

Actions anchored in local communities

Since 2019, Lebanon has been navigating one of the most severe economic crises in its history, defined by inflation that has plunged a large portion of the population into poverty. Repeated military operations in the Southern and Eastern regions of the country have further weakened already devastated areas. According to UNICEF, today 400,000 children have been internally displaced within Lebanon, for whom emotional and educational support remain a major concern.

It is in this context that LWB intervened alongside the NGO Amel. Together establishing reception centers in suburbs south of Beirut, in the Bekaa Valley- a region crossed by the front lines- as well as in Sida. The Ideas Box offers displaced populations spaces for learning, access to technology, and dialogue, in zones where military pressure continues to intensify.

In Iraq, LWB collaborates with numerous local organizations. In Sinjar, LWB partners with Nadia’s Initiative, focusing on supporting Yazidi women who are survivors of violence, through activities implemented across spaces of psychosocial support. In Mosul, the ancient capital of the Islamic State, programs put in place with the Aid Gate Organization targets youth in vulnerable positions, with the objective of social reintegration.

In Palestine, where war in Gaza and the violence within the West Bank have plunged entire communities into extreme destitution, LWB works with the Tamer Institute for Community Education, which has historically worked to provide access to reading and education in Palestine. The first modes of action are centered around the psychosocial support of children and youth, which are currently being implemented.

Measurable Results

In addition to offering access to knowledge, The Ideas Box offers breathable spaces for reconstruction: creative workshops, support groups, and online activities, etc. All of which are designed collaboratively with local teams and the communities that they serve. Together, these activities provide valuable opportunities for dialogue, building self-esteem, and developing essential skills for the future.

“During the phase of conception and instillation, volunteers participated in the construction of the project by providing extensive feedback, taking part in pilot activities, adopting the educational materials, and aiding our partners in improving the accessibility and usefulness of tools provided”, explains Narjis Ihloh, the head of the program at LWB.

Evaluations conducted with participants demonstrating a tangible impact :

98% of Yazadis women who participated claimed to have an increase in self-confidence and security after their participation.

95% of childrens that participated in the activities shared the same sentiment.

59.3% of participants recalled an improvement in their transversal skills- a figure that rises to 72,5% among young people and 61.5% among women.

The projects carried out by LWB and its partners are designed for the long term. In Palestine, as in Lebanon and Iraq, it is this sustained presence, alongside local partners with an in-depth understanding of their communities, that makes it possible to adapt our responses as needs evolve.

Translation: Charlotte McDonald

Since 2007, Libraries Without Borders has been facilitating access to knowledge for all.

In about twenty countrys including France, we turn culture, education, and information into vehicles of resistance, resilience and emancipation.

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In The Middle East, Pockets of Life Amid Crisis

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