Volunteer in Lebanon
Lebanon, facing one of the largest refugee crises in the world, has a massive need for international volunteers. Since the Syrian War broke out in 2011, more than one million Syrian refugees have fled to Lebanon. With no formal refugee camps for Syrians, they are living in cramped apartments, unfinished buildings and tents, and make-shift camps. As a result of the influx of Syrians, Lebanese cities are facing extreme congestion.
Lebanon is also home to many Palestinian refugee camps, where refugees often live in poverty and without necessary resources. Because of these two sizable refugee populations, most of the volunteer work needed in Lebanon today is centered around working with refugees to improve their situations.
Many refugees in Lebanon are living in extreme poverty and children are not receiving a proper education. There is a dire need to work with both Syrian and Palestinian refugees in camps, shelters, and centers, where they are lacking education, legal resources, emotional support, economic resources, and safe living conditions.
Work with Refugees
About 1.5 million Syrian refugees reside in Lebanon, making up more than one-fourth of the total population, the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. According to the International Rescue Committee, seven out of 10 Syrian refugees in Lebanon live in extreme poverty. Many of the children do not attend school and are in need of emotional support due to trauma. Thus, much of the volunteer work in Lebanon involves working with Syrian refugees in a range of capacities. Volunteers can work with programs that provide economic support, legal services, skills training, emotional support, and assistance integrating Syrians into Lebanese society.
Teach English
Opportunities to teach English include teaching children as well as training Lebanese teachers. Many of the volunteer programs take place in refugee camps with Syrian or Palestinian refugees, or in schools in and outside of Beirut. Many refugee children rely on remedial education in order to pass an entry exam needed to enter the Lebanese public education system, and English-teaching volunteers are a crucial part in helping children achieve this.
Women's Empowerment
Like in much of the Middle East, women in Lebanon are societally viewed as subservient to men, often at risk of violence and exploitation, and do not have access to necessary support systems. Many volunteer programs in Lebanon work to provide women with emotional and legal support, crisis counseling, and education in entrepreneurship. Many of these programs are focused on helping refugee women in camps or centers.
Many of the volunteer programs take place either in Beirut, or in other coastal cities, such as in Saida, the third-largest city in Lebanon located about 45 minutes south of the capital, or Tyre, an ancient Phoenician city in southern Lebanon. There are refugee camps and centers in all of these cities that are in dire need of volunteers. No matter where you are in Lebanon, you will be within a three-hour drive of Beirut sans road congestion, so you will never be too far from the US embassy or modern medical facilities should these resources be needed.
Visas
All US citizens traveling to Lebanon will need a visa to enter. Visitors can obtain a one-month visa upon arrival at Beirut International Airport or another port of entry. This visa can be extended for a second month by applying at an office in Beirut. Travelers who hold passports that contain visas or entry/exit stamps for Israel will likely be denied entry into Lebanon and may be subject to arrest or detention.
Housing & Accommodation
Many of the volunteer programs place volunteers in shared apartments, which is a great way for volunteers to get to know one another. Depending on where you are located, apartments may be cramped and have scarce electricity, water, supplies, and accessories. Some apartments, however, may come with a well-equipped kitchen, which volunteers are expected to use to provide meals for themselves.
