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The Olive Press

Hope, Pride and the Lebanon Elections

Nov 16, 2021

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Things are really bad in Lebanon on every front. Everybody complains about governance issues. One way to bring about change is through the elections that are coming up. The legislative elections are scheduled for March 27, 2022, but diaspora voter registration closes in just a few days. There’s a great website called Sawti Voice that…

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Addressing Unemployment & Food Security in Ein El Hilweh Palestinian Refugee Camp

by Anera

Nov 10, 2021

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With the support of UNICEF, our vocational education cash-for-work cooking courses are addressing urgent community needs in Lebanon like unemployment and food security. Courses are taught at the Women’s Programs Association, our local partner in Ein El Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp. Students learn everything from food preparation, food preservation and small business entrepreneurship. And to…

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Falling Through the Social Safety Net in Lebanon

Nov 10, 2021

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Government social safety net programs provide healthcare, health insurance, retirement funds, disability payments, education, and other welfare services to people. The social safety net system has always been weak in Lebanon, but due to the economic and financial crisis it barely functions, and many forms of support are nonexistent. Even before gaining independence from France…

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Installation of Reverse Osmosis Units at Healthcare Facilities in the Gaza Strip

by Anera

Nov 6, 2021

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With funding from Humanity First UK, Anera has installed reverse osmosis water purifying systems at two health clinics in Gaza. Now Al-Huda Health Center and the Patient’s Friends Benevolent Society have clean tap water available for the over 11,000 patients they serve each month.

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Coming Together to Make a Difference

by Anera

Oct 25, 2021

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This post is featured in our fall 2021 newsletter. The last year-plus brought coronavirus to the world; economic collapse in Lebanon and a massive explosion that rocked Beirut; more encroachment of settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem; and another bombardment of Gaza, as well as the continued blockade. But the Anera community met…

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A Primer on Water in Gaza

by Anera

Oct 21, 2021

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Our Anera materials have often quoted the statistics that say somewhere between 90% to 97% of Gaza’s water is undrinkable. The numbers come from a multitude of trusted sources, including our own teams of engineers on the ground. Perhaps you have wondered how Anera is making a difference in Gaza then, given that the numbers…

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A Legacy of Supporting Education for the Marginalized

Oct 18, 2021

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I have spent most of my adult life in Minnesota and Alaska teaching English as a second language (ESL). As an ESL teacher, I was always curious about the places my students were from, and had a strong desire to explore them on my own. My first teaching experience abroad was at the University of…

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A Scary Time in Lebanon

Oct 15, 2021

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Yesterday was a scary day in Beirut. Protests and gunfire went on for many hours. Many of the bullets were flying very near Anera’s office. Six people died and more than 30 were injured. Thankfully, our staff was able to evacuate the office and get home safely. I am really concerned about the safety of…

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A Timeline of Crises in Lebanon

by Anera

Oct 15, 2021

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Lebanon is in survival mode. Yesterday hours of protests and gunfire killed six people and injured more than 30. The economy has collapsed, there is no functioning government, families have only a few hours of electricity a day and the healthcare system is struggling to stay afloat. We’ve created a timeline to show you how…

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International Day of the Girl

by Anera

Oct 11, 2021

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Every year, October 11 marks International Day of the Girl, a day to recognize and support the rights of girls around the world. This year’s theme is “My voice, our equal future.” One of the key points of this year’s theme is empowering girls to learn new skills towards the futures they choose. Anera recognizes…

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