SEPT takes on and implements projects aligned with its mission and values.
SEPT activities contribute to local engagement and public transformation.
Current Projects
MUST – Municipal Standard and Performance Indicators
It brings us pleasure to announce the launch of a research project aimed at creating a municipal performance indicator titled MUST – Municipal Standard and Performance Indicators for Municipalities.
معايير البلدية ومؤشرات الأداء للبلديات under the framework of a cooperative action-research between the Saint Joseph University, APAVE, and SEPT – NGO.
The project aims at creating a standard of performance for all municipalities in Lebanon, allowing for municipalities to self-monitor, alongside stakeholders such as CSO’s, the Government, and key stakeholders, as well as citizens.
Firewise
The Firewise project is an endeavor that SEPT has partnered with local NGOs, led by LRI – Lebanese Reforestation Initiative, aimed at creating a fireshed, watershed, a forest management unit and increased cooperation between local governments and communities in the Nahr El Kaleb valley of Lebanon.
BEIRUT EMERGENCY RELIEF
SEPT is undertaking a fundraiser to assist in the emergency relief operations currently underway following the devastating explosion that destroyed Beirut on August 4th 2020. SEPT’s relief effort aims at providing community initiatives and firefighter crews with battery powered tools, PPE, various supplies to assist in salvaging damaged homes and making them safer and habitable.
Past Projects
RAYA Raise Awareness and Youth Advocacy (2014)
The RAYA project was aimed at youths aged 15 to 24 in three areas in Mount Lebanon (Ajaltoun, Bikfaya, and Chiyah), in a bid to raise awareness and advocacy skills among the youth around the following topics: youth volunteerism, drug use and abuse, environmental activism, sustainable development, social inclusion of the intellectually disabled, youth education & employment orientation.
RAYA also advocated and worked to increase youth involvement in the municipalities’ civil society activities in their region; by gathering around 75 youth, 25 from each area, in a bid to form an active advocacy group of 8-10 youth in each selected area.
GREAT – Pilot project (2015)
The GREAT pilot project was undertaken in partnership with multiple NGOs including long-time partner LRI and the USAID.
The project involved 200 Participants, 12 NGO representatives, 3 Scout groups. 2000 seedlings, first phase of 10000 agrofeorestry to plant on anciently terraced land owned by religious endowments.
ACSESS – Advocate College Students
ACSESS is a MEPI grant recipient that aimed at empowering 150 youth by providing them with training sessions as these youth groups will bring democratic social change and will lead other youth towards active engagement in public governance betterment, social and environmental activism, and corporate sustainability advocacy.
Participating NGOs and experts raised awareness and the capacity of these future community leaders and professionals, by forming 6 committed nuclei of no less than 10 youth, each assessing needs and realizing advocacy campaigns targeting legal, procedural and behavioral change, the end result was a municipal campaign that led to a major decision taken by the chosen municipality.
Sustainability was assured by spinning out the nuclei into venture teams or collaborative NGOs.
GREAT Greening the Ancient Terraces of Lebanon (2018)
The GREAT project involved the planting or “greening” of degraded terraces with tree species that intersect with natural forestry and existing fruit-bearing trees (olive, carob, stone pine) aims to create new economic opportunities for impoverished host communities.
The project’s promise of sustainable income-generating activities will allow rural families to continue living in their traditional villages and surroundings. The newly developed planting techniques that participants will acquire offer new entrepreneurial opportunities and permanent employment in otherwise depressed rural localities. It will also preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the participants and their communities.
33 local residents from underprivileged groups, in 3 different locations, will be trained on the latest techniques to plant 5,000 seedlings aimed at restoring the economic, environmental and cultural value of degraded terraces, and to create sustainable jobs.
The main results were involving underprivileged residents and having them trained on different planting techniques; and the secondary result was the plantation of trees with an economic value to reforest ancient terraces in three Lebanese regions.