Two Agreements Signed with Lebanon Minister of Social Affairs

His Royal Highness / Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz announces the founding of the bank for the poor in Lebanon and specifying scholarships for the excellent poor students in the “Open Arab University “ in Beirut Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz, President of the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND), has announced the approval of the central bank of Lebanon to found the bank for the poor, in Lebanon, within the framework of AGFUND project of fighting poverty in the Arab world This came in line with the discussions that Prince Talal held with Lebanon Minister of Social Affairs, Wael Abou Faour, at the AGFUND main headquarters in Riyadh on Saturday, October 22, 2011, where the early childhood development project has already been launched in Lebanon, and His Highness signed the project with the Minister Abu Faour. Eventually, the discussions ended in the agreement of the president of AGFUND to offer scholarships for the excellent poor students in the Open Arab University, Lebanon branch By signing the agreement of the early childhood development with AGFUND, Lebanon shall be enlisted as the twelfth Arab country that joins the group of the Arab Gulf program, one that basically aims towards finding a precise strategy that is concerned with developing the early childhood all over the Arab world The project aims towards setting a national strategy for developing the early childhood in Lebanon, in addition to establishing a training center intended for training the early childhood service providers and building their abilities. Similarly, the program targets to set methodological frameworks as well as guidelines for the activities of training children between the age of six months and three years. Moreover, the project also intends to produce brochures, booklets and educational films for the children of this previously mentioned age category, and finally, establishing an information center besides to a specialized library. Likewise, Prince Talal and Lebanon Minister of Social Affairs have also signed a memorandum of understanding (between each of the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs and the Arab Council for Childhood and Development ACCD”) intended to fund the organization of the Fourth Arab Civil Society Forum for Childhood, one that is scheduled to be hosted by Lebanon in April 2012. AGFUND together with The Arab Council for Childhood and Development ACCD finance organizing this developmental gathering since the first Arab Civil Society Forum for Childhood, one that was held in Marrakesh, Morocco 2001, whereas the other two forums have been hosted by Egypt in 2005 and 2010 respectively. The partners involved in holding the fourth forum are: The Arab Council for Childhood and Development ACCD , the Supreme Council for Childhood in Lebanon, Arab Gulf Program for Development AGFUND, the Arab League, the Scout Organization, social welfare institutions in Lebanon, the civil society organizations in the Arab countries, the National councils in the Arab countries, the children forums that were created by the Arab Council for Childhood, the UNICEF, UNESCO and Save the Children Organization Dr / Hassan Billawy, CEO of the Arab Council for Childhood and Development, performed a presentation about the perspectives of the memorandum of understanding – signed by Prince Talal and the Lebanese Minister- as well as the results expected to be achieved by the Fourth Forum for Childhood In this regard, the childhood development is considered one of AGFUND’s strategic goals. The Arab Gulf Program for Development has started in adopting the project for its being the best educational means to prepare a generation of children that are all well-set to join schools and contribute in the progress of their society, in the future. The project is demonstrated in supporting and financing the KG projects, helping it to cope with the current time and be fulfilling of the up-to-date requirements. AGFUND is responsible for executing the project in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the UNESCO. It is definitely worth mentioning, that this project was first launched in Saudi Arabia in 1409 H., and after witnessing the huge success that it achieved, it was generalized in other Arab countries. Those Countries that have signed agreements with AGFUND and made a great deal of progress in this field were as follows: Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Tunisia, Sudan, Yemen and Syria. Additionally, the center for developing and elevating the early childhood in Egypt, has become a regional center that participates in training the trainers from other countries.