Hasroun is a scenic mountain village located in North Lebanon’s Becharreh district. It is home to 14,300 Lebanese residents and 700 Syrian refugees. Known for its traditional Lebanese architecture and rich cultural heritage, it holds a three-day summer flower festival, which attracts thousands of visitors over the years. Since 2019, the economic crisis has limited the municipality’s ability to hold
such events, which in turn has impacted the livelihoods of shop owners and merchants. In response, in July 2024, USAID’s Community Support Program (CSP) equipped Hasroun with a 24m 2 stage and a sound and lighting system to enhance its touristic infrastructure. This has enabled the municipality to hold its three-day flower festival on July 26 which included approximately 120 stands exhibiting local crafts and products. To complement these initiatives, and to enhance the safety and security of residents and visitors, CSP completed the installation of 135 LED streetlamps along the village’s main streets. The streetlights became fully operational on September 13, 2024.  This intervention decreased the cost of lighting, expected to generate comprehensive savings per year for the municipality. CSP has also provided trainings to municipal workers on the operation and maintenance of the streetlamps, coupled with easy-to- follow guidelines. “This comprehensive project allowed the municipality of Hasroun to successfully carry out its festivals and activities, even at night, thanks to the new and efficient streetlights. It has paved the way for new opportunities for young people and has boosted economic growth”, said Gerard Semaani, Mayor of Hasroun. Hasroun recently received 118 displaced persons who are also benefiting from the more efficient USAID-funded streetlights.