Ola Lebanese Organization (OLO) was founded in 2006 in the aftermath of the July War with Israel, seeking to contribute to the rebuilding effort and strengthen civil society in the northern Bekaa Valley. Ola is a youth initiative consisting of a seven-member Board and 50 staff. The organization primarily deals with youth issues, sectarian conflict and labor stagnation, combating them with job training, arts events and peace-building projects. The organization is currently running a 90,000 USD funded program from OTI on peace building to fight sectarianism. Bridging the Divide is also funding a 17,000 USD complementary project for peace building through arts for youth. Finally, OLO is also partnering with Mercy Corps for the successful implementation of a Youth Cultural Heritage project funded by local youth.
What Matters to Ola Lebanese Organization:
After nearly a half century of civil war and foreign occupation, divisiveness in politics and religion has come to define much of what is Lebanon, with the possibility of relapse into conflict being a constant threat. The effects of this history are particularly acute in the Beqaa Valley - located adjacent to the Syrian border, housing a diverse array of rival confessional groups - between the tightly clustered Christian and Muslim populations. Ola Lebanese Organization is working with new generations that are most vulnerable to divisiveness in politics and religion.
Investing in alternative channels like civil society, youth voices are empowering social dialogue so as to reach out to their communities in a call for reunion and to increase participation in political life.
