In order to ensure a constant follow-up to the face-to-face trainings and knowledge activities provided within the Community of Practice on Employment and Social Safety Nets, virtual workshops are organized regularly, thus creating a space for practitioners from the region to share their operational experience, knowledge, and best practices on issues related to the design and implementation of employment and social safety nets programs.

The following virtual workshop was the 9th in the series and focused on volunteerism as a means to promote the economic and social inclusion of youth. It was coordinated by the Center for Mediterranean Integration, as part of its Mediterranean knowledge platform.

Objectives

In the MENA region volunteerism amongst youth is not very common; schools, universities and employers do not see volunteerism as a priority. However, in recent years, the Lebanese Government (GoL) has shown commitment to promote volunteerism as a way to improve youth employability and enhance social cohesion. In 2012, the GoL issued a decree creating an extra-curricular program that involves secondary school students in a mandatory 60 hours of civil work. The promotion of volunteerism in Lebanon has also been adopted by the GoL as an objective in its National Social Development Strategy.

The goal of this virtual mini-workshop was to present the Lebanese National Volunteer Service Program (NVSP), a 4 years project by the Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA) supported by the World Bank that seeks to increase youth civic engagement, and show a concrete example how volunteerism can play an important role in increasing the youth’s chances to integrate the job market. 

Scope of the Activity

During this workshop the guest speaker shared the success of the National Volunteer Service Program (NVSP), a 4 years project by the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA) supported by the World Bank that seeks to increase youth civic engagement and improve social cohesion across Lebanon.

Discussions with participants from Morocco and the Palestinian Territories followed.

Links to Resources​

• Agenda (English, Arabic)
• Keynote speaker Marwa el Kik biography (English, Arabic)
• Moderator Kamel Braham biography (English, Arabic)
• Video of the workshop (English, Arabic)

PowerPoint Presentation

Marwa El Kik, Ministry of Social Affairs, Lebanon’s National Volunteer Service Program (English, Arabic)