The first stop was Mount Harissa, which is home to an important Lebanese pilgrimage site, a huge statue of Virgin Mary known as “Our Lady of Lebanon.” The participants arrived at the top of the mountain by means of the cable cars (or “Téléférique”) from the coastal city of Jounieh.

“For once, it’s good to feel what ‘tourism’ means!” exclaimed a teen’s mom! “The company of my mom could be and is really enjoyable!” said a teen.

The second stop was at the Convent of Bzommar, where the group had the opportunity to spend a spiritually rich time together.

And finally, the group dined at Burger King, where a daylong program of recreation and fellowship, which helped enhance the trust and intimacy among the participants, came to an end.

Pharmacist Nanor Tashjian gave a presentation about the types of medicines and their uses. She stressed the importance of consulting a doctor and obtaining a prescription before using any drugs. She added that complications and side effects often result from the improper use of medications. She recommended that patients should maintain a close and permanent contact with their physician in order to better diagnose the disease and use drugs accordingly, while simultaneously changing their lifestyles and following special diets, if necessary. Tashjian also spoke about the advantages of new kinds of medicines, and the incorrect use of antibiotics. She expressed her strong disapproval of the bad habit many people have of sharing medications — every patient is unique, and the right treatment method and use of drugs can only be determined by the doctor, she explained.

Toward the end of the presentation, Tashjian talked about the methods of preserving drugs, the way of taking drugs, as well as the necessary steps to take in case of overdose. The event ended with a Q&A session.

• Read the Armenian version of this article published in The Aztag Daily.

The welcome speech was given by Ms. Aline Mandjikian, who talked about the merits of Armenian mothers. Next, JMP–Lebanon Program Director, Mrs. Seta Pamboukian, presented the projects of the Jinishian Community Development Program and the activities of its Women’s Committee.

The artistic part of the event included poetry reading by Christina Srabonian and a solo dance performance by Maral Andonian. Singer Ararat Aharonian entertained attendees with Armenian songs.

From the funds raised at the event, the Women’s Committee donated LL 500,000 to the of Birds’ Nest Armenian Orphanage in Byblos and $500 to JMP–Lebanon.

OTV channel reported on this event on its Armenian news program.

• Read the Armenian version of this article published in The Aztag Daily.

The preparation and set-up of the Christmas manger scene took place on Saturday, December 15, 2012, with the participation of members of the JMP–L Community Development Committee, the Armenian Evangelical Social Service Center’s “Petag” (TeenHive) teenagers’ group, and residents of the area, who generously donated some of the decorative items.

This year’s manger scene was unique as it was prepared thanks to the joint efforts of community members, spreading a joyful Christmas spirit in the area.

In the same spirit, the Women’s Committee of the JMP–L Community Development Program organized a Christmas gathering for children. The event took place on Friday, December 21, 2012 in the hall of the St. Sarkis Church, with the participation of “Ourakh Daretarts” (Happy Birthday) Entertainment Group. The event, which was themed “Let’s Celebrate Christmas Together,” was attended by around 200 children with their parents.

Ms. Tamar Keheyian gave the welcome speech on behalf of the Women’s Committee. She said that the Committee decided to organize this gathering based on last year’s successful experience. She thanked all the sponsors for their support, and the members of the Women’s Committee for their hard work.

The “Ourakh Daretarts” Group entertained the children with songs, dances, and group games, which were followed by the visit of Santa Claus and the distribution of gifts to the children.

• Read the Armenian version of this article published in The Aztag Daily.

Within this framework, an interesting and helpful event was held on 2 June 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in the courtyard of Mesrobian College. The event, which was part of the “DOBRAG” (meaning bag in Armenian) Project, focused on the reduction, recycling and reuse of plastic bags. It also aimed at raising awareness among the inhabitants of the area on the problem of plastic bags.

As part of the DESMEEM Project, the “DOBRAG” Project is organized by the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in cooperation with DESMEEM and MENA Design Research Center, the Municipality of Bourj Hammoud, Mesrobian College, and JMP–L. The project focuses on plastic bags, because a piece of plastic takes up to 400 years to decompose, the longest time compared to other materials.

The Bourj Hammoud area has been selected for this initiative because of its high population density, the existence of narrow streets where garbage collection is often difficult, the identity of its inhabitants, and the presence of a large number of artists and artisans who can contribute to the reuse of plastic bags. Bourj Hammoud has also a shopping district where the use of plastic bags is widespread.

The different meetings, which took place as part of this project, were attended by the following participants: Women participants from the JMP–L Community Development Program, representatives from Armenian scout groups (such as Homenetmen and Armenian General Benevolent Union), and students from several Armenian schools (Armenian Catholic Mesrobian High School, Saint Agnes School of Armenian Sisters of Immaculate Conception, Levon and Sophia Hagopian Armenian College, Armenian Evangelical Torosian School, and Armenian Evangelical Shamlian Tatigian Secondary School).

