Women's Association of Deir el Ahmar (WADA)

Bekaa, Lebanon

Winner of the

Dubai International Award

on sustainable rural development

Deir el Ahmar has a strategic location between the fertile Beqaa plain and the western mountains chain of Lebanon.

The village altitudes vary between 1,050m and 1,150m above sea level.

Many roads lead from Lebanon's major coastal cities to Deir El Ahmar:

1. Beirut, Baabda, Dahr el Baydar, Chtaura, Zahleh, Baalbeck, Deir el Ahmar (104km)
2. Beirut, Antelias, Bikfaya, Tarchich, Zahleh, Baalbeck, Deir el Ahmar
3. Beirut, Zouk, Faraya, Ouyoun el Simane, Deir el Ahmar (101km)
4. Beirut, Nahr Ibrahim, Afqa, Hadath Baalbeck, Deir el Ahmar
5. Beirut, Chekka, Amioun, Becharreh, Cedars, Deir el Ahmar (157km)

Some of these roads are closed by snow a few days or weeks during winter (January, February, March). The road via Dahr el Baydar is the most accessible during winter.

1. From Syriac, Deir Ohmor, means the monastery of the brother or the master
2. "Red monastery", after massacres between Christian factions

Snow covers the village only few weeks during winter (January, February, March), and some roads leading to the village may be temporarily closed during this period.

This weather, as well as the strategic location makes Deir el Ahmar an ideal destination for tourism.

• Roman period:
  • During the third century A.D., roman emperor Caracalla built the temple of Jupiter
• Byzantine period:
  • Saydet el Borj (Our Lady of the Tower) church built on the ruins of the temple of Jupiter
  • Qasr el Benet (The castle of the King's daughter) near Chlifa
• 7th-16th century:
  • This is the Syriac, Jacobite and Arab period
  • Temple of Jupiter became the center of the Syriac-Jacobites christians
  • Ruled by the arabs
  • Earth quakes in 1158 and 1202
• 16th-19th century period:
  • Maronites shepherds from Becharreh and Aakoura established in the region Deir el Ahmar
• 19th century period:
  • Other maronites families from Becharreh, Aakoura, Byblos and Batroun established and formed the village of Deir el Ahmar

The Deir el Ahmar region including the surrounding villages population is around 55,000 people.

Voting people are around 5,000 persons.

The people of Deir el Ahmar are well known for their dynamism and for keeping the rural lebanese traditions:

• Hospitality
• Traditional gastronomy: Mezzeh, Tabbouleh, Kebbeh, etc.
• Traditional wedding ceremonies: traditional songs, dances & poems (zaffeh), traditional religious ceremonies, etc.
• Traditional clothes for folkloric occasions:
  • men wear traditional "sherwal", the "Ghombaz" and "tarboush" or "Kafiat and Ighal" on the head
  • women wear "abbaya"
• Etc.

The region has a good potential for tourism due to its mild climate, its strategic location and the variety of the surrounding historical and archeological sites.

Unfortunately, both sectors, agriculture and tourism, still need a lot of enhancements.

The region is one of the poorest regions of Lebanon.

A study conducted the UNDP/Baalbeck/Hermel estimated the average income to $600/year/person (national average: $2,500/year/person).

An economical and demographic study conducted in Deir el Ahmar by Dr Gaby Saliba in 2001 highlights the following problems:

• High emigration of youth [62% of population]
• Lack of high education, especially in large families
• Role of women in development
• Unemployment

• Dany Thomas, from Deir el Ahmar, famous Lebanese-American entertainer Born Muzyad Yakhoob, he began his show biz career in 1932 as a singer at a Detroit radio station; he began performing as an MC-comedian in nightclubs in 1938 and gradually gained popularity and national recognition over the next decade. He debuted onscreen in 1947, going on to a brief film career in corny lead roles or comic supporting parts. He was much more successful on TV, starring in the long-running sitcom Make Room for Daddy (later re-named The Danny Thomas Show); he also starred in a number of specials and made guest appearances on variety shows. In the late '50s Thomas began producing for TV, forming a partnership with Sheldon Leonard and later Aaron Spelling; he produced such series as The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Gomer Pyle, and The Mod Squad. He also starred in several failed TV shows including The Danny Thomas Hour and Make Room for Granddaddy. He founded the St. Jude's Research Hospital, which is dedicated to finding cures for catastrophic chidren's diseases. He was the father of actress Marlo Thomas. He authored an autobiography, Make Room for Danny (1990).
• Elias el Najjar, from Deir el Ahmar, famous traditional poet & singer (Aataba)

• March 19: Saint Joseph, ceremony in Saint Joseph Church in Deir el Ahmar

• July 20: Saint Elias, ceremonies in Mar Elias church in Deir el Ahmar

• August 15: Ceremonies in Our Lady of Bechouat

• September 14: Cross, ceremonies in all churches

• ??: Mar Nohra, ceremonies in Mar Nohra church in Deir el Ahmar & Btedeii