Peace Education: Training and Capacity Development

In 2007, Permanent Peace Movement (PPM) worked on the Druze-Shia relationship in Mount Lebanon seeking to address tensions that erupted between the two neighbouring communities following the armed clashes in 2008. PPM targeted youth in Mount Lebanon (Al-Qmatiyeh and Kayfoun) and brought them together in dialogues, trainings in conflict resolution and cultural events. In addition, PPM has been recently working on similar projects including capacity development programme targeting 250 members of the Progressive Socialist Party and focusing on dialogue, peace building, leadership among others. In addition, PPM worked on addressing tensions between Lebanese host communities and Syrian refugees. In 20 different schools, PPM organised self-produced film screenings (e.g. ‘Together We Make Peace’ and ‘War Stories,’ etc.), exhibitions and cultural events (e.g. commemoration day of the Lebanese civil war, summer camps, marathons etc.). PPM’s Peace Education project targeted youth and the mass in general across several geographical areas in Mount Lebanon and west Bekaa including Beirut, Chweifat, Aley, Sawfar, Houla, Wadi Khaled, Bedawi, Baalbek, etc.