Hasroun is a scenic mountain village located in the district of Bcharreh in North Lebanon with a population of 14,300 Lebanese residents and 700 Syrian refugees. It is known for its natural beauty, traditional Lebanese architecture, and rich cultural heritage that attracts tourists. As such, the municipality of Hasroun hosts various festivals throughout the year, particularly its three-day summer flower festival, which is one of the most advertised events that usually attracts thousands of visitors. However, the nationwide economic crisis since 2019 limited the municipality’s ability to rent the needed equipment and tools to hold such events, which impacted the livelihoods of village shop owners and merchants who mostly rely on these occasions to boost sales. In response, on July 11, 2024, USAID’s Community Support Program (CSP) provided the municipality of Hasroun with a 24m2 stage, and equipped it with a sound and lighting system. The latter reduced municipal costs on rental fees, site preparation, and installation. To ensure sustainability of this intervention, CSP also trained municipal workers on the operation and maintenance of the provided equipment, safe preventive maintenance, and proper storage.

On July 26, the municipality of Hasroun held its three-day flower festival, gathering visitors from all over the country around festivities, musical concerts, family attractions with food courts, and around 120 stands exhibiting local crafts and products.

“This year’s festival was very successful despite the overall security situation in the country. It has attracted more than 20,000 people to the village. The installed stage with its sound and lighting system provided by USAID were of great use, and we did not encounter any technical issues throughout the event”, said Gerard Semaani,, Mayor of Hasroun Municipality.