Amel Association International Activity Report 2010–2011

Building Communities, Expanding Rights and Going International

The 2010–2011 Activity Report chronicles a transformative period in the history of Amel Association International. During these two years, the organization not only strengthened its nationwide humanitarian and development programmes but also became an international NGO, establishing its headquarters in Geneva and expanding its global engagement. Simultaneously, Amel inaugurated the Amel House of Human Rights, marking a significant evolution from service delivery toward advocacy, legal education and human rights leadership.

A New International Chapter

Founded in 1979, Amel Association International entered a new phase in December 2010 when it officially became an international non-governmental organization. This milestone enabled the organization to strengthen partnerships across Europe and the Middle East while promoting a Lebanese model of humanitarian action grounded in solidarity, human dignity and social justice.

Against the backdrop of the Arab Spring, the report reflects on a region undergoing profound political transformation. Amel viewed these developments as consistent with the values it had promoted for more than three decades: democracy, equality, citizenship and human rights. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to supporting vulnerable communities while advocating for a democratic civil state founded on justice and equal rights for all.

An Organization Rooted in Humanitarian Values

Throughout the report, Amel presents itself as a non-confessional Lebanese organization dedicated to serving people regardless of religion, nationality or political affiliation.

Its mission is built around the 3Ps philosophy:

• Principles
• Position
• Practice

Guided by this approach, Amel works to:

• Promote social, economic, civil and cultural rights;
• Strengthen civil society;
• Advance human rights and social justice;
• Expand access to healthcare and development;
• Promote equality and equal opportunity.

By 2011, Amel operated through 24 centres across Lebanon and organized its work around six major sectors:

• Health Care
• Child Development
• Democracy and Human Rights
• Development of Human Capacities
• Rural Development
• Refugees and Migrants Support

Organizational Growth in Numbers

The report highlights the scale of Amel’s operations during 2010–2011:

• 24 community centres
• 170 employees
• 120 volunteers
• 13 international organizations and UN agencies as partners
• 4 local public and private partners
• 87,938 medical consultations
• 182 vocational training courses delivered

These figures illustrate the organization’s rapid institutional expansion and increasing operational capacity across Lebanon.

Expanding Access to Healthcare

Healthcare remained Amel’s largest programme.

Operating 13 health centres, the organization delivered affordable primary healthcare services including:

• General medicine
• Paediatrics
• Cardiology
• Dermatology
• Orthopaedics
• Dentistry
• Gastroenterology
• Ophthalmology
• Public surgery

Beyond clinical care, Amel organized:

• Vaccination campaigns;
• Medicine distribution;
• Laboratory testing;
• Disease prevention initiatives;
• Health education sessions;
• Psychological support services.

Between 2010 and 2011, Amel provided 87,938 medical consultations, making healthcare the organization’s largest operational sector.

The report also highlights a project supported by the European Commission aimed at improving the working conditions of female healthcare professionals while encouraging more women to enter nursing and medical careers.

Protecting Children Through Holistic Programming

Child development programmes combined education, psychosocial support and community engagement.

Activities included:

• Recreational programmes;
• Children’s rights education;
• Psychosocial counselling;
• Parenting support;
• Community awareness sessions;
• Violence prevention initiatives.

The programme reached:

• 200 children
• 60 young people
• 100 parents

Additionally:

• 30 psychological counselling sessions were delivered;
• 25 staff members and partners received specialized training using non-formal education methodologies.

A major emphasis was placed on preventing violence against children by strengthening communication skills, conflict resolution and positive parenting practices.

Launching the Amel House of Human Rights

One of the most important institutional milestones of 2011 was the inauguration of the Amel House of Human Rights (AHHR).

Building upon educational activities launched in 2005, AHHR expanded Amel’s work into legal advocacy and advanced human rights education.

Its programmes included:

• Summer School on Law and Armed Conflict;
• International Humanitarian Law;
• International Criminal Law;
• Refugee and Statelessness Law;
• Business and Human Rights;
• Arab regional human rights mechanisms.

The report describes AHHR’s vision as developing future leaders in legal research, advocacy and international law while strengthening human rights capacity throughout Lebanon and the wider Middle East and North Africa region.

Among its achievements, the report highlights the training of 60 young people from diverse backgrounds in peacebuilding, dialogue and community service, alongside positive testimonials from participants of the inaugural Summer School on Law and Armed Conflict.

Developing Human Capacities

Amel continued investing in vocational education and employability.

