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March 7, 2011

The Daily Star - Italy helps ministry launch developmental projects - March 01, 2011

By Marie Dhumires
Daily Star staff

BEIRUT: The  Social Affairs Ministry, in collaboration with the Italian Embassy, 
launched Monday nine social development projects to be implemented nationwide.
“We put together with the Italian government an ideal mechanism, 
and it will be implemented to all social and developmental projects,” 
caretaker Social Affairs Minister Salim Sayegh told reporters at 
the ministry in Beirut’s district of Badaro.
“This is the first time the ministry uses these [new] mechanisms 
to organize and choose the developmental projects according to 
the social priorities as defined by the ministry,” he added. 
He listed his ministry’s priorities as fighting poverty, protecting children,
 the elderly and people with special needs, dealing with gender issues, 
drug control and spreading the culture of volunteering
“The rights of marginalized and poor population groups are tackled, 
to improve their livelihoods and ensure their inclusion into their own local communities,” 
said Charge d’affaires Andreas Ferrarese, speaking on behalf of 
Ambassador Giuseppe Morabito.
Ferrarese defined the social projects as “representative of Lebanon’s diversity and needs.” 
The nine projects launched Monday comprise a permanent care center 
for children in Arsal aiming to “put an end to academic dropout rates”
 in the eastern Bekaa village, a project to support the local production 
of essential oils in the Metn area, and another to improve access 
 to the Chouf Cedars Reserve to people with special needs.
Funding for the projects will be split in half between the the Italian 
Development Cooperation agency and the Social Affairs Ministry.

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