Grade Six Municipal Counsel Election

In H.B.S 7/12/2007 grade 6 children election was held to choose s member for the children municipal counsel. The students had prepared for this event that was organized under the title "today our voice is louder". The spread announcements , starting their goals for election campaign.

At 10 am the students began voting while cheers filled the floor. Supervisors tried to calm down the noise and Mr. Nabil Bawab told the spectators about this democractic campaign and its aim which president Bahyaa el Hariri prepared for, and then began spreading to all saida and outskirts. Then he reassured that losing the election is not the end of the world and the aim of this event was to teach students to accept losing and winning in life.

After all the students voted for their favorite candidate, the next event was announcing the winner. Mr. Nabil announced "Miriam Saadieh" and the students started cheering hard for their candidate. She said that she was glad because all her friends believed in her and in her abilities.
She said that she will help her friends in learning in a better environment, ask for building a cafeteria in the school and work with the administration to organize 2 trips instead of one during a year. She said that she will succeed through "collaboration". She announced that "collaboration" is the base of success and without collaboration with friends and administration nothing is going to happen.

At the end the students returned into their classes with their smile on their face and cheering very loudly for their new spokesmen that will make some of their dreams come true!!

by Ihab Skafi and Zainab Dirani

Memoir of the martyr Brigadier General of staff Francois El Hajj

Brigadier General Francois el-Hajj, killed in a car bomb attack on Wednesday 13 December 2007, had been tipped to head Lebanon's armed forces if feuding politicians agreed to elect the current army chief as president.

Director of the Army Staff for operations starting from 25/2/2002 until his martyrdom, General François el Hajj was killed along with his bodyguard in a morning rush-hour blast that rocked Baabda. General was immediately martyred in the explosion. Lebanese soldiers carry the body of Lebanese army General Francois El-Hajj from the site of a car bomb attack in Baabda, a Christian suburb on the outskirts of Beirut. Hajj was among at least four people killed in the car bomb that also injured seven others.

Minister Hariri and the Hakim Jaajaa, both members of 14 March, said that what happened is a terrible crime committed in cold blood and that the murders must be brought to justice because these assassinations are affecting Lebanon’s future and stability.

Lebanese citizens were surprised that General Francois el-Hajj was murdered, and they all demanded the authorities to investigate to reveal the truth to bring those murders to justice. Sarah Go-she said that what happened had affected Lebanon's principle vessel, which make it hard for Lebanon to recover again. Serine Hijaze said that General Francois el-Hajj will not reset in peace unless the murderers were brought to justice.

By Dalia Hariri

UNIFUL Troops in Lebanon: A blessing or a curse

After the Lebanese war in July 2oo6 the Lebanese government decided with the international security consul to send UNIUFL multi nationality forces to protect the borders between Lebanon and Israel. The Lebanese have different opinions concerning the UNIFUL presence on the Lebanese soil.

The UNIFIL mandate consists of a number of responsibilities: First, they should monitor the cessation of hostilities; second accompany and support the Lebanese armed forces as they deploy throughout the South, including along the Blue Line, as Israel withdraws its armed forces from Lebanon. Third, coordinate its activities with the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel; fourth, extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons; next, assist the Lebanese armed forces in taking steps towards the establishment of the area. Finally, assist the government of Lebanon, at its request, to implement paragraph 14 whish calls upon the government of Lebanon to secure its borders and other entry points to prevent the entry of arms or related material in Lebanon without its consent.

UNIFIL is not tied up operationally by the whims of the Lebanese cabinet, or even the Lebanese army. If an attack occurs, UNIFIL has the full right to hunt down the culprits. And no one is allowed to flaunt any form of weapons.

Lebanese people have different point of views towards the UNIFUL presence in Lebanon. Wafaa sabbaggh said that she supports the UNIFUL presence because it’s on the Lebanese land to protect it from any uncivilized action and added that the UNIFUL forces are not biased against Lebanon. Hassan Ayoub said that he approves of the UNIFUL presence because the troops are doing humanitarian activities and not just military activities. However, Hassan Ayoub wondered if the UNIFUL will take sides incase Lebanon faced another war. Nader Najjar said that war against Lebanon forced our government to call the UNIFUL troops to our safety from the Israeli attacks. Najjar added, “When these troops came they started to fix our destroyed bridges and roads. When these soldiers saw the beauty of Lebanon, they worked to protect this country and help a lot of Lebanese families to get back to their work.”

On the other hand, other citizens rejected the presence of the UNIFUL troops on Lebanese soil. Mustafa Zaayter confirmed that UNIFUL is a threat to Lebanon and they are America’s eyes in Lebanon and added that they work to ensure Israel’s safety

By: Dalia Hariri

Saida Flourishes in Ramadan

Ramadan is a special and an important month for all Moslems in the entire world, because it is the month of mercy and blessing. However, in Saida Ramadan has a very special impression.

This month is a thread that connects the members of every family in saida since families in Ramadan gather around the same table for the Iftar after a day of fasting. Once the Iftar announcement is heard, fasters enjoy the delicious food prepared. Families in Saida also invite each other for the iftar or go together to some restaurants which make special offers for Ramadan and have their iftar there. After eating, many people go to mosques and pray the Tarawe7, a praying which Moslems pray in Ramadan. They also start to read some lines from Koraan and ask God to bless their lives. In addition, mosques in Saida also prepare programs especially for Leilat Al Kader ‘Destiny night’. On this night, Moslems stay awake until dawn and spend their time praying and reading Koraan because on this night God had sent Koraan to Moslems.

