Under the UNDP Peace Building work, 56 intermediate public schools across Lebanon participated in the VFS since its launch in 2014. Since then, the VFS has been supported with funds from Germany through the KfW Development Bank, UKaid, Norway and Mexico. Currently, 17 new schools have joined the VFS initiative. The UNDP led this initiative with close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. Teachers and principals across the schools engaged children and parents from Syrian and Lebanese communities to create a culture of practice that aimed to identify and act upon various forms of violence. This report collates the key processes, outcomes and reflections of participating stakeholders to highlight how the VFS initiative has contributed to peace education and social stability through formal education.

Information for this report is drawn from published documentation on the VFS work in 56 schools over three academic years (2015- 16, 2016-17, 2017-18) and key informant
interviews. The UNDP prepared a number  of reports and films documenting the
training and school activities. Interviews with key informants from the MEHE, UNDP and CAC and a sample of parents and their children provided testimonial evidence on personal experiences and observations. Although school observations were planned, schools remained closed because of the pandemic.