Baalbeck Temple…in the Heart of Baalbeck

Through several field studies and focus groups with different social and age categories (traders, youth, etc.), we perceived the absence of relations between Baalbeck’s residents, especially young ones, and between the temple of its city as well as the festivals annually organized in this space.

Therefore, NAHNOO launched the campaign ‘Baalbeck temples…in the heart of Baalbeck’ to economically and socially develop the city of Baalbeck by reconnecting the temple with its surroundings and enhancing the relation between Baalbeck’s residents and the international festivals taking place inside the city’s temple.

Among other actions, the campaign suggests the expansion of Baalbeck’s festivals in time and space, the development of its programs, the involvement of the city’s youth in the different activities related to the festivals and the temple, as well as the allocation of a part of the festivals’ revenues for the development of the city.

Campaign Objectives

  • Including the city of Baalbeck on the list of Lebanese touristic cities.
  • Canceling the entry fees to Baalbeck temple for the residents of the city
  • Connecting the International Baalbek Festivals to the city of Baalbeck through a city-wide policy.

 

We advocate for the promotion of public spaces, accessible to all, which provide a place for those sharing Lebanon’s cities to come together regardless of their personal and social backgrounds. We believe that providing equal access to neutral public spaces fosters unity and encourages positive dialogue between different communities within Lebanese society.

Campaign Highlights

July 2013 - Feb 2014
Series of life skills and advocacy training workshops to 15 youth in Baalbeck

March 2014
Campaign publicly launched under the “Public Space, Public Life” program

July 2014
Public discussion held in Baalbeck about the economic development of the city and the temple’s potential role in it

April 2014
“Open Day in Baalbeck” with a series of free guided tours and visits to the temple