Tree Plant

Co-operation area Island-of-France - town of Beirut Since 1991, the Area Island-of-France began in the rebuilding of the town of Beirut, disfigured by nearly fifteen years of war.  In 1998, after thirty years. 

TOWN PLANNING

The rebirth of the wood of the Pines

True green lung of the town of Beirut, the wood of the Pines had undergone the insults of the war.  Devastated and closed with the public, wood did not exist any more but in the memories.  In 1991, the Area Island-of-France wished to contribute to its rebirth while taking part in the afforestation of its 30 hectares.  The first plantations took place in 1993.  At the time of the signature of the cooperation agreement between the two communities, in January 1999, a mall (gone 500 meters planted of ficus rectilinear, representing approximately 10 % of the total surface of the park), opened to the public, is inaugurated by the president of the Area Island-of-France and the president of the Town council of Beirut.  Many landscape installations (gardens, basins, fountains) and of infrastructures (gone, benches, lighting, fence), were completed in 2001.  The opening to the public in its totality should intervene during the year 2003. 

Beyrouthins very quickly réappropriés this park located at the heart of their city.  From the point of view of a total opening to the public and in order to guarantee the durable safeguarding of the site, the Municipality and the Area Island-of-France initiated, as from the year 2001, of the publicity campaigns to the environment, targeted on the school ones.  School camps are organized for the schoolboys of the first and the second degree, with the collaboration of the agricultural and horticultural college of Saint Germain-in-Bush hammer.  The small townsmen can test themselves with the techniques of the plantation and the culture of plants, fruits and vegetables within the framework "of the gardens of pocket", take part in sensory workshops of awakening of the sense of smell and taste.  Formations are proposed to the teachers and social teachers so that they can take themselves charges the visits of them of Wood.  In parallel, the college of German Saint trains students Lebanese with the trade of éco-guide for a complete autonomy of the program. 

The installation of an adventure playground for the children and the establishment inside the Wood of a House of the park, for information and permanent animation, will be the next operations carried out with the support of the Area Island-with-France.La rebirth of the wood of the Pines constituted the first stage of the landscape installation of Beirut.  The Town of Beirut and the Area Island-of-France currently work on the implementation of the plan of becoming green of the city, realized in 2001, first steps of a directing diagram of the parks. 

Installation-environment

Within the framework of a total reflexion on the urban development, of the seminars are organized to the attention of the elected officials and the administrative staff of the municipality of Beirut on the topics of town planning, the environment and health (consequences of the air pollution...). 

The avenue of Paris

the maritime frontage of Beirut, place of walk very snuffed of the beyrouthains, is bordered by long avenues (avenue of Paris, avenue of General de Gaulle) undergoing a particularly dense automobile traffic.  To improve the attraction of this walk and the safety of the pedestrians, the Area Island-of-France and the Town of Beirut financed the restoration of the avenue of Paris (2,4 km):  repair of the pavements, plantations of trees, creation of passages pedestrians, etc. 

Quality of the air

Worried by the deterioration of the quality of the air, the Town of Beirut requested the assistance of the Area Island-of-France for the acquisition of a mobile station of measurement of the air pollution, in order to set up a permanent network.  The analyses are carried out by the Faculty of Science of theSaint-Joseph University of Beirut.  Publicity campaigns of the population are carried out jointly and an alarm procedure to pollution is being studied. 

Education-Formation

Openings of public libraries

Since 1993, the Area Island-of-France contributed to the creation of tens of libraries of proximity in Beirut and in the agglomeration, thanks to a program carried by the French Association of International Solidarity (AFSI).  Each one of these libraries has funds today significant of works in French language.  In November 2000, the Town of Beirut, which made development of the libraries its priority, opened, with the support of the Area Island-of-France, the first public public library, located at Bachoura.  It received 2500 works in French language and was equipped with office automation, data-processing and teaching equipment of point.  A second library will open its doors at the end of 2003 in Achrafiyé.  Island-of-France also contributes to the staff training of framing and animation of the libraries.  Moreover, with the Intergovernmental Agency of Francophonie (AIF), the Area Island-of-France took part in the opening of one of the fourteen centers of reading and cultural activityc(ap), located in a city of the agglomeration of Beirut.  This initiative illustrates the will to get for the greatest number an easy access to the culture and the modern means of communication.

