Lebanon | Water, sanitation and solar lighting for vulnerable communities – ADRA Slovakia
In July, a rare visitor from Lebanon came to our office. Colleagues from a partner organization ADRA Lebanon – field worker Nissren Jbara and accountant Jackline Girgis took part in financial training and a meeting with us for an ongoing light project, financed from the sources of the official development aid of the Slovak Republic, SlovakAid.
Nissan Jbara: Work in the non-governmental and humanitarian sector has always attracted me. After the Syrian refugee crisis broke out, I needed to get involved in activities that helped the refugees. That’s how I entered the humanitarian world in 2017, when I started working for ADRA Lebanon.
ADRA’s Lebanese branch is strongly involved in the education, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) and food security sectors. However, it also operates in crisis areas – for example, it assisted during the devastating explosions in Beirut in 2020 and during the COVID-19 pandemic, it began crisis intervention and the distribution of 70 hygiene packages to 354 beneficiaries.
I work at ADRA as a project manager and field worker. I work in the Bekaa Valley, where ADRA has its branch. It is here that we implement our joint project with ADRA Slovakia.
The project has three main goals. The first step is the installation of 30 latrines for Syrian refugees living in informal tent settlements (at the time of the interview, we had just finished this work; editor’s note).
Left: We received 30 latrines in the project, which will help Syrian refugee families to improve their hygiene standards. Right: A water tank powered by a solar panel ensures regular and safe access to water. (source: ADRA Lebanon)
The second activity that we have recently completed is the installation of the water reservoir. It is connected to an existing well in one of the tent estates. Everyone is connected to the water supply, and therefore will also be supplied with water. We installed a solar panel next to the reservoir that powers the pump. Families living in tents will have a regular and safe supply of water. Without a reservoir, they would be dependent on importing or buying bottled water, which is not only expensive and non-ecological, but also unsustainable in the long term.
The third goal is the installation of 100 solar street lamps in the village of Al Faour. With the lamps, we will provide access to energy day and night for more than 9,000 residents. This will also reduce crime and the number of cases of gender-based violence, as well as other incidents that residents encounter during the night hours.
Nissren during the delivery of 100 solar street lamps that will illuminate the street of Al Faour. (source: ADRA Lebanon)
Our activities are largely focused on the construction of solar-powered buildings. The fact is that solar panels are more environmentally friendly and sustainable. But that’s not all. In Lebanon, they have solar lamps and another solar-powered water reservoir. Infrastructure in Lebanon is expensive and unstable. That is why we experience frequent power outages. In the village of Al Faour, the situation is so serious that we only have electricity for a few hours a day. To make up for the power outages, we have to use generators. However, due to the economic crisis in Lebanon, the fuel for the generator is too expensive. Thus, having a solar panel is not only financially efficient, but also represents a stable and sustainable source of energy supply.
In addition to being responsible for the administrative implementation of activities within this project, I also work directly in the field. I communicate with manufacturers, suppliers, workers. Most of them are men. Working in a predominantly male team can be discouraging for many women. However, it is not in my case, because we all respect each other. I am convinced that trust between us is a big task. It is equally important that we know what to do with each other. On this side, everything goes smoothly and I don’t feel any disadvantages as a woman.
Our project manager Anna-Mária and Nissren during a visit to the Bekaa region. (source: ADRA Slovakia)
Trust is also key when working with local communities. But it’s not just like that. we have to build it for some time. However, the people in Al Faour village have always been very friendly, open and trusted us – this is also because they have the same culture, the same traditions, share a similar background and we are very similar.
A big advantage of working in the field is that when you get to know the local communities, you get to know them and their needs, you get a better understanding of who they are and what you need. For example, during the assessment of the needs of our project, we were approached by a woman with whom we would like to say that we need a French toilet seat, not a traditional Arabic one. He has problems with his legs. So we made her a French toilet seat for the latrine and the lady was very satisfied with it. She was very grateful and even prayed for us! It is experiences like this that convince me that my work is meaningful and has a positive impact on people in need.
In these times, I see my work more than ever. As a result of the Syrian refugee crisis that has been going on since 2011, we have more than 1.5 million refugees in Lebanon. It is the most refugees per person in the world. The Lebanese, who already had limited resources, no longer have to share with the refugees. So it means that even more people need help than before.
Furthermore, as of 2019, Lebanon remains in a deep economic crisis that affects everyone, whether Lebanese or Syrian refugees. Citizens’ salaries are around 50 months, which is almost nothing compared to the high prices. Help especially those who had problems before the crisis.
To make matters worse, the war in Ukraine also affected us. The economic crisis we are left with has deepened. In order to have bread and other foodstuffs, we depend on the import of cereals from Ukraine. But now many bakeries have stopped production and the price of bread is rising so fast. Before the crisis, one package of bread cost about 1,500 Lebanese pounds and now it is almost 20,000! It is an extreme leap for the common man.
During the trip to Slovakia, we also visited the Place of Humanitarian Assistance (Who will help Ukraine) in Bratislava’s Aupark.
(source: ADRA Slovakia)
And my trip to Slovakia? In addition to the fact that I really liked Bratislava and its cleanliness, I especially appreciate the fact that I had the opportunity to develop our working relations with colleagues from ADRA Slovakia as a SlovakAid funder. Personal meetings are invaluable. It was very important and useful for me to meet them in person. I feel like we could have talked more in depth about the project stuff. Not everything can be taken over via ZOOM. We also discussed a new project that will be aimed at building additional water infrastructure for the Lebanese and Syrians. We will work on the project from December 2022 and it will again be financed from the resources of the Official Development Assistance of the Slovak Republic, SlovakAid.
Nissren (right) and Jackline (left) during their visit to Slovakia. We also spent time in the company of the project team of Anna-Mária and Adriana (in the middle). (source: ADRA Slovakia)
Mutual trust and openness are extremely important in such projects. This is the only way successful cooperation is born. I am very glad that I had to come to Slovakia, and I am convinced that my visit helped us deepen our cooperation.
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Project activities SAMRS/2021/HUM/1/8 – WASH intervention and energy sustainable infrastructure for Syrian refugees and Lebanese in the Bekaa region are financed from the resources of the Official Development Assistance of the Slovak Republic, SlovakAid.
Logo of the Official Development Assistance of the Slovak Republic, SlovakAid. (source: SlovakAid)