Jibal’s work intertwines socio-cultural and ecological perspectives to promote a holistic approach to societal development. JIBAL promotes sustainability in all its aspects – in the built and natural environments, in human societies, and in economic and social policies – by developing and implementing programs that deliver concrete results:
- Environmental justice education through curriculum development, training of trainers, and workshop delivery. The support of learning gardens and nature-based education is a central axis of work.
- Food sovereignty through the support of a fair and circular food system, along the whole food supply chain. Jibal promotes environmentally friendly agriculture and food disposal, as well as a fair distribution of wealth and social justice. This is done through farmers’ training, micro-entrepreneurship support, direct sales support. Another suggestion of text: Jibal works to transform the inner workings of the conventional food system in Lebanon – from production, to distribution, to consumption practices– which are extractive towards people and the planet. By working directly with farmers, experts, community influencers, and consumers, we support the growth of agroecology and the food sovereignty movement. Under this program Jibal conducts bottom-up knowledge production, hands-on training programs, territorial planning and participative governance, and partnership building with agroecological experts and community ‘influencers’.
- Social justice: through its work with storytellers, Jibal invites professionals to reflect on their professional roles and how media and others can work towards a more just society. This is done through training, workshops, and storytelling residencies where participants are invited to write stories shifting the perspective on certain topics, like migration.
PRESENT AND PAST PROJECTS
(starting with the most recent)
Project Name: SAUFF (Sustainable Agriculture supplying Urban Farmers market for increased Food security)
Partner: Helvetas
Funder: Swiss Solidarity Fund
General Objective:
Increased food security for vulnerable communities through sustainable smallholder farming (training and coaching farmers on sustainable agriculture, supporting local input providers, creating direct linkages between farmers and consumers).
Geographical Area: Bekaa and Mount Lebanon
Duration: 2021-2022
Project Name: Upscaling Agroecology in Lebanon
Funder: HBS
General objectives:
– Understand how agroecology is reflected in Lebanon to draw recommendations for upscaling agroecology in the country.
– Build a network of organizations willing to collaborate and upscale.
Geographical Area: All of Lebanon
Duration: 2022
Project Name: Promoting agroecology around Zahle area.
Partner: Zahle Municipality
Funder: APIEU
General objective:
Study aiming to understand the agriculture landscape and map all current and potential agroecology actors in Zahle and its surroundings. The study is part of a preparation phase that would be followed by a multi-year project built on its recommendations to promote ecological farming practices in the area.
Geographical Area: Touaité, Qaa el Rim and Hazerta (Zahle surroundings)
Duration: 2022
Project Name: GROW Lebanon
Partner: Zaher Grow to Learn
Funder: CISU
General objectives:
– Supporting learning gardens BuJu and Ghossoun.
– Developing a nature-based activity curriculum.
– Geographical Area: Zgharta and Saadnayel
Duration: 2021-2022
Project Name: Food Strategy Zgharta
Funder: FES
General objective:
Develop a complete food strategy for the territory of Zgharta to bring local actors together and develop a more resilient and localized food system.
Geographical Area: Zgharta
Duration: 2022
Project Name: Farasheh
Funder: Fondation de France
General objectives:
– Training the teachers of CYC 16 sessions.
– Repairing the roof of CYC (not related to Jibal).
Geographical Area: Chatila
Duration: 2021-2022
Project Name: Malaak
Funder: Zaher
General objective: Training the teachers at Malaak 2 sessions (3 condensed into 2 upon their request).
Geographical Area: Akkar
Duration: 2021-2022
Project Name: Learning Garden Assessment
Funder: Zaher
General objective: Assessing the situation of learning gardens in Lebanon (challenges, needs, successes…).
Geographical Area: All of Lebanon
Duration: 2021-2022
Project Name: Nation Station and GRO Beirut
Funder: Zaher
General objective:
Training volunteers at Nation Station and GRO Beirut on Enhancing Kids and Youth Engagement in Activities and on Utilizing the 4 Environmental Justice workshops developed by Jibal.
Geographical Area: Beirut
Duration: 2021
Project Name: Environmental Justice Curriculum (9-12)
Funder: Zaher
General objectives:
– Developing 4 workshops on Environmental Justice (water, waste, food, public spaces) for the age group 9 to 12.
– Piloting these workshops.
Geographical Area: Ehden – Saadnayel – Chouf
Duration: 2021
Project Name: Environmental Justice Curriculum (12 to 14)
Funder: FES
General objectives:
– Developing 4 workshops on Environmental Justice (water, waste, food, public spaces) for the age group 9 to 12.
– Piloting these workshops 4 times.
Geographical Area: Saadnayel
Duration: 2020
Project Name: Beirut reconstruction
Partner: ATB
Funder: Fondation de France
Geographical Area: Beirut
Duration: 2020
Project Name: Private schools
Partner: Eedama ATB
Funder: Paid
General objectives:
– Taking children on field trips and teaching them about the environment.
– Weekly program with a school developing a garden with the students (1 school in Tripoli).
Geographical Area: All over Lebanon
Duration: 2018
Project Name: Media and Migration
Funder: GIZ
General objective:
– They are based on reflection and self-analysis and invite people to look at themselves.
– Producing a publication “New Routes to Narrating Migration” as a reflection guideline for storytellers.
– Organization of storytelling residencies and production of audio guides on migration in neighborhoods.
– Organization of a yearly international summer school on media and migration in Beirut.
Geographical Area: All over Lebanon
Duration: 2017 – 2022