The Special newspaper

8 per 8 schools Since 1998, the Area Island-of-France takes part, with the Embassy of France in Lebanon, the constitution of data bases.  It also collaborates with the French cultural Mission of Lebanon (MCFL) in the equipment in audio-visual and multi-media material of 8 secondary public schools of Beirut.  Thanks to this support, these schools created a two-monthly inter-school newspaper, in French language, baptized Spécial 8.  This equipment also made it possible to the pupils to exchange by Internet with correspondents franciliens, in particular pupils with the college Marie-Curie of Seals.

In order to combat the school failure and the risks of social exclusion, the center of formation "Oasis of the hope" accomodates young people in school difficulty. 

It gives trainings with the trades of electricity, electronics, air-conditioning, mechanics and automobile electronics and hairstyle.  The Area Island-of-France supports since 1997 this program carried out by the Social Movement Lebanon (MSL).  Today, the center has a club pre-professional which propose to the young people of the courses of handing-over on school level, of the sociocultural and sporting activities, and an accompaniment for their integration in the active life.  Grants Région Island-of-France the program of grants addresses to the students resulting from the local communities partners of the Area Island-of-France and according to one 3rd cycle in a higher educational establishment francilien.  Since 2001, 12 grants were allotted to students of Beirut.

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT

Since 2001 the Area Island-of-France allowed the reception the municipality of Beirut of a Volunteer of co-operation.  This volunteer takes part in the dynamism of the co-operation between the two institutions and ensures a follow-up of the actions carried out on the spot.  Moreover, were organized various seminars for the elected officials of the town council of Beirut on the topics of the finance public, management and the administration.

Co-operation carried out with the assistance of: 

Institute of adjustment and town planning of the Area Island-of-France, Arranges intergouvermentale of Francophonie, Ambassade of France, Association Assabil, French Association of international solidarity.  French association of the volunteers of progress, university international City of Paris, Faculty of Science of the University Joseph Saint of Beirut, agricultural and horticultural College of German Saint in bush hammer, College Marie-Curie of Seals, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, French cultural Mission of Lebanon, Social Movement Lebanon

The decentralized co-operation, co-operation between local communities, is a major policy of the international action of the Area Island-at-France.Depuis 1998, this one established and developed twelve partnerships, on all the continents, which mobilized human and financial means significant, in fields as varied as the vocational training, education, the environment, the urban development, the university transport, exchanges, etc.

These partnerships are characterized by the central place given to the community partner and at the implementation, with the support of the Area Island-of-France, of its programs prioritaires.Des Joint Cooperation Committees were set up, composed of elected officials and of civil servant of each collectivités.Ensemble, they work out multiannual programs of actions, of check the follow-up, proceed to the reorientations necessary.

Decentralized co-operation of the Area Island-of-France

These programs can be declined according to three axes: 

1- an institutional co-operation defined by the reinforcement of the capacities of planning and action of the local community partenaire.Confortée in its public action, this one has new means to exert its competences with with dimensions other actors of the development, to improve the definition of its own strategies of development and to implement local public services.  It consolidates the processes of decentralization engaged in many countries, in particular on the African continent. 

2- a co-operation of projects, which endeavours to answer most effectively possible the aspirations of the population.Pour the co-operations located in the developing countries, the Area endeavours to contribute to the reduction of poverty, by despolitic of government aid to the development, by a support with the equitable economic exchanges. 

3- Une co-operation of company at company, turned towards the associative, educational and economic actors franciliens to incite them to take their share in these exchanges, by twinnings of colleges, missions of companies, etc.  With the decentralized co-operation, the Area begins in durable partnerships, mutually advantageous, carrying a message of mutual respect and top priority paix.Leurs concentrate on the public action, the democracy and the durable development.