ARAB REGION REPORT: submitted by Milo Ghossein-Arab region representative: Period from July 7-Mar 8

I 'D LIKE TO INFORM THE IAVE BOARD THAT I WAS ELECTED AS A PRESIDENT OF DOURES MUNICIPALITY- BAALBEK ON 29 DEC 2007.

Activities:

• 18 July: Meeting with Minister of Environment in Lebanon for ecological project (planting trees in Doures village).
• 17 Aug: Meeting with Maronite Ligue introducing IAVE to be able to recruit members from the Maronite Diaspora.
• 23 Aug: Meeting with Association for Volunteer work planning for environmental programme.
• 30 Aug: Opening ZOUK exhibition for Lebanese Artisana where volunteers provide services for visitors.
• 5  Sep: Chiyah municipality in collaboration with Algerian Embassy in Lebanon organized a cultural session .
• 8-9-19 Sep: IAVE Arab region rep, attended a conference in JORDAN organized by National Association for Anti mines, has presented a paper concerning the danger of Mines based on the South Lebanon experience...
• 17 Sep: Training for volunteers in Arc en ciel (Association for people with disability).
• 4 Oct: Session on volunteering at Tele lumiere Television where Arab Region Rep was invited with Albert Zoghbi (St Vincent de Paul president), 8 representatives from Ngo's participated (red cross, Caritas, Armenian Red Cross, Al Makassed, AJEM, Assoc for volunteer work. Assoc for studies & training-Baalbek, Association for environment in South Lebanon), Moderator: Father Joseph Salloum, title: youth revolution, volunteer our life.
• 5 Oct: Kermesse at Al Makassed Assoc for Philonthropy, for children under the patronage of Minister of Education Dr Kabbani & Miss Lebanon.
• 28 Oct: Caritas day in Klayaat -kisrwan, with the attendance of Caritas world president.
• 30 Oct: Assoc of Sociologie in Lebanon invited Prof from Arab region to meeting for studies concerning the situation in Arab Families due the War.
• 31 Oct: The Syriac Cultural center organized a session for 2 days between Lebanon & Iraq , the main subject: Les hretiens de LEst, la route de la liberte).
• 15 Nov: Studies for children's problems with UNICEF Arab region, at UNESCO Palace.
• 23 Nov: St Vincent de Paul organized a Youth conference, attended by participants from Egypt, Jordan & Lebanon...

MEDIA:.

• 5 Dec: TV Session at AL MANAR TV, participants Milo Ghossein & Marhab Hamiye, in the occasion of IVD...
• 5 Dec: IAVE Arab region celebrated the IVD  in: Palestine , Jordan, Kuweyt & Emirates ( activities in schools, universities & Association ....).
• 7 Dec: TV session at LBC TV, in the occasion of IVD ,Participants: Milo Ghossein, Dr Maamoun Tarbey, Marhab Hamiye, Naji Mnayyar, Nicole Khoury,.....
• 13 Dec: special session at Tele lumiere television for volunteering and disability (Milo Ghossein, Dunia dagga (Palestine),).
• 14 Dec: Interview with Radio Voice of Lebanon, moderator; Miss Claud Hadda, participants: Dr Imad Chamoun, Milo Ghossein...

Cultural activities:

• 11 Jan 08: Meeting with Dr Ghassan Slaybi, preparing for study on volunteering with Syndical Movement..
• 26 Jan: Assoc for studies & Training - Baalbek honorary volunteers in Baalbek region.
• 31 Jan: Meeting with St Elie Assoc in DOURES, discussed the plan of 2008 in Doures & role of volunteers...
• 9 Feb: Celebration for St Maron occasion in St Antoine - baalbek, volunteers from Caritas & Syria Assoc (Doures) served the ceremony...
• 10 Feb: Caritas in North Bekaa celebrated St Maron occasion, mess in St Anonio - Jdeyde under the presence of Archevec Semaane Atallah...
• 14 Feb: meeting with teachers from Doures School, teach them how to introduce volunteering in Study programmes (Education).
• 26 Feb.: opening of Technical institute in Baalbeck by Mrs Layla Al Solh Hamade....
• 5 March: honorary Prof Antoine Ghossein (Sergeon) achieving 50 years in his occupation, at Antelias exhibition for books....
• 6 March: Father Joseph Salloum signed his book (for you I’m saying...) at University St esprit - kaslik....
• 14 March: honorary Al Sadr foundation at Antelias Books Exhibition....
• 15 March: preparing for a visit to Morocco, invited by Assoc for culture & Education, to give lecture on volunteerism in schools...
• 17 March: meeting with Minister of social Affairs, preparing for camps for volunteers in Lebanese villages, participants from Arab region..
• 19 march: AUST(American University for Science & Technology) Honorary Al Walid Foundation , represented by Mrs Layla Al Solh Hamade at Al Kadri hotel, Zahle..

Future Plan:
IAVE’s Arab region is planning for some projects in collaboration with:

• Doures Municipality& UNDP - Bekaa , World Bank & Al Walid assoc. for infrastructure projects.
• Organized a volunteer conference in Jordan for Ecological projects..
• Cooperate with IAVE in Oman for organizing a sessions on volunteering with deaf.
• Beirut Marathon assoc, for Marathon in 25 May in Ain Mraysi- Beyrouth& Marathon in Bekaa

IAVE Membership:
We encouraged existing members to renew their Membership, and we are recruiting new members from different Arab countries