Minister of Social Affairs Visits Zahle to Discuss Strengthening Development Partnerships

Minister of Social Affairs Haneen El-Sayed toured the city of Zahle, starting her visit at Al-Azhar Al-Baqaa, where she was received by the Mufti of Zahle and Baalbek, Sheikh Ali Al-Ghazawi. She was accompanied by her office director Mary Ghiya and Saba Marwi, in the presence of MP Georges Okais and a number of scholars and members of the Azhar administration.

During the meeting, they discussed general conditions, particularly social and livelihood issues affecting the people of Baalbek, and the challenges facing citizens under current circumstances. They affirmed "the importance of combining efforts and enhancing cooperation between official and social institutions, which contributes to alleviating living burdens and meeting the needs of residents."

In the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Zahle

El-Sayed then moved to the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Zahle, accompanied by MP Okais, where she met with members of the Chamber's Board of Directors. She was received by Treasurer Mohamed Bakri, representing the Chairman of the Board Munir Tini, who expressed his hope that the meeting would be a step towards identifying common priorities and launching practical initiatives serving the people and institutions of Baalbek.

The visit came on the initiative of MP Okais, attended by board members Said Al-Lakis, Tony Taameh, Ibrahim Al-Tarshishi, Fouad Sedka, and Mounib Al-Shobassi, as well as the Registrar of Real Estate in West Baalbek Riba Dghaidi, Chamber Director Yousseh Jaha, and department heads.

Bakri: Towards Initiatives Responding to Market Needs

Bakri highlighted the role of the Ministry of Social Affairs in achieving social stability, reviewing the Chamber's journey since its establishment and the programs it has established, and the role played by its departments since 1996, when the Economic Development Department was created, up to the launch of the Artificial Intelligence Center in the Chamber this year.

He paused to discuss the relationship between the Zahle and Baalbek Chamber and the Ministry of Social Affairs, reviewing joint projects implemented to support youth and enhance their opportunities to enter the labor market.

He called for building on what has been achieved to develop new initiatives responding to the needs of youth and employers in Baalbek, and establishing sustainable cooperation combining the Ministry's expertise in supporting families and the most needy groups with the Chamber's expertise in communicating with economic institutions and sectors and training.

He considered that this cooperation would prepare programs linking training with actual job opportunities, enhance youth participation in the labor market, and contribute to consolidating social and economic stability in the region.

El-Sayed: For Public-Private Partnership

For her part, El-Sayed presented the Ministry's programs, focusing on the Economic Inclusion Program recently launched, considering it one of the three pillars of the Ministry's work, alongside the "Aman" program and social service programs provided through social affairs centers.

She stressed "the importance of partnership between the public and private sectors," pointing to "the role that chambers of commerce, including the Zahle and Baalbek Chamber, can play in the Economic Inclusion Program, particularly through identifying labor market needs and linking them with available workforce."

She also outlined the measures taken by the Ministry regarding the Syrian labor file.

Okais: Stimulating and New Partnership

In turn, MP Okais praised the establishment of a partnership between the Zahle and Baalbek Chamber and the Ministry of Social Affairs, describing it as a new and thought-provoking partnership that aligns with the trend towards developing the Ministry's role and enhancing the concept of social development.

There were interventions from board members Said Al-Lakis, Tony Taameh, Ibrahim Al-Tarshishi, and Fouad Sedka, who emphasized the state's responsibility to handle the Syrian labor file in a balanced and rational manner, preserving the required workforce in Lebanon while ensuring the application of Lebanese laws and regulations.

At the Our Lady of Deliverance Archdiocese

Afterwards, El-Sayed moved to the Our Lady of Deliverance Archdiocese, where she met the Archbishop of Zahle and Baalbek for the Greek Catholic Melkites, Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim, in the presence of MP Okais, Vicar General Archimandrite Nicolas Hakim, and priests of the diocese.

Bishop Ibrahim

Bishop Ibrahim welcomed the Minister, presenting the social situation in Baalbek and affirming the importance of partnership between the state, the church, official institutions, and social and humanitarian bodies in facing the challenges Lebanon is experiencing.

He noted that "the exceptional conditions the country is going through have burdened families and widened the circle of need, highlighting the importance of the Ministry of Social Affairs' role in protecting human dignity, safeguarding the right to a decent life, and strengthening the social safety net."

He confirmed the Church's constant readiness to cooperate with the Ministry and any initiative aimed at alleviating people's suffering and enhancing social solidarity, free from any discrimination, stressing "the need for Zahle and Baalbek to receive more attention, care, and developmental and social initiatives that touch the needs of youth, families, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and the most vulnerable groups."

El-Sayed

For her part, El-Sayed thanked Bishop Ibrahim for the reception, confirming that her visit would not be the last, and pointing to the scale of challenges Lebanon faces due to the repercussions of war, financial and economic collapse, and the Beirut port explosion.

She noted that the recent war set the country back several steps, particularly in terms of social needs, indicating that the poverty rate, which exceeded 30 percent before the war, has likely risen, although precise figures are not yet available, amid increasing needs in various regions, including Baalbek.

She affirmed that "maintaining social security constitutes a fundamental priority for the government," stressing "the necessity of cohesion, solidarity, and joint work to overcome the difficult phase."

She praised the partnership with spiritual references and social institutions, considering their role essential in supporting citizens, and confirming the Ministry's keenness to enhance cooperation with them in social initiatives and projects.

She also revealed her pursuit to increase the Ministry's budget, noting her success in raising it by 40 percent last year, and working to obtain Cabinet approval for the requested increase for this year, enabling the fulfillment of growing needs.

She pointed to "the importance of enhancing cooperation with the international community and relevant institutions," proposing the identification of a common contact point between the Ministry and the Archdiocese to coordinate programs, identify needs, and implement initiatives serving citizens.

Social Dialogue

The Minister's final stop was at the Municipal Palace in Zahle, where a dialogue session was held on the initiative of MP Okais, dedicated to discussing social challenges, prospects for developing programs and services, and enhancing partnerships at the local level.

The meeting witnessed broad attendance by a number of MPs, mayors, municipal council members, along with representatives from associations, social and civil institutions, and local figures, in a scene reflecting the importance of unifying efforts between official entities and civil society to face social and economic challenges in the region.

The session was moderated by municipal council member and head of the Social Affairs Committee in the municipality of Zahle – Maalaka and Taanayel, Dima Abu Diya, who interviewed Minister El-Sayed, MP Okais, and Mayor Engineer Salim Ghazaleh, in a discussion covering the reality of social protection, support and economic inclusion programs, local development priorities, and ways to develop cooperation between the Ministry, municipalities, and relevant institutions.

At the end of the meeting, Ghazaleh presented to the Minister a proposal for cooperation between the Ministry of Social Affairs and the municipality of Zahle – Maalaka and Taanayel, aiming to establish an institutional coordination mechanism to identify needs and priorities, facilitate citizen access to services, enhance rehabilitation and economic empowerment programs, and integrate efforts with associations and social institutions.

The meeting concluded with an open dialogue allowing attendees, particularly representatives of municipalities, associations, and social institutions, to convey their concerns and ask questions directly to Minister El-Sayed, who answered them, contributing to highlighting the actual needs and challenges facing social work in the region.