Supporting high-potential and high-impact projects since 2020
Since 2019, Lebanon has been experiencing multiple and intense crises: political, economical, and geopolitical. This multi-factorial instability has led many civil society actors to launch initiatives addressing pressing social and environmental issues and compensating for the shortcomings of the Lebanese state.
The October 2019 revolution, in particular, encouraged the emergence of numerous projects led by young people eager to see structural changes in society. The “Omdi” program was launched in 2020 in this context as a result of a shared desire between the French Institute and makesense to support these initiatives in order to help them get off the ground and ensure their long-term viability, in other words, to help them “Go ahead” (meaning of “Omdi” in Arabic).
From 2020 to 2022, the “Omdi” program was supported by the French Institute and focused on projects in their initial stages. Between 2022 and 2025, the “Omdi” program was taken over by the CDCS (Crisis and Support Center) and supported fewer but more mature initiatives aiming at strengthening their impact in the long term.
Since 2025, the “Omdi” program has moved on to tailor-made support for 4 organizations, still funded by the CDCS.
This evolution in the projects supported has not distanced this partnership from its original objective: to help organizations with high sustainability potential expand and strengthen their social and environmental impact through financial and technical assistance with a curated and human-centered approach.
Discover the supported projects
Gold Clinic is a free-of-charge clinic targeting the underprivileged older adults in Lebanon. The clinic provides completely free of charge medical services including: primary care clinic visits, specilty referrals, medications, laboratory tests, imaging studies and psychological interventions.
2020
The mission of Green Track is to educate the Lebanese people about sorting at source by raising awareness, collecting and re-sorting of the waste, and selling the collected recyclables to industrial companies who use them as raw material for their operation.
2020
Plastc Lab is trying to make the economy more circular, by collecting plastic waste, sorting it, shredding it, and producing new items made from recycled plastic.
2020-2022
Youth Against Corruption is a youth-led initiative contributing to control and prevent corruption in more innovative and efficient ways. Through social innovation and entrepreneurship, YAC wants to inform and inspire youth to have their own opinion, make informed socio-political choices, and move to action through sessions and workshops.
2020
Bildits was created by two engineers who felt they never had a chance to put their learnings into practice when they were young. This educational STEM product encourage youth to learn by doing while developing their soft skills (problem-solving, team-building, planning, etc).
2021
Beekeepers are suffering from a shortage of wax and the increase of wax prices. This project at the agricultural village of Baalbak aims to recycle wax in order to fulfill beekeepers needs and support honey production in spite of the economic crisis.
2021-2022
Omdi was supporting Live Love Recycle in partnership with Green Track, Plastc Lab and Tripulley to offer a free recycling service to Tripoli inhabitants.
2021-2022
Esprits Libres purpose is to offer an innovative, inclusive, and sustainable educational system to children and teenagers in the Hermel region. They have three types of activities: a cultural center, a school and a field used to train to permaculture, support families and generate revenues.
2021-2022-2023-2024
Tri-Pulley is an initiative that is trying to “pulley” vulnerable families in Tripoli and those affected by the Beirut explosion by matching unemployed skilled individuals to other vulnerable families.
2021-2022-2023-2024
Read about how Omdi supported Tri-Pulley in this article.
Garbaliser collects organic waste among farmers and individuals in the Bekaa region and transforms this waste into a liquid fertilizer. This fertilizer is used by farmers and participates in promoting sustainable agriculture in the Bekaa region.
2023-2024
Read about how Omdi supported Garbaliser in this article.
WingWoman empowers women in Beirut’s suburbs (Chatila and Dora) by training and employing them to produce reusable pads and diapers.
2023-2024
Read about how Omdi supported WingWoman in this article.
Agonista supports the economic inclusion of people with disabilities in the hospitality, food, and retail sectors in Beirut. The project raises awareness among employers to encourage inclusive internships, provides a 90-hour vocational training for 20 participants to prepare them for internships and jobs, and strengthens its catering activity through improved marketing to grow the business and hire more people with disabilities.
2025, 2026
Tres Marias strengthens the autonomy of migrant domestic workers in Bourj Hammoud by providing food distribution, professional training, and educational activities for their children. The project renovates its space to improve food production and sales, organizes 5 vocational training cycles for 75 women, and offers music therapy classes for the children of migrant workers.
2025, 2026
MMKN supports public school students across Lebanon through psychosocial support, academic tutoring, and career guidance. The project provides 8 psychosocial sessions to 300 students affected by war and displacement, academic support to 1,000 students in 32 schools, and career orientation sessions to help 1,000 students make informed decisions about their future.
2025, 2026
makesense, in partnership with Tri-Pulley and with the support of Key of Life, supports women in Akkar to access and sustain employment. The project organizes two vocational training cycles for 18 women, connects them with job opportunities, and provides close coaching during the first six months of employment to ensure that at least 12 women successfully complete this period.
2025, 2026
Discover Omdi 1 and Omdi 2 in a video
The cooperation & cultural action department of the French Embassy and the French Institute of Lebanon drive various bilateral cooperation programs between France and Lebanon (education, research, culture, governance…). They endorse civil society initiatives thanks to various grants, programs, and experts. The Omdi program falls within the framework of the Solidarity Fund for social innovations from the civil society and youth in Lebanon.
The Crisis and Support Center of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, responds to crisis situations abroad, whether affecting French nationals or in the context of humanitarian crises. It is also responsible for anticipating, preparing for, monitoring and alerting to crises, and, in the case of Omdi, for stabilizing post-crisis situations.
makesense designs impact programs and spark collaborations between engaged citizens, social entrepreneurs and forward-thinking organizations to collectively tackle the social and environmental issues of today.