TOBACCO FREE INITIATIVE LEBANON (T.F.I):
Background:
Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI) creation was initiated in May 2000 by the family of lawyer Antoine Kayrouz after his death due to a lung cancer following long years of tobacco consumption.
TFI is the only Lebanese non-governmental organization totally dedicated to tobacco prevention.
TFI received in 2008 the 1st AWARD FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (GENEVA) in the Middle East for the exceptional work achieved in the tobacco control area. TFI was also chosen in 2009 by the Ministry of Health to be member in the National Commission on Tobacco Control in Lebanon and in the regional commission for the Middle East.
Aims and Objectives:
Mission:
To fight against tobacco consumption in order to help improving the quality of life, reducing diseases and deaths due to tobacco consumption, and creating a healthy environment.
Objectives:
1. To prevent young people from starting to use tobacco.
2. To protect non-smokers from exposure to others' tobacco smoke.
3. To help smokers to stop smoking.
Priority:
Tobacco prevention among teenagers, who are the most vulnerable target among tobacco producers
STATISTICS
| Average 2001-2004 |
Cigarettes |
Narguile |
| Have tried |
37,2% |
46% |
| Regularly smoke |
12,8% |
25% |
| 2007 |
|
|
| Have tried |
26,5% |
48,4% |
| Regularly smoke |
10,5% |
29,6% |
| 2010 |
|
|
| Have tried |
32,6% |
52,35% |
| Regularly smoke |
9,5% |
16% |
PAST EVENTS 1- Tobacco Free Schools in partnership with the General Secretary of Catholic Schools
And the Ministry of Education:
Since 2001, TFI has been focusing on tobacco prevention campaigns among teenagers. It has already reached more than 35 000 students between the ages of 12 and 16, in some 100 major public and private schools, religious and non-religious, Christian and Muslim all over Lebanon.
In order to reinforce the impact of its Tobacco Prevention Campaign in schools, TFI launched in 2010 its new project: "Tobacco Free Schools" with the support of the World Health Organization, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and the General Secretary of Catholic Schools.
Objective: to transform all the schools in "Tobacco Free Schools" in Lebanon.
2 - Gathering book of projects (Beirut, World book capital):
TFI gathered in one book the best creative projects realized by teenagers over the past five years, enriched with key messages against tobacco. The book was realized with the support of the Ministry of Culture in the frame of “Beirut, World Book Capital”.
5000 copies were printed and given away for free for the first time to all our sponsors and to all who attended our event at the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day 2010. It is being distributed in all our main events.
3 - Press conference and Petition:
On its 10th anniversary, TFI organized a press conference at the Swiss Ambassador’s Residence to which Parliamentarians, Presidents of professional orders, presidents of top Non Governmental Organizations attended. During the event, TFI released a Petition initiated in collaboration with AUB and Indy Act which stated the support of the signee to a strict legislation that would be perfectly in line with the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control.
4- Participation in Beirut Marathon:
Tobacco Free Initiative participated in the 2010 Beirut Marathon under the theme "For a Smoke Free Lebanon".
This participation, which enjoyed the support of the WHO and Henkel (Persil), was a great success: it gathered, in addition to some 50 adults, a very enthusiastic group of 884 young people coming from different schools and was covered by mass Medias, which confirmed that the heaviest presence in the Marathon was for the people running for a Smoke Free Lebanon.
FUTURE EVENTS ACTION PLAN 2011:
TFI will work during this period on various levels:
1- Tobacco free schools:
TFI will continue focusing on tobacco prevention campaigns among teenagers to convert all schools into "Tobacco Free Schools" in Lebanon with the support of the World Health Organization, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the General Secretary of Catholic Schools.
2- Training of trainers:
Training of trainers in 100 associations in different regions of Lebanon (South, North, Bekaa, ...) on supporting community groups fight against tobacco.
3- Youth forum:
Creating a youth forum on the web to enable teenagers exchange and communicate their concerns on tobacco.
4- Clubs:
Create and support clubs inside schools to promote awareness and conviction on tobacco consumption, and organize activities in prevention of tobacco effects.
5- Exposition Anti-Tobacco & World No Tobacco Day
6- Awareness Campaign at the Airport
CONTACTS Contact person and title: Mrs. Nadine Kayrouz El Krab - President
Address: Byblos- Saint Georges Area- Villa Antoine Kayrouz
Telephone:00961 3 728007
Email: tfi@tfi-lb.org
Website: www.tfi-lb.org
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