Overview

Growing Up in Cities-Lebanon was initiated in 1999 in the ancient city of Saida (historically known as Sidon) in collaboration with the City Council and the Hariri Foundation of Lebanon. The project was introduced as a way to address the social as well as physical fabric of the old city in an integrated plan for development, and as part of the goal of connecting the city’s past with its future. For this purpose, Growing Up in Cities joined forces with the MOST Programme for Small Historic Coastal Cities.

As a first step, children at the Center for Extracurricular Activities in the old city carried out project activities in the summer of 1999, under the leadership of Irene Arbadji and Ahmad Jradi. In November 1999, project members met with a network of 10 nongovernmental organizations which work on family, child and youth issues under the umbrella of the City Council, to plan cooperation on future community-based evaluations of the old city and ideas for implementation. During the first phase of participatory research with the children of the old city, the following issues were identified for action.

Preliminary Status Report and Recommended Action Program UNESCO/November 1999

Issues Identified by Child Participants in Preliminary Research, August 1999

Study Center

• Overcrowded living quarters make study at home difficult Illiteracy makes it difficult for some parent to assist children with studies
• Resources such as books and computers are not available to most children.

Greening

• Lack of plants and green spaces in the old city
• Almost every one of the children's drawings depicted flowers, trees and green spaces prominently as desirable elements in their environment
• Previous experiences in introducing plants have been very well received by residents
• Old City previously had more extensive greenery than exists today, including rooftop gardens.

Play Space

• Children identified the lack of play space as a key issue
• Many parents discourage children from playing in the street and alley areas
• The one playground in the old city was badly damaged and remains in disrepair
• These are questions as to whether or not women and girls would feel comfortable using a public, mixed-used play area.

Trash Collection

• Children repeatedly identified trash as a key issue
• A number of children referred to the place where they live as 'the street with all the trash'
• Commercial areas accumulate large amounts of trash at the end of the day, and trash bins in residential areas often overflow.

Child Labor

• Participation of boys was limited due to the high incidence of child labor in the old city
• Working children provide needed income for their families.

Recommended Action Program

With the preliminary research activities completed, it is recommended that the project move forward on two key fronts:

• Participatory Planning and Action for Environmental Improvement in the Old City
• Project Replication in Other Districts of Saïda and Other Lebanese Cities

Participatory Planning and Action for Environment Improvement in the Old City

Of the five issues outlined above, the two which lend themselves most to a participatory planning and action process are a greening project and developing a play area. It appears that the study area will be implemented. The trash issue is in need of a solution, but it seems that children may play a limited role in developing and implementing such a solution. Lastly, the child labor issue is of critical importance, and should be explored further with key decision-makers as well as the community to determine an appropriate course of action.

The development of green areas and play areas to b the most fruitful short-term direction for child and youth participation. In North America, Britain and other parts of Europe, play areas are being designed to integrate areas for sports and active play as well as areas for 'nature play' or quiet, imaginative and social play in green areas. Therefore, the two goals may be combined in some parts of the Old City.

It is recommended that a participatory process of public space analysis and improvement be undertaken in order to introduce an integrated system of green spaces and play areas into the Old City area.

Project Replication in Other Districts of Saïda and Other Lebanese Cities

The preliminary research activities and subsequent environmental actions provide a valuable case study to support replication of the project approach in other districts of Saïda as well as other cities in Lebanon and the region.