Syrian refugees in Lebanon start micro-gardening

Record ID: 94452

  • Title: Syrian refugees in Lebanon start micro-gardening
  • Date: 19th July 2016
  • Summary: MAZBOUD, LEBANON (JULY 13, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF INTERSOS CENTRE, WHERE MICRO-GARDENING PROGRAMMES ARE UNDERWAY SIGN SHOWING LOGOS OF INTERSOS AND THE UN REFUGEE AGENCY UNHCR VARIOUS OF INTERSOS MEMBERS AND SYRIAN REFUGEE WOMEN SEATED OUTDOORS VARIOUS OF PLANTS GROWN IN DIFFERENT CONTAINERS ON BALCONY OF THE CENTRE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MICRO-GARDENING PROJECT MANAGER AT 'INTERSOS', DANA KANAAN, SAYING: "We will also be working on awareness of food safety and we will be giving agriculture training, so they can benefit and continue this project. A second point is providing entertaining activities and psycho-social support." VARIOUS OF MICRO-GARDENING TRAINER, NABIL SAREIDDINE, EXPLAINING THE PROCESS SAREIDDINE TALKING AND SHOWING EXAMPLES OF PLANTS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MICRO-GARDENING TRAINER, NABIL SAREIDDINE, SAYING: "The response is honestly very good, they really like the project and the idea is new to them. They are trying to benefit from micro-gardening in the smallest places they have. They are planting in small places and we are trying to guide them on the different seasons to grow different plants, so they can benefit the most possible from the weather we have here." GARDEN NEAR THE CENTRE BUILDING VARIOUS OF SIGNS SHOWING THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PLANTS VARIOUS OF WOMAN WATERING PLANTS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN REFUGEE WOMAN, WAJIHA AL-KARI, SAYING: "We came here and had a great experience in agriculture. We really enjoyed our time. We broke the daily routine, one is not going anywhere, you know we are Syrian refugees here. There is nowhere to go, so we are thankful for this great initiative that we enjoyed." VARIOUS OF CONTAINER WITH SOIL IN IT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN REFUGEE WOMAN, WAJIHA AL-KARI, SAYING: "We were happy to learn about agriculture, about soil, about what we can plant and how we can benefit from it. It is great, it is beneficial for our families and children, it is a great experience." PLANTS GROWING IN EMPTY WATER PLASTIC BOTTLES SIGNS WITH NAMES ON PLASTIC BOTTLES VARIOUS OF SYRIAN REFUGEE WOMEN PLANTING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN REFUGEE WOMAN, AMINA SALEH, SAYING: "I learnt gardening, I want to produce. I want to benefit myself and benefit others. I want to produce, I want to toil and reap the rewards of my work." VARIOUS OF YOUNG SYRIAN GIRL DIGGING GARDEN VARIOUS OF ANOTHER GIRL LOOKING AFTER PLANTS
  • Embargoed: 3rd August 2016 10:45
  • Keywords: Micro gardening Lebanon Syrian refugees plants garden food
  • Location: MAZBOUD, LEBANON
  • City: MAZBOUD, LEBANON
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014RCO21H
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:In Lebanon's Mazboud region, a handful of Syrian refugees are getting training in how to grow their own vegetables.
    Aid organisation Intersos is not just training them, but is also offering them space to start their own gardening.
    The project is at an initial stage, said project manager Dana Kanaan. Later, it will expand to the shelters and tents where the refugees live.
    "We will also be working on awareness of food safety and we will be giving agriculture training, so they can benefit and continue this project. A second point is providing entertaining activities and psycho-social support."
    Recently, refugee women and children gathered at an Intersos centre in Chouf village of Mazboud region to get tips in micro gardening.
    Nabil Sareiddine is helping implement the programme.
    He said the response had been very good.
    "They are planting in small places and we are trying to guide them on the different seasons to grow different plants, so they can benefit the most possible from the weather we have here," Sareiddine said.
    Among the beneficiaries is Wajiha al-Kari, who said she enjoyed the day learning.
    "We broke the daily routine, one is not going anywhere, you know we are Syrian refugees here. There is nowhere to go so we are thankful for this great initiative that we enjoyed. We were happy to learn about agriculture, about soil, about what we can plant and how we can benefit from it," she said.
    "I learned gardening, I want to produce," said another Syrian woman Amina Saleh.
    Intersos' micro-gardening project is being funded by the United Nations World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation to help Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
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