himaya

Author: kjiche11@gmail.com

  • Together to Protect the Children of Lebanon

    Together to Protect the Children of Lebanon

    In 2023, himaya announced a collaboration with actress Maguy Bou Ghosn as its Media Ambassador, marking the beginning of a shared effort to raise awareness about child abuse and encourage communities to take action.

    Launched under the theme “Together to Protect the Children of Lebanon,” the collaboration reflects a shared belief that protecting children requires the involvement of everyone. Through awareness campaigns, public initiatives, and media engagement, the partnership aims to spark conversations around child abuse, promote early recognition of warning signs, and encourage the reporting of suspected cases.

    The collaboration was introduced following a powerful awareness video featuring Maguy Bou Ghosn. What initially appeared to be a real-life scene of child abuse was later revealed to be staged, highlighting a reality that many children experience behind closed doors every day. The campaign challenged viewers to move beyond simply watching and instead become active participants in protecting children.

    As Media Ambassador, Maguy Bou Ghosn continues to support himaya’s mission by using her platform to amplify key child protection messages and encourage individuals, families, and communities to speak up when they suspect a child may be at risk.

    The collaboration reflects himaya’s ongoing commitment to working with influential voices to make child protection more visible, reduce the stigma surrounding reporting, and reinforce the message that every child deserves to grow up in a safe and protective environment.

  • Let Hope Shine Through Gala

    Let Hope Shine Through Gala

    In June 2025, himaya organized the Let Hope Shine Through Gala, a fundraising evening dedicated to supporting child protection services and reaffirming a shared commitment to creating safer childhoods across Lebanon.

    Hosted at Place de l’Étoile in Downtown Beirut, the Gala brought together supporters, partners, public figures, artists, media personalities, and representatives of institutions who believe that every child deserves to grow free from violence. The evening featured performances by renowned Lebanese artists, inspiring moments of reflection, and a live art auction made possible through the generous contributions of artists, galleries, and supporters from Lebanon and abroad.

    A defining moment of the evening was the launch of himaya’s national awareness campaign, إذا معك خبر، عطينا خبر (“If You Know Something, Say Something”). Introduced by himaya’s media ambassador, actress Maguy Bou Ghosn, the campaign calls on everyone to take responsibility by reporting suspected cases of child abuse. It reflects a simple but powerful belief: protecting children begins when someone chooses to speak up.

    More than a fundraising event, the Let Hope Shine Through Gala celebrated the power of collective action. Every contribution, every partnership, and every act of support helps himaya continue preventing violence, responding to child abuse, and ensuring that children and families across Lebanon have access to the protection and services they need.

  • Family-Based Alternative Care Initiative

    Family-Based Alternative Care Initiative

    Since 2018, himaya has been implementing the Family-Based Alternative Care initiative in partnership with UNICEF and Save the Children to support children’s right to grow within safe family environments rather than residential care institutions.

    Over the years, the initiative expanded through collaboration with partners including UPEL, TDH Lausanne, and IRC, becoming an important child protection pathway for children requiring temporary alternative care and protection.

    Through family-based placements, children receive individualized care, emotional support, and stability while efforts continue to prioritize their best interest and, whenever possible, support reintegration within their biological families.

  • LEGO Activities Supporting Children’s Wellbeing

    LEGO Activities Supporting Children’s Wellbeing

    As part of himaya’s child protection and wellbeing approach, LEGO activities continue to provide children with safe and engaging spaces to play, express themselves, and reconnect with others during difficult times.

    Through guided building activities, storytelling, and group challenges, children are encouraged to strengthen communication, problem-solving, creativity, and emotional expression in a child-friendly and non-intrusive way. The sessions also support psychosocial wellbeing by helping children process emotions, build resilience, and regain a sense of safety and routine, particularly during periods of conflict and instability.

    Implemented with children of different age groups, and sometimes alongside parents and caregivers, LEGO activities have become an important playful tool that combines learning, healing, and positive interaction within protective environments.

  • Children Municipal Councils Empowering Young Voices

    Children Municipal Councils Empowering Young Voices

    Through the Children Municipal Council (CMC) initiative, himaya continues to support children and adolescents in becoming active participants in their communities and local decision-making processes.

