The Tyre Foundation —Fostering Cultural Heritage
The City of Tyre, with a legacy dating back to 2000 B.C., is today the fourth-largest city in Lebanon. But Tyre is facing severe economic challenges, hindering social welfare. Part of the region classified by the Lebanese government as the Most Damaged South, with low economic activity and lower average income for those employed, Tyre and its surroundings continue to suffer from educational and vocational training gaps.
To address these issues, the Tyre Foundation, part of “l’Association Internationale pour la Sauvegarde de Tyr” (AIST), is initiating two ambitious projects aimed at fostering Tyre's cultural heritage and economic development. The projects include the creation of Ashtart Village, a center for the development of arts and craftsmanship in the city of Tyre, and the development of the “Ligue des Cités Cananéennes, Phéniciennes et Puniques”. Booz & Company, in line with our commitment to community service in the regions in which we operate, worked with AIST on a pro-bono basis to assess the feasibility and benefits of these projects and pave the way for their execution.
We looked first at Ashtart village, which will build on Tyre’s cultural heritage and the existing skills of its people with the production of blown glass, Phoenician jewelry, forged metal artifacts, ceramics, pottery, and wood carvings for tourists, locals, and exports. The Village will create as many as 50 jobs for women and people with disabilities, using best practices from organizations such as the Self-Employed Women’s Association Hansiba apparel brand in India and Wadi Rum handicraft center in Jordan. A separate legal entity will operate the handicraft village, with board members to include donors, an honorary director, and a representative from the workforce. We determined that the village will need start-up funds in order to effectively compete with imports and ensure quality standards. By the third year of operation, the village will require US$1.3 million in funding.
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We also supported the Tyre Foundation in developing the strategy and operating model for the “Ligue des Cités Cananéennes, Phéniciennes et Puniques,” a project organized under the auspices of UNESCO that aims to foster economic and cultural ties among cities with a Canaanite, Phoenician, and Punic heritage. At present, 40 cities on the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Arabian Gulf shores have joined the league. |
The Tyre Foundation has accepted our recommendations and is moving forward. The engagement highlights the deep impact that Booz & Company can have when we bring our expertise into our local communities.