Prior to the June 2 event, in the above-mentioned schools, boxes had already been placed where students collected plastic bags brought from their homes.

On June 2, during a series of activities repeated on an hourly basis, each student or scout group first watched a PowerPoint presentation prepared on this occasion. In the presentation, details were given about how difficult it is for plastic bags to break down, how a large number of sea creatures die because of them, and how big is the damage the plastic bags cause to our environment. Next, the students and scouts were briefed on the project, its goals, and their role in it.

Afterwards, under the supervision of a group of artists and artisans, the students and scouts designed new objects — decorative items, belts, handbags, chairs, etc. — using the collected plastic bags. Through these activities, they became aware that they have to use as few plastic bags as possible, and learned various ways to reuse them.

As part of the “DOBRAG” Project, special boxes will be placed in the different neighborhoods of Bourj Hammoud where people will be able to collect plastic bags, which will then be given to artists or artisans who will in turn reuse them. The collected bags will also be redistributed in a systematic and pre-planned manner to different shops, again for reuse.

Through this project, both the younger generation and the inhabitants of Bourj Hammoud, will be able to contribute more actively to the protection of the environment and the cleanliness of their neighborhoods.

• Read the Armenian version of this article published in The Aztag Daily.
• Listen to a Radio Voice of Van interview (in Armenian) with the JMP–L Community Development Program coordinator about the “DOBRAG” Project.
• Check this Facebook page for more details.

The project aims to reduce the use of plastic bags and to raise awareness about ways it could be reused. The project is being launched given the fact that the quantity of plastic bags that are used in Lebanon is large, which leads to increased waste and environmental pollution.

The project is being launched within the framework of the DESMEEM Project, whose main goal is to adopt various ways to reuse plastic bags and extend the lifespan of their usage.

As part of this project, an Environmental Protection Day will be organized on Saturday, 2 June 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in the courtyard of Mesrobian College. The event aims to raise awareness among the inhabitants of the area on the dangers of plastic bags waste accumulation.

The following participants will take part in the different meetings which will take place as part of this project: Women participants from the JMP–L Community Development Program, representatives from Armenian scout groups, and students from several Armenian schools (Armenian Catholic Mesrobian High School, Saint Agnes School of Armenian Sisters of Immaculate Conception, Levon and Sophia Hagopian Armenian College, Armenian Evangelical Torosian School, and Armenian Evangelical Shamlian Tatigian Secondary School).

In the above-mentioned schools, boxes have already been placed where students have been collecting plastic bags brought from their homes. They will then bring the collected bags with them at the Saturday event. Under the supervision of a group of artists, the students will then design new objects using these plastic bags. This activity will be repeated on an hourly basis, leading to various suggestions about the reuse of plastic bags.

JMP–L’s Community Development Program team strongly believes that activities aimed at environmental protection are necessary in our community, which can develop in a complete and sustainable manner not only through social projects, but also through economic, health-related, and environmental activities.

• Read the Armenian version of this article published in The Aztag Daily.
• Listen to a Radio Voice of Van interview (in Armenian) with the JMP–L Community Development Program coordinator about the “DOBRAG” Project.
• Check this Facebook page for more details.

The following five topics have so far been covered: “Definition and Causes of Stress,” “Symptoms and Signs of Stress,” “How Does Stress Develop and What Can Happen if it is not Managed,” “The Effects of Stress on the Human Body,” and “Stress Management Methods.” All of the topics were of great interest for the 20 women and girls participating in the program.

Within the framework of this program, a Spiritual Retreat was organized on 11 May 2012, at the Evangelical Center of Dhour El Shoueir, with the participation of the following presenters: Father Megerditch Keshishian, Rev. Datev Basmajian, and Varouj Mazmanian.

The coordinator of JMP–L’s Community Development Program, Taline Ladoyan, opened the meeting, stressing the importance of spiritual nourishment in managing stress. She said that the meeting was organized in this venue surrounded by nature in order for participants to become detached from their stressful daily lives and to be able to completely focus on the presentations.

The first presenter was Rev. Datev Basmajian who talked about how to overcome stress and misery through spiritual nourishment and prayer.

The second presentation was given by Mr. Varouj Mazmanian, who spoke about the importance of individual and collective prayer in our lives in general, and particularly as a way to manage stress. Per the suggestions of the participants, the presentation ended with a collective prayer led by the presenter.

Next, Ladoyan spoke about the importance of creative and positive thinking. Using a PowerPoint presentation and working individually with the participants, she stressed the importance of viewing problems from different perspectives and of adopting a positive approach when dealing with difficult problems or negative situations. She added that it is important to forget the negative experiences of the past and live the present in a positive manner.

