The President of the National Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and President of “Ghadi” Association, Fadi Ghanem, along with the Acting President of the Educational Center for Research and Development, Professor Hyam Ishaq, signed a cooperation agreement between “Ghadi” Association and the Educational Center for Research and Development in Dekwaneh.
Attendees of the Signing Ceremony
The signing ceremony was attended by the Director General of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) and BirdLife International Middle East representative, Assad Serhal; Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at the Lebanese University, Professor Nadine Nassif; Advisor to the Acting President of the Educational Center, Professor Elie Mikhael; Technical Officer of the Beirut Resources Center, Yvonne Fghali; President of ACE Association, Dr. Soumaya Ayadi; Vice President of “Ghadi” Association, Michel Hassoun; Educational Programs Officer at the Association, Claudine Ghanem; Supervisor of Ghadi Health Programs, Dr. Antoine Batrous; Media Relations Officer, Andre Khalil; and the Director of the SNOW Project (Schools Without Walls) and Rural Development Program at the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon, Andre Beshara, alongside other interested parties.
Remarks by Professor Hyam Ishaq
Professor Ishaq welcomed the attendees, stating that partnerships between state institutions and civil associations contribute significantly to the nation’s growth, particularly with “Ghadi” Association, which has a long history of environmental work.
She elaborated on the role of the Educational Center, including educational research, curriculum development, production of educational resources, teacher training, and setting school standards, particularly those related to environmental education.
Ishaq expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, saying:
“Based on the educational, scientific, and environmental activities we can work on together, and out of our belief in partnership, we welcome this agreement. We hope to implement joint educational environmental projects that will add value to our efforts.”
Remarks by Fadi Ghanem
Fadi Ghanem commended Ishaq for her pioneering role at the Educational Center, especially in the efforts to reform pre-university education curricula, a critical need in Lebanon today.
He emphasized the importance of education as the foundation of a civilized and aware society, saying:
“We must work to empower our students and encourage them to care for and protect the environment. Together, we will strive to correct our course and provide Lebanon’s environment with all the scientific and specialized resources it requires.”
Ghanem stressed the importance of integration among societal sectors and noted that this agreement crowns the efforts of both teams.
He also advocated for enhanced cooperation between associations and the state to navigate the current challenges effectively.
Regarding environmental media, Ghanem highlighted the association’s achievements: “This marks the 25th anniversary of our journey, during which we have become a regional reference in this field. Together, we will work to enhance environmental media with the required specialization, as media’s role goes far beyond reporting news. It plays a crucial role in raising awareness, promoting environmental education, encouraging participation in environmental activities and programs, and pushing the state towards adopting sound environmental policies that preserve Lebanon’s natural beauty and ensure a healthy living environment for its residents.”
Ghanem concluded by thanking all attendees, especially Mikhael and Fghali, for their notable efforts.
Purpose of the Agreement
This agreement aims to establish a suitable framework for coordinating cooperation between the two parties to achieve their shared objectives. These include raising awareness, conducting research and studies, and training teachers in public schools on green education competencies, particularly green media and highlighting environmental issues.
The agreement also focuses on implementing a joint action plan to preserve the environment and enhance learning and scientific research competencies in this domain. This will be achieved through professional development for learners and support for developmental and cultural programs related to the environment, ensuring the attainment of the desired goals effectively and efficiently.
