Bzebdine
The Women of Bzebdine Speak Out! (Issue 11, Sep 2009)
Improving their community for their families and loved ones has always motivated the actions of the women of Bzebdine. This small town of 4.82 km2 has had its share of difficulty with its municipality which the women describe as “ineffective.” “This can no longer be the case; in the next elections, we need to make sure we are represented by responsive and dynamic individuals,” added one of the participants.
And so it was born; the Citizen Lebanon group, led by facilitators from the Permanent Peace Movement. The group held regular meetings that resulted in the development and drafting of an alternative electoral campaign by the women of Bzebdine…one that is reflective of the true needs and concerns of the community. With the municipal elections slated for May 2010, the women of Bzebdine decided not to stand idly by, but rather speak out in a structured manner and outline what their expectations are for any new municipal council.
The women of Bzebdine outlined the following values, principles, and key issues or policies that future candidates should support:
1. Increased representation of women and youth within the municipal council
2. Participatory and responsive municipal budgeting
3. Increased participation of Bzebdine citizens in municipal decision-making
4. Rehabilitation of the potable water channel
5. Expansion of public transportation
6. Activation of the Bzebdine youth club
7. Reactivation of the small clinic
8. Establishment of a handcrafts shop or factory for women
The group of women will present their alternative platform to all candidates running for the
2010 municipal elections and candidates that agree to support these issues and campaign on them will receive the women’s support as the competition intensifies and the election draws near.
The group will continue to meet to finalize and print the alternative platform and to devise a strategy of promoting it to municipal candidates ahead of the spring elections.
— Permanent Peace Movement – Baabda Team —