France Volontaires Liban, PO Box 50-370, Furn El Chebbak
Beirut
Lebanon
- International/Cultural relations
France Volontaires (FV) Lebanon is the national Lebanese branch of the French network of NGO’s and Governmental agencies involved in International Voluntary Service Projects. The Lebanese branch belongs to the FV Regional network “Northern Africa and Middle East” where the headquarters (Morocco) is in charge of 5 branches (Mauritania, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Lebanon). All these branches are members of their respective ALF national networks. The Lebanese branch has opened offices in Beirut in May 2012. The international headquarters are in Paris. It currently has a presence in 55 countries. In Lebanon we have a representative of the platform who works with local partners (NGOs, French Embassy, local partners). We have now a network of more than 50 volunteers in about 20 national associations in Lebanon. France Volontaires budget comes from the French Ministry of Foreign and European affairs.
On January 1st 2010, the “Association Française des Volontaires du Progrès” (AFVP) created in 1963, became “France Volontaires” on the initiative of the French public authorities and associations. France Volontaires is an international platform fulfilling a role of public interest, namely that of promoting and developing the various forms of commitment falling within the scope of International Volunteering for Exchange and Solidarity (I.V.E.S.). France Volontaires is in charge of “promoting and developing the various forms of involvement (especially international volunteering). This project is carried out in a spirit of respect for the values set out in the communal charter, upheld by the organizations sending out volunteers and the volunteers themselves.” (Article 1 of the statutes).
France Volontaires Lebanon works for improving knowledge and recognition of the different forms of volunteering and helps to develop the number of I.V.E.S in Lebanon and in the Mediterranean region. FV Lebanon also participates in bi-annual Mediterranean meetings (in Morocco) with the other FV of the region to create and implement a regional strategy for Mediterranean volunteer exchanges. The FV responsible in Lebanon also supports associations that send out or receive IVES in their missions In Lebanon and France. He monitors, manages and supports newly arrived volunteers in Lebanon. He organizes trainings and meetings for the NGO’s involved and for the volunteers. He also maintains a directory of French volunteers in Lebanon and develops a network of solidarity between French and Lebanese volunteers.
France Volontaires Lebanon is a network of French Voluntary NGO’s and Public Institutions; therefore, FV Lebanon would be happy to develop links between our 50 members in France on any Mediterranean topics concerning voluntary service and youth. Furthermore, our close collaboration with the other 4 branches in the Mediterranean region might facilitate projects between Lebanese NGO’s and partners in the region. There are already some projects that are run by our members in the region (voluntary exchanges between Morocco and Mauritania for instance). FV Lebanon can also bring an expertise in International Voluntary Service projects and can facilitate the NGO’s willing to host volunteers in Lebanon. This is actually what we are already doing but we are ready to further develop this support to NGO’s.
FV Lebanon and the other FV branches in the Mediterranean region are working together on how to improve the regional exchanges of volunteers and develop the exchanges of best practices on intercultural youth projects. FV Lebanon wishes to be a member of the ALF to take part in the different projects and exchanges on youth Mediterranean exchanges. We would be happy to collaborate with Lebanese NGO’s willing to develop links and intercultural projects in the Mediterranean region. Our branches in Tunisia, Morocco, Mauritania and Egypt are also willing to create intercultural links with youth NGO’s in Lebanon on different subjects such as: youth empowerment, international voluntary projects, exchanges of best practices (workcamps, youth exchanges and intercultural trainings).