In Nepal, we supported a women’s football tournament in mid-western Nepal. The eight-day young women’s football league tournament in Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur was attended by as many as 10,000 people. The competition was designed to build the confidence, leadership, team building and networking skills of local, rural women. The sports activity is part of the youth leadership component of USAID’s Flood Recovery Project that seeks to expand the participation of youth and vulnerable populations in the development process of their communities.
In Lebanon, we will hold a workshop in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism to introduce Lebanese tour operators and rural tourism stakeholders to local tourism opportunities in Akkar, upper Jbeil and Jezzine. The session aims at strengthening marketing linkages for twenty rural tourism projects assisted by USAID, including improving hiking trails, rehabilitating lodges and camping areas, and creating tourism information centers. The workshop will highlight the importance of rural and eco-tourism as income generation opportunities for rural areas and introduce tour operators to several rural tourism projects implemented with USAID assistance.
In Vietnam, we will hold a graduation ceremony for students with disabilities who are taking IT courses at Van Lang University in Ho Chi Minh City. Hundreds of students in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have benefited from training under the USAID program; 70 percent of graduates have found jobs.