Location and general information
Access to Sport - 
Children with disabilities - 
Personal developmentContext
The current deterioration of the economic crisis in Lebanon puts children and teenagers at greater risk of abuse, violence and exploitation. According to the recently published emergency response plan, there is a growing need for protection among Lebanese and migrant children. This creates risks of social tensions among different communities based on their perceptions of access to available services. The child protection sector in Lebanon reports an increased need for psychosocial support services. Additionally, there are growing numbers of children engaged in child labour. Due to the closure of schools due to COVID-19 and the deterioration of the economic crisis, many children in Syrian refugee communities, but also Lebanese and other migrants, are engaged in child labour to support their families. One of the ways humanitarian actors can meet the increasing needs for protection services, including psychosocial support, is by providing safe spaces for children, where they can take part in sports and recreational activities run by child-protection specialists.
Project content
The project BRACE, Beirut Rehabilitation of Recreational Areas for Children and Equality, aims to enhance protection and social cohesion in vulnerable areas of Mount Lebanon governorate, by providing access to a safe and secure playing field for children, where they can have fun, engage in sports activities and interact with members of different communities (refugee, migrant, host). It will be run in partnership with the local municipality and a community-based organisation to ensure its sustainability beyond the project period.
Main communication message - the well-being of vulnerable children can also be protected through access to sport.
Objectives
The overall project objective is to enhance child protection and social cohesion in vulnerable areas of Mount Lebanon governorate in Lebanon.
- Provide a safe space where children can play and engage in sports and other recreational activities;
- Help a community-based organisation run sports and recreational activities for children and teenagers.
Project activities
Rehabilitation of an existing playing field
- Painting, installing walls and roofing;
- Installing artificial grass, football goals and basketball hoops;
- Lighting with solar panels to ensure safety and sustainability despite the worsening energy crisis;
- -Rehabilitating WASH facilities.
Support for a community-based organisation providing
- Sports, arts, psychosocial activities;
- Solidarity initiatives for migrants, refugees, host-community children.
Expected results
- A playing field in Mount Lebanon governorate is rehabilitated and upgraded, providing a safe recreational space for all communities, especially children and teenagers;
- 200 children and teenagers are engaged in sports and art activities by the local community-based organisation supporting social inclusion and well-being at community level;
- A community-based organisation is supported and able to provide regular sports and recreational activities for children from different communities.
Partner