Following the lunch break, the participants had the opportunity to listen to a presentation by Father Megerditch Keshishian on “The Christian Identity of the Armenian Family, its Importance for Spiritual Nourishment, and the Role of Women as Mothers in the Promotion of These Values.”

The workshop series on stress management will continue until late June. Upcoming topics include the following: “Problem Management,” “Understanding the Psychology of our Children and the Kinds of Stress they Face,” “Menopause and Stress: Are they Directly Related to Each Other?”, and “Cultural Differences in Stress Management.” The program will also include two sessions on physical activity and dance.

Read more details in the longer Armenian version of this article published in The Aztag Daily.

Guided by the spirit of the above-mentioned words, we have designed a series of workshops and meetings on managing stress, a problem which, if not properly dealt with, can lead to various other diseases as well as physical, behavioral, psychological and mental problems.

We have decided to launch this program taking into consideration the importance of the issue, and based on the feedback we have received from interviews conducted with female participants of JMP–L programs.

The workshop series will be implemented with the collaboration of the organization “Development & Beyond” and the Armenian Fund for Health Insurance in Lebanon. Through weekly meetings, the project aims at developing the skills of Armenian women suffering from or prone to stress. By listening to presentations given by professionals, participants will learn about various ways to manage stress in a constructive manner, and will develop skills for solving the problem in its early stages in order not to resort to quick and temporary solutions (such as taking stress-relief pills) but to fight the root causes of the problem through healthy means.

Besides the series of talks, the program will also include practical sessions, including spiritual uplift, physical activity, dance, and breathing exercises.

The meetings will start on April 10, at 10:00 a.m., in the JMP–L center. At the end of the program, five participants will be selected as recipients of special AFHIL Health Club discount cards.

The following topics will be covered during the series of workshop-meetings:

1. “Definition and Causes of Stress” – Ghida Husseini Oxenboll
2. “Symptoms and Signs of Stress” – Ghida Husseini Oxenboll
3. “How Does Stress Develop and What Can Happen if it is not Managed or Dealt With” – Dr. Maral D. Boyadjian
4. “Stress-relief Medicines and their Side-effects” – Dr. Maral D. Boyadjian
5. “The Effects of Stress on the Human Body: Stress Management Methods” – Ghida Husseini Oxenboll
6. “Psychological Stress (Behavioral Changes, Family Problems, Communication with Children, etc.)” – Ghida Husseini Oxenboll
7. “Spiritual Approaches to Deal with Stress” – Father Sarkis Sarkissian
8. “Conflict Resolution” – Mrs. Louisa Baboyan-Azezian
9. “Understanding the Psychology of our Children and the Kinds of Stress they Face” – Mrs. Natalie Der Sahagian-Ayvazian
10. “Female Hormonal System and Stress” – Dr. Kohar Vartanian-Keshishian
11. “The Sexual Health of the Family” – Dr. Kohar Vartanian-Keshishian
12. “Menopause and Stress: Are they Directly Related to Each Other? Different Cultural Perspectives” – Miss Lucie Sagherian

Read a longer Armenian version of this article published in The Aztag Daily.

The preparation and set-up of the Christmas manger scene took place on Saturday, December 3, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Last year, the nativity manger scene was prepared with the participation of students from local Armenian schools — students from the Special Classes of the Center of Armenian Handicapped in Lebanon (CAHL), the Aksor Kassardjian Armenian National School, as well as children from the Armenian Evangelical Social Services Center. This year too, in order for the preparations to be done through collective efforts, Saint-Mesrob and Saint-Vincent de Paul scouts took part in the activity. The latter made handicrafts and set up the nativity manger scene, while the former completed the decorations by installing a wooden fence around the scene (the wooden sticks were offered by the company Sharbos).

This year’s Christmas manger scene was unique in both its appearance and presentation. It was more eye-catching and attractive, and it was prepared thanks to the joint efforts of the community, spreading a joyful Christmas spirit among the young and older inhabitants and visitors of the area.

Read the Armenian version of this article published in The Aztag Daily.

Excitement was in the air as the group explored new regions in the Byblos sea port, went sightseeing, and sailed in a boat.

Then, the teens and their mothers visited the old “souk” (marketplace) in Byblos and enjoyed discovering traditional garments, antique items, and fish fossils.

Next, they visited the monastery at St. Charbel’s mountain, and got introduced to the lifestyle of the hermits. Following some discussions, they experienced spiritual moments in silence, prayer and contemplation, acknowledging the Word of God as absolute Truth.

In the afternoon, they stopped at McDonald’s and shared their meal.

They were cheerful, content and thankful for the adventurous and spiritual trip.