The Daily Star - Project to involve expatriates in development enters 2nd phase - May 27, 2011

By Marie Dhumieres

The Daily Star BEIRUT: The second phase of an U.N.-sponsored initiative aimed at engaging Lebanese expatriates to support local community-based development projects was launched Thursday to address urgent needs in the environment, education and health sectors. “Each individual project delivered through Live Lebanon is an embodiment of both the aspirations of the many communities that have taken action to make their lives better and the commitment of individuals of the Lebanese diaspora who wish to help make that hope become reality,” said Robert Watkins, the United Nations Development Program’s resident representative. The initiative, announced at a news conference at the Press Federation, embraces a wide range of local issues such as creating jobs, connecting remote villages to main roads, providing them with drinking water and medical equipment and promoting tourism. The first phase of the Live Lebanon initiative, a partnership between the UNDP and the Directorate General of Emigrants at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, was launched in 2009 and resulted in the implementation of 11 projects across the country. The projects included purchasing a generator for a school in Mreijeh in Mount Lebanon, renovating a football field in Rmeish in the south, and improving and extending an irrigation canal in Ain Yaacoub, in the north. Ghaleb Farha, an expatriate who has been living in the United Arab Emirates for 40 years and who is one of the initiative’s goodwill ambassadors, funded the provision of academic and recreational equipment in a public school of Marjayoun, south Lebanon. Abraaj Capital, a private company established in Dubai, funded the restoration of a water network in Beit Jaafar in the Bekaa. The second phase of the initiative aims at implementing some 40 projects in the north, south, the Bekaa, Mount Lebanon and Beirut. The projects comprise providing additional water supply to villagers, engaging youth to visit villages by creating local sports facilities and connecting an existing well to household tanks. Fadi Salameh, a businessman who was appointed goodwill ambassador of the initiative during Thursday’s ceremony, funded a project inaugurated the same day in the coastal city of Sidon, which seeks to address hygiene and safety issues in a nursery school. Salameh described the Live Lebanon initiative as a “pioneer project for Lebanon” and said it aimed at “bringing together Lebanese expatriates to contribute in development projects all across the country and especially in underdeveloped areas.” He stressed the role of expatriates in developing the country and reminded of the “solid ties” between the expatriates and their homeland. “No matter how far we are, we’re always related to this land … it’s the place we all rush to after working hard abroad,” he said. Watkins emphasized the importance of expatriates in “promoting Lebanon as an investment destination.” “An obvious and important feature of the Lebanese economy and unique historical experience is the role of Lebanese emigrants,” he said. “Should the diaspora be enabled to further invest a fraction of their resources … their contribution to reducing regional disparities throughout Lebanon would be considerable.”