Between 2010 and 2011:

• 182 youth and adults completed vocational training programmes.

Courses included:

• English and French;
• Computer literacy;
• Hairdressing;
• Make-up;
• Glass painting;
• Chocolate production;
• Home economics;
• Sewing;
• Typing;
• Internet skills;
• Tattoo and foot care.

The organization also recruited and trained 100 young people to form inter-community teams promoting dialogue, cooperation and social cohesion across Lebanon.

Youth, Peacebuilding and Women’s Empowerment

The report presents youth as agents of social transformation.

Through AMEL Youth, volunteers organized programmes addressing:

• Peacebuilding;
• Literacy;
• Psychosocial support;
• Sexual and reproductive health;
• Gender equality;
• Capacity building.

International exchanges under the Euro-Med programme enabled young participants to engage with peers from across the Mediterranean while strengthening intercultural dialogue.

Peacebuilding initiatives also brought together youth, community leaders, priests and imams in mixed activities designed to reduce tensions and encourage cooperation between communities.

Women’s economic empowerment remained another priority through vocational training and income-generating initiatives targeting underserved communities across South Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.

Rural Development Through Women’s Cooperatives

Since 2004, Amel has supported rural livelihoods through the Ebl El-Saqi Agricultural Cooperative.

During 2010–2011 the programme focused on:

• Soap production;
• Medicinal herbs;
• Essential oils;
• Women’s entrepreneurship;
• Agricultural marketing.

The cooperative involved 280 women from Ebl El-Saqi and surrounding villages, promoting financial independence while strengthening local agricultural production and value chains.

Supporting Refugees and Migrants

Before the large-scale Syrian refugee crisis, Amel was already implementing comprehensive programmes for Iraqi, Sudanese and other refugee communities.

Working from community centres in Haret Hreik and Ain El Remmaneh, the organization provided:

• Educational support;
• Literacy classes;
• Vocational training;
• Livelihood projects;
• Psychological counselling;
• Community development activities;
• Rights awareness;
• Refugee integration initiatives.

The programme reached:

• 1,250 children, adolescents and young people;
• 120 schoolchildren through awareness and psychosocial activities;
• 75 teachers trained on child protection and inclusive education.

Vocational programmes included:

• Computer maintenance;
• Mobile phone repair;
• Hairdressing;
• Sewing;
• Graphic design;
• Access to internships and employment opportunities.

Advancing the Rights of Migrant Domestic Workers

Recognizing increasing violations against migrant domestic workers (MDWs), Amel launched a dedicated programme aimed at legal protection and empowerment.

Its work included:

• Legal consultation;
• Health services;
• Psychosocial support;
• Literacy classes;
• Drama therapy;
• Coordination with government institutions, international organizations and civil society.

The report also highlights Amel’s efforts to build a national coordination network involving the Ministries of Labour and Justice, the Internal Security Forces, OHCHR, ILO and partner organizations to improve protection mechanisms for migrant workers in Lebanon.

Financial Sustainability

The report emphasizes Amel’s commitment to financial independence and diversified funding.

In 2010, income sources included:

• 46.7% International organizations;
• 33.3% Beneficiary contributions;
• 9.9% Donations;
• 6.2% Internal resources;
• 3.8% Government support.

Notably, Amel explains that charging affordable fees for medical consultations preserves beneficiaries’ dignity while ensuring community participation and avoiding a charity-based model.

Looking Ahead to 2012

The report concludes by outlining priorities for the coming year, including:

• Breast cancer awareness campaigns;
• Expanded child protection activities;
• Refugee integration programmes;
• Migrant domestic worker support;
• Gender equality initiatives;
• Labour market access and vocational training;
• Marketing support for rural producers;
• Regional human rights conferences and legal education through the Amel House of Human Rights;
• Continued investment in community centres and service quality.

These priorities reflected Amel’s ambition to combine humanitarian assistance with long-term development, rights-based advocacy and institutional growth.

A Period of Institutional Transformation

The 2010–2011 Activity Report captures one of the most consequential periods in Amel Association International’s history. It documents the organization’s transition from a nationally recognized humanitarian actor to an internationally engaged institution combining healthcare, community development, human rights education and advocacy under a unified vision of social justice.

By expanding its operational reach, launching the Amel House of Human Rights, strengthening vocational and refugee programmes, and formalizing its international presence, Amel laid the institutional foundations that would enable it to respond to the major humanitarian crises that followed in subsequent years.