    Implemented in partnership with municipalities and national stakeholders, the initiative creates safe and inclusive spaces where young people can express their needs, develop leadership and life skills, and contribute to initiatives related to child rights, protection, and community wellbeing.

    Today, Children Municipal Councils are active in areas including Jounieh, Jbeil, Zahle, and Majdel Anjar, with plans to expand the initiative to additional regions across Lebanon. himaya continues to provide technical support, coordination, and guidance to municipalities and youth members as they develop and implement activities responding to the needs of their communities.

  • Board Games Turning Learning Into Play

    Board Games Turning Learning Into Play

    As part of its prevention and child protection approach, himaya developed a series of interactive board games designed to help children learn through play in safe, engaging, and child-friendly ways.

    Used during activities, awareness sessions, and safe space interventions, the games introduce children to key child protection and gender-based violence messages while strengthening life skills, decision-making, safety awareness, and self-expression. The initiative includes games focusing on child rights, child labor, protection and safety at work, and life skills, as well as adapted games designed to support children with disabilities in learning about their rights.

    Designed with inclusion at the center, the games allow children of different ages, backgrounds, genders, and abilities to participate, interact, and learn together. Some games have also been adapted into life-size versions used in Safe Parks and community activities, transforming learning into an interactive and playful experience for children and families.

  • Creating Safe Spaces for Children Across Lebanon

    Creating Safe Spaces for Children Across Lebanon

    Through its Safe Spaces approach, himaya works to create and strengthen child-friendly environments where children can feel safe, access supportive activities, and reconnect with play, learning, and positive social interaction within their communities.

    Over the years, himaya has supported the establishment and rehabilitation of Safe Parks, Safe Rooms, and child-friendly spaces in partnership with municipalities and local actors across Lebanon. These spaces are designed to provide children with safe, inclusive, and accessible environments that support their wellbeing, psychosocial recovery, self-expression, and protection, particularly during periods of crisis, conflict, and instability. More than physical spaces, safe rooms and parks have become welcoming environments where children can reconnect with routine, participation, learning, and a sense of safety within their communities.

    Beyond the physical spaces themselves, the initiative focuses on building sustainable community-based protection networks by training local actors, engaging municipalities, equipping youth and volunteers, and strengthening child protection practices within the spaces. Today, Safe Spaces continue to serve as protective environments where children can safely play, participate, express themselves, and simply experience childhood.

  • Community Theatre Giving Communities a Voice

    Community Theatre Giving Communities a Voice

    Through community theatre activities, himaya uses drama, storytelling, and performance as interactive tools to raise awareness, encourage dialogue, and engage children, youth, and communities around important social and protection issues.

    Implemented through participatory activities such as role-play, collective storytelling, and performances, community theatre creates safe and creative spaces where participants can express themselves, reflect on real-life challenges, and deliver messages related to child protection, gender-based violence, wellbeing, and social issues affecting their communities.

    Beyond awareness, the approach helps strengthen communication skills, confidence, empathy, and participation, while encouraging communities to become more engaged in prevention and protection efforts. Today, community theatre continues to serve as one of himaya’s interactive community-based tools used to promote dialogue, learning, and positive social change.

  • “Listen” Music for Development Curriculum

    “Listen” Music for Development Curriculum

    Through “Listen,” its Music for Development curriculum, himaya uses music and creative expression as tools to support children and adolescents in building life skills, strengthening resilience, and expressing themselves in safe and engaging ways.

    Implemented through focused psychosocial support activities, the curriculum combines music, movement, listening, and group interaction to help children develop communication, teamwork, self-confidence, emotional expression, and stress management skills, while also introducing key child protection messages in child-friendly ways.

    Over the years, “Listen” activities have been implemented with children and youth in shelters, vulnerable communities, and emergency settings, including after the Beirut Port explosion and during periods of conflict and war in Lebanon. Today, the curriculum continues to create spaces where children can reconnect with enjoyment, creativity, participation, and emotional wellbeing through music and collective expression.