Manara
"Inspirational Center for Teens and Young Adults"
"From The Front Line"
A Film By
Young Syrian Filmmakers
The Youth of the Manara Center
Wider context:
In the Bekaa Valley, there are a growing number of dis-satisfied and under-educated youth. Their future is extremely uncertain with many boys forced to work as laborers at an early age and girls having to enter into marriage. Most NGOs operating in the Bekaa Valley are focusing on children and women, meaning what aid there is does little to address adolescents' needs and growing frustration.
Manara Center establishes a center geared specifically towards teenagers and young adults. Combining theater, filmmaking, music, art, language technology, sports and vocational training along with professional psycho-social support and inspirational leadership we are creating a space for those who are most left behind, and those to whom the future depends, to work together in inspiring each other towards a life beyond war, labour and the confines of a settlement.
In the Bekaa Valley, there are a growing number of dis-satisfied and under-educated youth. Their future is extremely uncertain with many boys forced to work as laborers at an early age and girls having to enter into marriage. Most NGOs operating in the Bekaa Valley are focusing on children and women, meaning what aid there is does little to address adolescents' needs and growing frustration.
Manara Center establishes a center geared specifically towards teenagers and young adults. Combining theater, filmmaking, music, art, language technology, sports and vocational training along with professional psycho-social support and inspirational leadership we are creating a space for those who are most left behind, and those to whom the future depends, to work together in inspiring each other towards a life beyond war, labour and the confines of a settlement.
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The Manara Centre:
The Manara Center is located in Bar Elias, which is in the Center of the Bekaa Valley and has the largest concentration of Syrian refugees in the region. Combining under one roof a diverse range of professionally run programs in music, art, theater, interior design, first aid and vocational training programs, we aim not only to provide a much needed safe space away from the everyday confines of settlement life, but also enable and inspire their own passions constructively through vocational and technological training.
The location of the center is easily accessible by public transportation options, but we also provide financial support for transportation if needed. At approximately 2000 square feet, the center is a modular component which enables easy adaptability of the space, as well as ensuring the utility of the resources long into the future. This allows the exact running of the programs to be dependent upon the input of the community as well as support from regional and international partners and donors; below are the core areas the center focuses upon and their respective key objectives:
The Manara Center is located in Bar Elias, which is in the Center of the Bekaa Valley and has the largest concentration of Syrian refugees in the region. Combining under one roof a diverse range of professionally run programs in music, art, theater, interior design, first aid and vocational training programs, we aim not only to provide a much needed safe space away from the everyday confines of settlement life, but also enable and inspire their own passions constructively through vocational and technological training.
The location of the center is easily accessible by public transportation options, but we also provide financial support for transportation if needed. At approximately 2000 square feet, the center is a modular component which enables easy adaptability of the space, as well as ensuring the utility of the resources long into the future. This allows the exact running of the programs to be dependent upon the input of the community as well as support from regional and international partners and donors; below are the core areas the center focuses upon and their respective key objectives:
Music: Equally important as a means of expression is an engagement with music, the Manara Center has a permanent music room with a range of instruments staffed in such a way to provide a mixture of organised group sessions, and opportunities for individuals to develop their own skills. In 2018-2020 over 80 students benefited from the program and in december 2019, we had our first music concert that was attended by over 400 locals and international NGOs personnel.
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Our filmmaking program has been extremely successful, creating two short films, From The Front Line and Our Journey, written and performed by Young Syrian Filmmakers, our students. The films were shown locally in the beqaa to a sold out theaters and now are playing at international film festivals in the US and Europe. This program is mentored by Elias Matar.
We are in the process of producing our first commercial genre feature film which will be shot in Beqaa Lebanon later this year. The screenplay is written by our founder Elias Matar and his writing partner Edward E Romero, later the screenplay will be translated by our students. The film will be directed and filmed by Elias and the students. Post-production will take place at the Manara center and 2 Red Rabbit Films offices in Burbank California.
We are in the process of producing our first commercial genre feature film which will be shot in Beqaa Lebanon later this year. The screenplay is written by our founder Elias Matar and his writing partner Edward E Romero, later the screenplay will be translated by our students. The film will be directed and filmed by Elias and the students. Post-production will take place at the Manara center and 2 Red Rabbit Films offices in Burbank California.
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Our first two theater projects, Yala Bena and Journey to Planet X, were written and directed by our theater teacher Ahmad Al Dalati, Stories are inspired by the youth attending the program. These pieces were performed in theaters to the community and other NGOs. The turn out was amazing and very well received. |
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Art & Interior design:
Finally, we are work with local and international artists to provide the necessary resources and training in diverse range of artistic mediums and styles. Our first program is interior design, which introduces the youth to the art and process of designing the interior of a room and a building.
