Centers
FEATURING niScvt CentersS
SHATILA CENTER
Location:
Shatila camp is located on the Eastern side of the sportive city of Beirut, but is officially affiliated to the administration of Mount Lebanon.
History:
Shatila camp was established in 1950, on a piece of land of one square kilometer owned by a single Lebanese citizen. Presently its population is around 15,000 inhabitants including individuals from different Arab nationalities. The Palestinians according to UNRWA figures of 2005 are approximately 8,112 persons, the majority coming from villages in the north of Palestine such as Amka, Majed Al-Kroum, Shaab, Al-Yajour and Al-Khalsa. Located in this camp is the largest gathering for displaced families who came from Tal el-Zaatar camp, after the massacre which occurred there.
Camp Conditions
I. Socio-Economical Condition:
The majority of the inhabitants are employed in the construction sector or as street vendors; some have their own businesses, - mostly small shops inside or around the camp. A limited number are also employed by UNRWA and the non-governmental organizations. However, the unemployment rate is a major problem, combined with the poor living conditions create abundant social problems. This particular camp suffered through many tragic events as a result of military actions and sieges against the camp, but the most severe tragedy took place during the Israeli invasion and the well known Sabra & Shatila massacre that took the lives of more than 3,500 people both Palestinian and Lebanese. Some non-governmental organizations are active inside the camp providing social, Cultural, educational and health services among them PRCS, Najdeh, Beit Atfal Adssumoud, PARD and Health Care Association.
II. Educational Conditions:
UNRWA runs three schools inside the camp following the two shift system. The first school is Hemeh elementary and intermediate school for girls, which serves approximately 616 students. The other two are Ramallah elementary and Haifa serving 201 students. Al-Jalil secondary school is within close reach of the camp and serves 627 students both boys and girls.
Beit Atfal Assumoud Center:
The National Institution for Social Care and Vocational Training, known as Beit Atfal Assumoud established its social/cultural center in Shatila in the year 1984 and was the first center after the collapse that occurred during the Israeli invasion of 1982. The center consists of three floors including a kindergarten, a dental clinic, in addition to the social/cultural main project. Close by the center is a small playground for the KG kids.
Services:
The center provides the following services for orphaned children and others from families categorized as hardship cases:
• Family Happiness Project; this caters for the needs of orphaned children and hardship cases, providing financial and social support for 130 children.
• A kindergarten serving 84 children aged between 3-6 years
• Cultural and recreational activities: scouts, musical band, Dabkeh groups
• Remedial classes for the elementary level students
• Classes for school drop outs students
• Summer camps
• Cultural and recreational activities for the mothers
• Training sessions for the mothers: Home Economics, handicraft etc.
• Monthly meetings with the mothers and home visits to the families
• A dental clinic offering treatment and education on oral hygiene for several KGs inside the camp in addition to the staff and parents.