After two decades since the end of the civil war in 1990, Lebanon still faces unresolved internal conflicts. Sectarianism underpinned the institutionalisation of various forms of discrimination and the establishment of a confessional power-sharing system, as foreseen by the 1989 Ta’if Agreement. This also entailed the influence of regional actors both in armed conflict and in peace-building initiatives further exacerbated in some cases political, social and economic grievances.
As a result, Lebanon experienced violent shocks over the past few years: the 2006 July war with Israel, the Nahr el Bared crisis in 2007, the May 2008 armed confrontations and most recently the crisis in Syria, increasing tensions that are undermining previous attempts of peaceful coexistence in the country. As a consequence feelings of instability, insecurity, hopelessness, pessimism, fear and distrust are widespread within the Lebanese society. Adults and children often find themselves entangled in a reality made of aggressiveness, frustrations, anger and other negative feelings. The difficult state of affairs, the growing ethnic and religious hostility, indoctrination by many political parties, and in some cases military training for young people are increasing the risk that children will be drawn into violent conflict.

An intensive 180 hours capacity-building cycle (Training of Trainers) led by Italian Peace Association for selected members of the Parents Councils and local NGO staff members on context-specific conflict prevention tools.