Education
For over a decade, DCL has been dedicated to advancing education in Lebanon through inclusive, non-formal and informal learning approaches. Our work focuses on strengthening educational opportunities by supporting learning environments, promoting life skills, and encouraging values of equality, respect, and civic responsibility. Through close collaboration with schools, communities, and local institutions, DCL contributes to more supportive and resilient education systems that empower learners and reinforce a strong sense of belonging and social cohesion.
Current Projects
The Life Academy Project
The Life Academy project has been running since 2017. It focuses on teaching high-school students methods that will help them to deal with anxiety and fear, while improving their self-esteem and confidence, and developing a series of soft skills.
The Leaders of Tomorrow Program
The program has been running since 2008 and offers a monthly stipend to college students from Northern Lebanon to support their transportation or accommodation costs for their studies in Lebanese universities.
Past Programs
Students’ Leadership Forum
In 2020, DCL secured for the first time the participation of 10 young people from North Lebanon to the International Students’ Leadership Forum, attended by more than 700 students and young professionals from around the world. Congressman Moolenaar and Congressman Suozzi were the main speakers, while other speakers included Jock Cameron, Ben Heinrich, Curt Thompson, and Lethia Owens.
The School of Entrepreneurial Leadership program
In 2020, DCL secured for the first time the participation of two young Lebanese in the School of Entrepreneurial Management Program that focuses on learning from the examples of current and historical leaders.
The Khebz w Meleh Project
DCL joined forces with the Institute for Middle East Studies (IMES) and the Department for the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Lebanon for the implementation of the Khebz w Meleh (Bread and Salt) project which aims at forging bonds of friendship, respect and peace between the Muslim and the Christian communities. Already two groups of young people from each community shared a meal, discussing with an open mind, ultimately understanding that they are more alike than different since love and peace lie at the heart of both creeds.
- Workshop on Using Education as a tool to Prevent Violent Extremism (2019) in partnership with the EU and the British Council. During the workshop, DCL was showcased as a successful example for the use of education as a means of reinforcing peace and avoiding violent conflict in Northern Lebanon.
- Career and Higher Education Orientation workshops offered by college students supported by DCL towards pupils finishing high school. In collaboration with the schools’ Principals, DCL organized these workshops where information about career options and educational avenues were offered to the pupils by peers.
- Training on proper emergency behavior, in collaboration with Relief International.
- Training on Gender-based Violence Assessment response, focusing on women and children and ways to deal with various kinds of violence or abuse.
- Handling disaster: training focused on dealing with earthquakes, fires, and similar challenges.
- Various smaller gatherings, events, or workshops, all focused on the needs of the young people in Northern Lebanon (from 2008 onwards).