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Partners: Nahnoo, UNOPS
Funding: KfW Development Bank
Collaborators: Beirut municipality, Circus Hub, The Moving Circus, Assabil Association
As part of our ongoing efforts to activate the Karantina Public Park, a diverse programme of community-based activities was implemented under the SIMA project: Strengthening Urban Services and Community Resilience in Lebanon. The project aimed to strengthen social cohesion by encouraging inclusive participation and shared use of public space.
The programme was developed to encourage engagement, shared ownership, and interaction among diverse groups. These activities included co-design sessions, storytelling, structured play activities, eco-craft sessions, gender awareness activities, Zumba classes, animal care days, and large public events including a circus carnival and the Lebanon Independence Day celebration.
Over 1,200 people were engaged through this sustained programme of activities, the park became a welcoming space for learning, play, and social exchange. Participation across age groups and neighbourhoods contributed to rebuilding trust, strengthening social ties, and reinforcing the park’s role as a shared public asset.
“I’ve been joining CatalyticAction activities in Karantina Park since 2016. I always look forward to what comes next. Being part of shaping the space made us feel attached to the park and helped us create lasting memories here.”
One of the key participatory activities in the park was the wellbeing and social cohesion sessions, which played a vital role in addressing stress and isolation while expanding access to shared public spaces. Through inclusive and participatory activities,12 adults from the Sayde sub-neighborhood visited Karantina Public Park for the first time, an especially significant step in an area where social tensions have historically limited access for certain communities.
This experience demonstrated how community-led programming can break down barriers, encourage diverse participation, and reinforce public parks as shared, safe, and welcoming environments that support both mental wellbeing and social connection.
“I’ve lived in Al-Saydeh neighborhood for over 30 years, and this is my first time knowing there is a public park here that I can access. Our movement has long been limited by fear linked to past events from the war.”
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