The district of Bourj Hammoud is located in north-east Beirut and is considered an extension of the Lebanese capital along the Mediterranean coast. In 1952, an independent municipality was established for Bourj Hammoud, administratively separating it from the city of Beirut (Municipality, 2017). The town extends over an area of 2.4 km2 and is divided into several neighborhoods: Daoura, Haret Sader, Jisr Beirut, El-Anbari, Mar Doumit, Ghilan, and Naba’a (Municipality, 2017). Until the beginning of the 20th century, Bourj Hammoud was predominantly an agricultural area. However today, the district has become a mixed residential, industrial, and commercial area.
With a population of over 150,000, Bourj Hammoud is one of the most densely-populated …show more content…
In preparation for the visit, background information was obtained from the pre-existing literature in the district, as a non-contact method. Next, the minimal-contact assessment method was applied by conducting a windshield tour, noting the infrastructure, activity levels and the interactions between residents in order to gain an initial idea about the community (Bracht, Kingsbury & Rissel, 1999). Our observations were further validated by the interviews we conducted with a formal leader “Mokhtar” in Bourj Hammoud, as well as a representative of the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA). These interviews served as interactive contact methods that enabled us to gain insight into the district, its history, the complexity of the challenges faced by its inhabitants, and ongoing community development projects. This approach was also utilized to gain further insight on the residents’ perceptions of their community. Residents approached were randomly selected and varied between shopkeepers, pedestrians, and street-café customers. They were provided with markers and paper and asked to draw what they considered as structures essential to their community, such as schools, churches, playgrounds …show more content…
Walking through the streets, we saw multiple workshops, ateliers, and restaurants that serve traditional Armenian specialty dishes, as well as, Lebanese and international cuisines. Despite the area’s relative brisk business atmosphere poverty glares at one as you move around constantly approached by beggars. Locals encountered identify them as, the children and female family members of Syrian refugees seeking assistance to aid the family to survive their harsh conditions that are further exacerbated by the lack of formal employment. Consequently, these children seldom attend schools and some were noted to sleep under the bridge at
With a population of over 150,000, Bourj Hammoud is one of the most densely-populated …show more content…
In preparation for the visit, background information was obtained from the pre-existing literature in the district, as a non-contact method. Next, the minimal-contact assessment method was applied by conducting a windshield tour, noting the infrastructure, activity levels and the interactions between residents in order to gain an initial idea about the community (Bracht, Kingsbury & Rissel, 1999). Our observations were further validated by the interviews we conducted with a formal leader “Mokhtar” in Bourj Hammoud, as well as a representative of the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA). These interviews served as interactive contact methods that enabled us to gain insight into the district, its history, the complexity of the challenges faced by its inhabitants, and ongoing community development projects. This approach was also utilized to gain further insight on the residents’ perceptions of their community. Residents approached were randomly selected and varied between shopkeepers, pedestrians, and street-café customers. They were provided with markers and paper and asked to draw what they considered as structures essential to their community, such as schools, churches, playgrounds …show more content…
Walking through the streets, we saw multiple workshops, ateliers, and restaurants that serve traditional Armenian specialty dishes, as well as, Lebanese and international cuisines. Despite the area’s relative brisk business atmosphere poverty glares at one as you move around constantly approached by beggars. Locals encountered identify them as, the children and female family members of Syrian refugees seeking assistance to aid the family to survive their harsh conditions that are further exacerbated by the lack of formal employment. Consequently, these children seldom attend schools and some were noted to sleep under the bridge at