After the liberation of the Caza of Jizzine-South Lebanon in 1999, and with support from the US government assistance program to Lebanon through the USAID and the Leahy War Victims Fund, WRF launched an exemplary project aiming at assisting landmine survivors  landmine survivors in this district through the generation of work and income opportunities in agricultural production, processing, and marketing activities.

Geographical Distribution of Landmine victims in Jizzine by place of Residence

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“There is tremendous need among survivors of landmine injuries, but the programs that are available to address the needs of this sector of the population are very limited, if existent at all. Our project in Jizzine is the only one where survivors benefit personally”.

NADIM KARAM, M.D., DIRECTOR, WORLD REHABILITATION FUND - LEBANON

Land cultivation of  medicinal herbs

Complementing the WRF’s General Mine Action Program, the Jizzine Project directly empowers landmine survivors to become self-reliant promoting their socio-economic reintegration with the community. With the support from WRF, landmine survivors in the District of Jizzine have joined to form The Development Cooperative in Jizzine.

 

Feeding the chicks: a routine practice. Photo taken by Elizabeth Hunter-Daily Star	Beneficiaries in the Beekeeping Program

One hundred and twelve members and their families are benefiting of the COOP services which include food products and processing activities. Beneficiaries initiated with support from COOP, home-based agricultural production activities (decentralized), including Poultry Raising for Egg Production, Beekeeping for Honey Production, and Cultivation of Medicinal Herbs.

Geographical Distribution of Landmine victims in Jizzine by place of Residence and Type of Activity

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On the other hand, the COOP-based services ensure the processing and marketing of the final product (centralized). With direct assistance from WRF, the COOP has succeeded in establishing and supporting small feasible income generating activities through technical and material assistance, particularly production inputs, training and skill development, and institutional capacity building.

The COOP has based its values on self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. With the gracious support of all collaborators, WRF’s Jizzine Economic Opportunities  project is expected to make a positive impact on the lives of more than  200 households and  2,000 beneficiaries by September 2004.

Project Contributions and Achievements:
 
The multi-faceted Jizzine Project has been responding effectively and efficiently to the dire need for economic opportunities to the community at large and the target population in particular. Moreover, the Project is making a socioeconomic and psychological impact that is incremental and favorably affecting, directly and indirectly, the lives of the beneficiaries and their families.

With the collaboration and support of the people involved, the project has made several contributions, these include:

 

•	Creation of a learning / community development / resource center accessible to all concerned in the area.
•	Development of sustainable socio-economic development activities that have resulted in significant and evident progress in empowering a sub-sector of society (survivors of landmines) that was trapped in a vicious process of disempowerment and disadvantage.
•	Marketing the Project’s products (free-range eggs, natural honey, medicinal herbs, distillate water and essential oil) under the registered brand name B.Balady ®. (Read More about this product)
•	Promotion of a prevailing spirit of cooperation, solidarity, and teamwork among individuals and groups in the District.
•	Initiation and expansion of important partnerships with the public and private sectors and non-governmental stakeholders and counterparts.
•	Mobilization and utilization of community resources and reflection of optimism about the region as a means of encouraging further investment.
•	Acceleration of regional capacities and local organizational and operational framework addressing the needs of landmine survivors in the District.
•	Enhancement of effective exchange of know-how about the establishment and management of cooperatives with transparent, accountable, and predictable process, thus creating a model process that may be replicated in other regions in Lebanon to address similar needs.