Integrated Education and Protection Response in Baalbeck El Hermel (Hermel, Al Qaa) ltpgtltspan style="font-size: 14px"gtIRC proposes an integrated project in Baalbeck El Hermel District including Al Qaa and Mashari' Al Qaa areas, comprising Education, and Gender-Based Violence. IRC with Basmeh w Zeitooneh (BZ), the implementing partner, will create a safe community-based space for children and parents, through which they can access educational opportunities with protection services, focusing on prevention and response. The project will engage with families using a community-based approach aiming to cater to both Lebanese and non-Lebanese populations equally, with emphasis on gender equality. lt/spangtltbrgtlt/pgtltpgtThis intervention aims to improve student retention rates and support the overall wellbeing and protection of public schools’ adolescents in Hermel with an inclusive approach to include 3% of students with disabilities- supported by intersectoral approach on inclusion disability. The education component addresses the challenges of retaining students in first and second shifts through comprehensive support mechanisms, which includes: ltbrgt·	Retention support (RS) to 200 cycle 3 students from 1st and 2nd shifts (Dec 2023- Apr 2024) in a community center in Hermel, in alignment with the RS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and criteria of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE), in coordination with public schools’ principals for students’ scorecards. ltbrgt·	Exam support to 80 grade 9-12 students (May-Jun 2024) ltbrgt·	Provision of teaching and learning materials and nutritious healthy snacks ltbrgt·	Cash for Education ($20) for 200 students in public schools in the area of interventions, unrestricted-conditional to school attendance following eligibility criteria/vulnerability criteria aligned with UNICEF/Cash for Education Task Force guidance.ltbrgt·	Capacity strengthening for teachers and partner staff on IRC’s Safe Healing and Learning Classrooms (SHLC) program to empower them with tools, strategies, knowledge, and skills to support child protection, wellbeing, and Social-Emotional (SEL) skills’ development through literacy and numeracy and SEL interventions in a safe learning environment.  ltbrgt· Awareness on importance of education, nutrition, CP and other topics for 3500 caregivers/community members, along with capacity

building for 80 caregivers on IRC’s Families Make the Difference (FMD) sessions to empower them with skills on positive parenting, supporting their children with psychosocial development, healthy choices, coping, building positive relationships, creating spaces for dialogue, etc. IRC will integrate GBV interventions in the community center by training BZ on GBV prevention and response. The focus will be on implementing the Girl Shine curriculum, targeting 150 adolescent girls accessing the education center and other girls from the community. Girl Shine, developed by IRC Global, equips girls with skills and knowledge to identify and seek support for different forms of GBV. ltbrgtIRC and BZ will engage 370 women and men in targeted communities, particularly parents of students accessing community center and other adults in the area. Through weekly discussion sessions, the pilot program EMAP (Engaging Men through Accountability Practices) will challenge harmful beliefs and attitudes about masculinity, gender, and power. It aims to address the root causes of GBV and promote behavioral changes that counter gender oppression. ltbrgtThroughout the prevention sessions and as identified by education staff or referred externally by other partners, the IRC will provide case management services for women and adolescent girls, in parallel, training and capacity building will be provided to BZ staff to continue the implementation as an exit strategy. ltbrgtCash and legal services will be made available to support women and adolescent girls. The IRC will collaborate with internal and external partners to ensure access to essential services, including shelter, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities. ltbrgtlt/pgtltp class="sceditor-nlf"gtltbrgtlt/pgt