Finally, we are work with local and international artists to provide the necessary resources and training in diverse range of artistic mediums and styles. Our first program is interior design, which introduces the youth to the art and process of designing the interior of a room and a building.
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Creative Technology & Vocational Training: Focusing specifically on those who have fallen out of the education system or are struggling for employment, as well as open to all those who would like to learn a new skill, the centre is offer a range of vocational and technical skills training. Given the employment restrictions refugees face in Lebanon, this will also encourage individual enterprises through the skills taught; including a space with the relevant resources where skills can be practiced, ideas developed, and learning supported.
Working with regional and international partners a core tenet of this will be a focus on technology, from basic computer skills to programming, graphic design, film editing and music production.
Our first project is First Aid, the course is conducted by Ashraf Faour a radiology Technologist and first aid teacher. The class will give the ability of our youth to help those in need waiting for medical professional to arrive. This includes dealing with burns, external bleeding, broken bones, neck/head/spinal injuries and administering CPR.
Our second project is Macroeconomics class tough by Caleb Jehl, an American businessman, which will focus on how to build and run a small business.
We are also looking to encourage technological innovation and development amongst those attending as a means to address their communities needs. We would look to work with those that are successful to further their development and gain access to grants and investment funding.
Working with regional and international partners a core tenet of this will be a focus on technology, from basic computer skills to programming, graphic design, film editing and music production.
Our first project is First Aid, the course is conducted by Ashraf Faour a radiology Technologist and first aid teacher. The class will give the ability of our youth to help those in need waiting for medical professional to arrive. This includes dealing with burns, external bleeding, broken bones, neck/head/spinal injuries and administering CPR.
Our second project is Macroeconomics class tough by Caleb Jehl, an American businessman, which will focus on how to build and run a small business.
We are also looking to encourage technological innovation and development amongst those attending as a means to address their communities needs. We would look to work with those that are successful to further their development and gain access to grants and investment funding.
Sport:
The unique capacity for sports to reach across everyday divides and unite people in a common experience, as well as encourage teamwork, and providing a valuable outlet for emotions to be channeled constructively, means it is widely recognised as a low-cost and high-impact tool in humanitarian, development, and peace-building efforts.
Recognizing this at Manara we will work with fully-qualified coaches, mentors, and existing sport programs to provide competitive and engaging sessions to all ages and levels. Providing a mixture of familiar as well as the challenge and excitement of new sports, we are currently looking to include: basketball, indoor soccer, volleyball, climbing, and weight training though this will also be flexible to the input of those attending. We will also work to provide the necessary transportation and means for all those who are willing to attend, and hope teams will go on participate in local tournaments and competitions.
We also look to build upon our experience with ClimbAid and offer avenues for those most passionate to develop their talents and attain the necessary skills to take on leadership roles and train others in sessions of their own.
The unique capacity for sports to reach across everyday divides and unite people in a common experience, as well as encourage teamwork, and providing a valuable outlet for emotions to be channeled constructively, means it is widely recognised as a low-cost and high-impact tool in humanitarian, development, and peace-building efforts.
Recognizing this at Manara we will work with fully-qualified coaches, mentors, and existing sport programs to provide competitive and engaging sessions to all ages and levels. Providing a mixture of familiar as well as the challenge and excitement of new sports, we are currently looking to include: basketball, indoor soccer, volleyball, climbing, and weight training though this will also be flexible to the input of those attending. We will also work to provide the necessary transportation and means for all those who are willing to attend, and hope teams will go on participate in local tournaments and competitions.
We also look to build upon our experience with ClimbAid and offer avenues for those most passionate to develop their talents and attain the necessary skills to take on leadership roles and train others in sessions of their own.
Psychosocial Care & Welfare Support:
Whilst all programs running in Manara will priorities the development team work and self-expression within a safe and welcoming environment free from any discrimination, we recognise that this is often not enough. As such, in addition to sports and social programs, the centre is working with a social workers to help with the administration of programs offered as well as working directly with those attending to support them emotionally and psychologically to enable them to further their interests and dreams constructively.
The centre also act as an information point for teenagers and young adults, making them aware of and helping them to access other support they may be eligible for.
Whilst all programs running in Manara will priorities the development team work and self-expression within a safe and welcoming environment free from any discrimination, we recognise that this is often not enough. As such, in addition to sports and social programs, the centre is working with a social workers to help with the administration of programs offered as well as working directly with those attending to support them emotionally and psychologically to enable them to further their interests and dreams constructively.
The centre also act as an information point for teenagers and young adults, making them aware of and helping them to access other support they may be eligible for.
