REEF Encounters have carved out a distinctive path in the Arab world by combining environmental issues and cultural activities in Lebanese rural areas.
The event started in 2018 as a two-day experiment in the town of Kobayat in the Akkar region. Since 2019, REEF has held uninterrupted editions and extensions across 5 different regions, despite challenging socio-economic conditions.
In close collaboration with local partners, the Encounters have consistently addressed pressing issues relevant to Lebanon and the rural communities: the waste crisis, water pollution, forest arson-fires, the extinction of specific species, the societal impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic crisis, as well as the consequences of Israeli phosphorus attacks on our lands.
The Encounters feature a series of activities including:
REEF also pioneered Lebanon’s first “zero waste” public event, actively engaging the community through presentations and workshops on upcycling and composting. In partnership with waste management experts, REEF ensures on-site sorting and facilitates the transfer of all waste to appropriate recycling or composting facilities. It also features public awareness presentations and workshops related to plastic use, composting, sorting and upcycling.
Importantly, practically all REEF Encounter’s activities remain free of charge.
harnesses the power of arts and knowledge-sharing to raise awareness of environmental protection, foster connections among rural communities, and inspire the crafting of a new collective narrative.