In UNIFIL’s continued efforts to foster relations with host communities, the peacekeeping mission supported the Tyre branch of the National Education Scout Association with a number of agriculture and musical equipment, last week.

The support, funded through UNIFIL’s Quick Impact Project (QIP), will benefit about 180 scout members, including 70 girls, of eight scout regiments of south Lebanon. These scouts form part of Lebanon’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

UNIFIL’s Civil Affairs Office worked with the mission’s Italian Battalion (ITALBATT) as well as local authorities ahead of the gifting ceremony on 11 February.

Lieutenant Colonel Federico Boldrin of ITALBATT, Dr. Mohamed Fakih, the General Director of the National Scout of Lebanon, Education Director for south Lebanon, Dr. Ahemed Saleh, Deputy Mayor of Tyre, Salah Soubrawi, attended the ceremony.

The support is expected to promote green initiatives in the local communities while also empowering the youth.

UNIFIL QIPs are small-scale, rapidly implementable projects which are intended to address some of the most pressing needs of the local population and support local authorities while strengthening links with UNIFIL.

(UN Photos / Major Leanno Pannozzo)