FURSA: Increasing the Opportunities of Youth Participation and Dialogue in Akkar

FURSA: Increasing the Opportunities of Youth Participation and Dialogue in Akkar
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The Fursa Project Closing Event Hosts the Opening of the First Community Radio in Akkar

Search for Common Ground organized on October 7th, 2018, the closing event of the second part of the Fursa project at Hadatha international school in Berqayel, Akkar, funded by the European Union's MADAD Trust Fund. With the support of Search and in partnership with Hadatha organization, young participants in the project have opened the first community radio station in Lebanon run by youth. This radio station will unite the voices of youth in Akkar to act as a platform for community engagement and positive dialogue in society.

The event has also celebrated the artwork and mentorship of the project’s junior trainers. These passionate young people were students themselves during the first part of Fursa and have now become trainers in their own right, sharing their new skills and knowledge with other young people in the areas of arts, media and social entrepreneurship. The event showcased their work, and included a theatre play and an exhibition of artwork fully produced by youth.

The event brought together over 200 guests, including the parents of the youth, local partners of Search and Hadatha, heads of municipalities, government officials and other NGOs.

Addressing the audience, the Head of Economy and Local Development Section at the European Union Delegation to Lebanon said: "Fursa in Arabic means opportunity or chance, and we do hope that the activities of this project, which we are celebrating today, have offered you many good opportunities to acquire skills that would serve you throughout your life." "This European Union Trust Fund project is all about making sure that communities are strong in the face of crisis. It has proposed a global approach where opportunities for youth are met in parallel with strengthening the social fabric in this region," he added.

Fursa is funded by the European Union’s MADAD Trust Fund and implemented by Search for Common Ground, COSV and UPP.