By Rania Khalil, Homat Al Hima Program Manager
The full SPNL 2024 Annual Report is available for download at this link.
Every year, the Homat Al Hima Program faces numerous challenges due to the ongoing economic and political situation in Lebanon. For many young people, daily survival and securing their future take priority, making it difficult to keep them engaged in conservation efforts.
To address this, we continuously strive to connect our training and workshops to their everyday lives, ensuring relevance and fostering participation. Our approach focuses on:
- Highlighting how new skills create job opportunities and open doors for the future.
- Encouraging curiosity and readiness for new experiences.
- Promoting a positive attitude and emphasizing the role youth can play in strengthening their communities.
- Demonstrating the economic benefits of nature conservation, including income-generating opportunities.
Empowering Youth in West Bekaa: A Success Story
Despite the challenges, we remained committed to empowering local youth across various Himas. One notable success this year was the Homat Al Hima group in West Bekaa, which completed a one-year intensive training program tailored to their village’s needs.
Through this program, 15 young men and women gained knowledge and practical experience in:
- Bird identification and conservation
- Sustainable agriculture, grazing, and harvesting
- Biodiversity and citizen science
- Flora and fauna species recognition
- Fish and wetland ecosystems
- Teamwork, time management, and leadership
- Positive thinking and community engagement
This dedicated group is now ready to support their municipality in various environmental and community-driven initiatives. Their efforts include:
- Cleaning roads and maintaining hiking trails
- Raising awareness on conservation issues
- Assisting local communities and guiding visitors
- Developing innovative ideas to enhance their village
Looking Ahead: Expanding Local Engagement
Despite ongoing economic and logistical obstacles, we remain committed to expanding the Homat Al Hima network. Our goal is to build and sustain active youth teams across different Hima regions, ensuring continuous engagement with local communities and municipalities.
Through persistence, education, and empowerment, we aim to inspire the next generation of conservation leaders—proving that even in difficult times, young people can drive positive change and sustainable development in their communities.
