Beirut April 30, 2016 – The Building Alliance for Local Advancement, Development, and Investment (BALADI) program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the René Moawad Foundation (RMF), celebrated the completion of USAID assistance for establishing a skills training center, a children activities area, and an outdoor events and exhibitions area in Abra (Saida district). This assistance will help more than 500 persons per year in Abra increase their incomes and access new job market skills.

The celebration took place in the town square of Abra and was attended by the Municipal Council of Abra, the Mayor of Abra Mr. Walid Mchantaf, RMF Executive Director Mr. Michel Moawad, representatives of local NGOs supporting the municipality in the activity, and community members.

USAID, through the BALADI project, provided in-kind support in the amount of $225,000 to Abra municipality to rehabilitate and equip the facilities and implement a long-term operation and sustainability plan. The municipality contributed an additional $45,000 and will oversee the long-term operation and sustainability of activities in partnership with local NGOs and the private sector.

The BALADI project first rehabilitated the public square, which has already begun to host events and festivals exhibit local products. BALADI then expanded the municipal library into a job skills and computer training center for youth, and established a children’s outdoor and indoor area at the municipal building to offer children a safe place to engage with each other. Finally, BALADI linked the job skills and computer center in Abra to Microsoft, which provided them with software and access to the Ta3maal career Guidance Portal (a web platform of learning and job matching in Lebanon).