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Arcenciel was created in 1984, authorized in 1985 by the Lebanese Ministry of Interior, and recognized as a public utility in November 1995 (presidential decree n° 7541). Arcenciel is an apolitical, non-confessional, non-profit and independent organization that works with and for all people in difficulty without discrimination based on age, gender, religion, culture or nationality. Created during the Lebanese civil war to assist people with disabilities (PwDs), Arcenciel has become one of the first technical aid producers in Lebanon, rehabilitating spaces for disabled persons, and developing a national program to economically and socially integrate them back to society and attain access to their basic rights. Arcenciel’s main achievement in this field is the law 220 /2000 “Access and Rights” which created a national program for the inclusion of PwDs in Lebanon. Through lobbying with community leaders and local authorities, Arcenciel succeeded in the issuance and approval of the law 220/2000 by the Lebanese Parliament in June 2000; which secures the rights of PwDs, and defines the quota of employees with disabilities that must be respected by the public and private sectors. Drawing on its success, we broadened our mission to “engage in the sustainable development of the society by supporting fragile groups and integrating marginalized people”.

We work for people with difficulties, including PwDs; mentally, intellectually or physically. Our activities aim to socially and economically reintegrate the PwDs as well as other marginalized people and communities through our needs-based services. We believe that every person, no matter the gravity of their handicap, is capable of overcoming their disability and contributing to their communities. We support the diversity of society, and encourage the sustainability and conservation of natural resources in all aspects of our work. Arcenciel is representative of numerous vulnerable groups: PwDs, vulnerable women, marginalized youth, fragile children, people without resources, victims of the recent blast…

Since its creation, Arcenciel has provided more than 40 million services to more than 400.000 beneficiaries. We also treat 85% of Lebanon’s hospital waste and recycle 915 tons of solid waste a year; we manage the 2 km² Jesuit “Domaine de Taanayel” through which it promotes sustainable agriculture, production of fresh Dairy Products and responsible tourism through its eco-touristic activities and the empowerment of local agriculture workers in training and skills development. Our objective is to promote sustainable development through three main axes: Social: care of persons in need, Environmental: the preservation of natural resources and Economic: the cost-efficiency and financial autonomy.

We work in various fields and interfere in many situations in order to help vulnerable people and make their situation better. With 5 core programs, we are fulfilling our main goal to work and help people in need: 1- Agriculture and Environment; 2- Mobility and Health; 3- Responsible Tourism and Cultural Heritage; 4- Social Support and Housing; and 5- Education and Employment, being implemented in 14 centers distributed across Lebanon with running offices in France and the USA. Our centers serve the identified needs of the communities through outreach and social workers, in addition to partner referrals. We currently have 608 remunerated staff (235 females, with 45% of managerial positions filled by women, 187 PwDs). Our team welcomes people with social difficulties such as ex-drug addicts, ex-prisoners, abused women, etc.

Arcenciel succeeded after the Beirut port blast to launch a major reconstruction operation covering the rehabilitation of residential and business units, the provision of medical and health equipment, numerous food and clothes provision schemes to more than 35 000 beneficiaries, the restoration of furniture equipment, the collection of 50 thousand tons of glass for recycling and the distribution of 870 tons of in kind donations (foods, clothes, furniture, household equipment etc.). We succeeded in raising funds from donations and projects to this operation close to 5 million USD.Arcenciel also empowers marginalized youth through its circus school Cirquenciel, a specialized school for disabled children in Taanayel accredited by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Rainbow clubs open for all youths (free of charge sports and recreational activities centers). We also run gender based programs to empower women in working in our restaurant Khan el Maksoud in Taanayel and in our Boutique Sociale in Sed el Bawchrieh and Halba among others.

Arcenciel has received various awards over the years; for innovation in the social enterprise sector, its fight for social justice and its environmental preservation work among others. We publish yearly our financial situation and impact report.