Halba – 1996

History
 
Halba, the capital town of Akkar is located at the crossroads of major highways that go through the entire region of northern Lebanon. The establishment of an arcenciel center there was imperative to serve the disadvantaged population of the post-war era.

In 1993, arcenciel acquired some property there. It is thanks to funding from the European Union (75%), Handicap International (15%) and local input (10%) that the construction could begin. Since 1993, community work began in the region even before the construction of the center. Depending on demands, technical aids were delivered from Beirut.

Key Dates  

1996 : official inauguration of the center in Halba

2000:  the center is accredited by the Ministry of Social Affairs for distribution of technical aid.

The usable area of the center is of 1900 m2 spread out on three floors: 

• a swimming pool and a workshop for technical aids fabrication and repair are found in the basement
• the Ministry of Social Affairs office, the reception, a local rainbow club and a cafeteria are found on the ground floor  
• found on the 1st floor are utilities, a physiotherapy clinic, a library and conference rooms as well as medical and dental consultations. Also an office was set up for the organization “AND” (Akkar network for development)

Facilites and activities

Accessibility and mobility program 

• a diagnostic office and delivery of disabled   identity cards
• a workshop for the production and repair of technical aid
• the distribution of technical aid (crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, Seat-Braces)
• the manufacturing of crutches
• a framing workshop

Youth Program

• basketball, aerobics, audio-visuals, billiards, foosball, music, table tennis.
• language, computer and extracurricular courses, board games, library,summer camp

Health Program

• a dental office
• three rooms for physiotherapy
• private medical consultations
• a pharmacy
• speech therapy
• psychomotor therapy

Social Program

• a social store for anyone in need and especially Palestinian, Iraqi and Syrian refugees
• community based rehabilitation
• an accommodation for young scouts

Environmental Project

• plastic waste collection

New projects

• estabishment of an arcenciel relief unit in Wadi Khaled along with the support of UNICEF. Services for refugees such as dental care, general medical care, physiotherapy, distribution of technical aids, as well as a social store are available.