The municipality of Tripoli has been part of the Strong Cities Network for over two years and in that time has become one of our most active cities. Working closely with the Strong Cities regional team, the municipality of Tripoli has worked to establish a Local Prevention Network (LPN), deliver PVE activities to youth, coordinate with local religious leaders and produce a PVE guide. Most recently, the municipality opened its own Office for Youth Affairs, the first of its kind in Lebanon.

Under the patronage of the Mayor of Tripoli, Mr. Ahmad Qamareddine and in the presence of H.E. Ambassador of Denmark to Lebanon, Mrs. Merete Juhl, the inauguration event was attended by SCN’s local partners, members of the community, active local networks, religious leaders, NGOs, and Lebanese officials, among others. Ambassador Juhl expressed her full support to Tripoli’s initiative:

“Youth are the leaders of tomorrow and our partners of today. Only by engaging the young can we together foster peace, security and economic development in our local communities”

The launch of the youth office is the result of many months of hard work and close collaboration between the LPN of Tripoli, the SCN team and the municipality. The office will serve as a platform to bridge the gap between youth and the municipality and build a relationship of trust in the local authorities. It will also provide a safe space for youth to voice their concerns and challenges, and participate in finding solutions adapted to their local context.

The event was also covered in the Daily Star Lebanon, the leading English-language newspaper in the Middle East: New Youth Office in Tripoli seeks to improve stability, increase opportunities

The Strong Cities Network reiterates its support to the office and its upcoming activities and looks forward to many more successful initiatives like this one from its member cities.