Seminar on
evaluation of student achievement
This
was organized and held in November of 1993. The Hariri Foundation
published a book -Educational Evaluation As a Tool to Guide the
Educational Process. That first seminar was followed by a number
of other ones on:
- Evaluation as it relates to the
French language, November 1994
Evaluation
as it relates to the English language, April 1995- Evaluating achievement in
mathematics, February 1997 (Focused on the official government
examinations as they relate to the prescribed curriculum)
- Teaching Fine Arts (included an
exhibition of Hariri Foundation students), December 1995
The
Hariri Foundation continues to conceive, design and implement
other seminars on sciences, the Arabic language & social
sciences.
Honoring outstanding Hariri Foundation
students
In
an attempt to improve the academic standards of all universities
operating in Lebanon and to encourage students to compete for
excellence, the Hariri Foundation holds a yearly ceremony to honor
the most outstanding Hariri Foundation students whether they are
studying in Lebanon or abroad. These ceremonies are held under the
patronage of Mr. and Mrs. Hariri. The most outstanding students
are usually decorated for their performance or given special
medals. This activity has become a tradition since 1992. Parents
expect to be invited and look with anticipation to see their
children congratulated by Hariri. Such activities, influenced by
the spirit of positive competition, have without doubt helped to
raise the number of outstanding students from 12.5 to 43 per
thousand in 1996.
Sidon Cultural Center
This
center was established in Sidon in 1982. Its major aim was to
encourage, promote and sponsor the works of Lebanese literary
figures and artists in general, and of southerners in particular.
A big hall was set aside for artists to exhibit works or pieces of
art that revive Lebanese heritage. Panels and lectures prepared by
experts were also provided and encouraged, and were held in Husam
Eddine Hariri Hall.
Arab Book Exhibition
In
cooperation with the Arab Cultural Club in Beirut, the Hariri
Foundation organized an Arab book exhibition to extend the chance
to the Lebanese, particularly southerners, to keep in touch with
what is new. For example, in 1996 ninety-nine publishing companies
exhibited nearly 36,000 books. The Hariri Foundation honored many
writers and poets for the tremendous impact they left on the lives
of their readers.
Academic & Cultural Activities
As
the Hariri Foundation values cultural and academic activities in
the form of seminars, lectures, exhibitions, etc., it has also
assisted other organizations that encourage such activities.
Assistance and support are extended to them in the basic belief
that such concerns should be shared and extended to many. All new
developments should be made available to keep people informed.
Athletic And Social Activities
The
following are just a few of the complexes that the Hariri
Foundation is involved in promoting and supporting:
Sidon Athletic Complex
It
was established in 1989 in Al-Kayyaa , Sidon, on an area of 6,500
square meters. Its facilities comprise tennis courts, a ping pong
hall, a football field, showers and dressing rooms. This complex
takes part in tournaments held yearly for Arab leagues as well as
for local and school teams. It organizes and implements the plans
for the Independence Round"and that of Husam Eddin Hariri.
Most significant is its concern for preparing and training the
young generations in sports programs to become healthy adults.
Health Center for the Old City of Sidon
This
center was established in Rijal Al-Arba'een Street in 1986 in
collaboration with the Save the Children Agency. At present it is
run and operated by the Hariri Foundation itself. It comprises
five sections: Family medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, clinics
and pharmacy. It also carries out campaigns for periodic
vaccination of children against communicable diseases and
awareness campaigns throughout the city of Sidon, the neighboring
villages and schools, both public and private. The center has
sections for laboratory tests and X-Rays.
The committee that supports public school students
In
an attempt to strengthen the place the public school holds and the
role it plays in educating the children of the families whose
income is at subsistence level, MP. Mrs. Bahia Hariri formed this
committee. She believes that public education is "the melting
pot" where all students are nurtured and raised to be truly
integrated Lebanese citizens. This committee supports the public
school and its students by providing them with books, office
supplies, libraries, laboratory equipment, and, on various
occasions, builds classrooms to meet a need as it arises.