Besides praying and worship, Saida is crowded with coffee shops in order to refresh its economic state and gather its citizens in a happy and interesting atmosphere. These coffee shops are spread in all Saida, but especially near the archeological places. For examples, at the entrance of Khan El-Franj which is an ancient and touristy place in Saida there are a lot of these shops which will be filled with people either from Saida or from other cities after the sunset. You can enter at street-level through a monumental porch under an arcaded gallery where the citizens prefer to sit in order to enjoy the mild weather especially in these summer days. There are also coffee shops that face the “Sea Castle of Saida” which is a very important archeological element and it is the favorite place of strollers searching for tranquility and the sea breeze. In addition to these places, you can find some famous old coffee shops in Saida filled with customers as if they are ants gathering on a peace of sugar. And by asking one of the customers about her opinion of Saida’s atmosphere in Ramadan she said, “It is a wonderful enterprise, it changes Saida from a normal city into a city with a vibrant economic movement. And it also changes Saida from a sleepy city into an active one.”

Tourists also have their part in this activity which will be repeated everyday in Ramadan and it will be in a continuous state from sunset till Dawn.

By: Norhan Nakouzi

The “Made in Lebanon” victory

Sunday September the second was the day of victory in Lebanon, since the Lebanese military dominated the Nahr el bared Palestinian Refugee Camp after 100 and 6 days from battling in Tripoli north Lebanon and after the death of 202 Lebanese military.

The troops were showered with rice and raised petals as smiling soldiers waved back in an hours-long parade. Some of the military vehicles carried pictures of soldiers who had died in the fighting. Fireworks crackled on the streets and patriotic songs blared over loudspeakers as people danced to the beat of the drums.

This “Made in Lebanon” victory made the Lebanese people proud of their country and military because they achieved their goal without outside interference or help and they hoped that martyrs’ souls might rest in peace. Mohammad Habash said that this victory confirmed that the Lebanese military is capable of doing any thing to keep Lebanon safe and added that they showed unquestioned loyalty to their country.

Even Palestinians supported the army and appreciated his hard work. They wanted their camp to be rebuilt in due time and added that they were against Fatah al Islam vision and plans and they believe that this group doesn’t have any relation with Islam at all. A.S Palestinian citizen said that he is proud of the Lebanese military and he added that this victory wasn’t just a Lebanese one but it was palatines as mush as a Lebanese victory.

At the end Lebanese and Palestinian citizens hoped peace and justice would be restored in Lebanon, and hoped that this situation will never be repeated on this blessed land.

By Dalia Hariri

It's Our Right to Succeed

“It’s our right to succeed” the summer camp, which is sponsored by MP Bahiya Al Hariri and headed by Nabel Bawab for the children of Saida and the nearby area, was launched on August 1st in Saida.

“It’s our right to succeed” was launched for the first time in 2004 in only 2 centers in Saida and now in 2007 it developed into 8 centers during the summer and 50 schools through the school year. This summer camp combines between activities and subject areas like languages; English, Arabic and Math. This summer camp is the result of the collaboration between the Hariri foundation and the National Organization, as Mrs. Wafica Skafi informed. She also told us that there are 250 volunteers participating in this camp. Dima Hassan, the English coordinator said, "It was important to prepare fun activities to teach the students because it was a summer camp and students must enjoy their time while learning. Learning must be enjoyable so they won't get bored". She also told us that she prepared suitable themes for each age of students and designed activities and handouts for every theme. The material prepared for every week was then handed to Mrs. Skafi to be photocopied and distributed to the centers. Dima Hassan worked with the volunteers on a weekly basis so their teaching would go smoothly.

Head supervisor Nabel Bawab said that this camp started on the first of August and it will continue till August 30th. He also said that the closing ceremony will be on September 4th in MP Bahiya Al Hariri’s villa in Majdillion and this camp will continue in winter as well. This camp contains so many activities such as recycling, art, choral, dancing, and folklore. Nabel Bawab added that this year witnessed the birth of new activities like the art of photography project that will be concluded with a photo exhibit titled “Sweet Eye” in Ayn Al Hilwi camp on September 1st, and “My family, My introduced them to their city Saida and took them to see its historical places. They also participated in community service activities by cleaning Saida beach. They also visited other villages in Lebanon to get connected to their country and to meet other kids there from other religions. The purpose of this project was to introduce the children to the other and teach them to respect and accept their differences, as Noha Bizri the project coordinator told us.

Smira Nawal Garib, the dance coordinator said that dancing is a special private activity and they had to train students for 4 dances in just 15 days to be performed in the closing ceremony on September the 4th with the help of the work team members Mona El Katib, Nriman Abu Daher, Maha Antar, Saed El Zingy, and so many others.

Mohammad Shaarawi, the music coordinator said that selecting 75 students from 200 was very hard and added that these 75 distributed in the 8 centers will perform a private song to the camp in the closing ceremony.

One of the monitors Jana Jardali, who was responsible for young kids aged 4 to 6 years old, said that these activities help children forget about the war and what they have been through and let them have a new start.

Samira Masri Kublwi, the recycling project coordinator, talked about the process of using carton, cups and many other materials and reusing them. They had made CD boxes, pen cases and copybooks.

The closing ceremony will be presented in Hariri's villa in majdillion to appreciate the hard work of these kids and the volunteers.

By Dalia Hariri