Sustainable Democracy Center

Sustainable Democracy Center (SDC) "is a non-partisan, independent organization established in September 2002 in Beirut, Lebanon, to promote and assist in human development, through raising awareness about democracy, citizenship, and human rights. The purpose of the center is to educate and empower Lebanese citizens regardless of confessional or geographic affiliation towards a stronger and more democratic, participatory Lebanese society. SDC is working towards achieving this goal primarily through training, publications and research." 

Listed as a partner organization of the International Center for Transitional Justice.

Team
The following is a list of our permanent volunteers:
 * Selim Mawad: Executive Director
 * Diana Zeidan: Program Coordinator
 * Gaby Harak: Program Administrator
 * Maria Bou-Zeid: Media Officer
 * Imad Bazzi: IT Manager, BNS Program Coordinator
 * Baha'a Hajjar: Board Member
 * Jamil Mouawad: Program Developer
 * Salma Chaker, Sara Hussein, Jamila Abbas, Taghreed Mahmoud, Doha Abbas, Hiba Hussein, Racha Al Mustafa, Nessrine Hussein, Mohamad Al Mustafa, Samiha Chaaban, Mirna Shidrawi, Jade Said, Dany Mina, Alain Hasrouny, Mona Iskandarani, Assem Shaya, Mahmoud Abou Kais, Rasha Ballouck, Sara Shourafa, Andira Raslan, Fatima Mahdi, Nariman Issa, Atallah Salim

Funding
Received grants from NED in:
 * 2003: "To implement twenty training and outreach sessions on democracy and rule of law for Lebanese university-age students. The sessions will be supplemented with a bimonthly newsletter and interactive website designed to foster a network of young democratic activists."
 * 2005: "To promote respect for a diversity of opinions and pluralism among youth in Lebanon. SDC will develop and lead 20 dialogue sessions in all five districts of Lebanon, reaching a wide cross-confessional audience in a number of towns removed from the democracy debate that has engaged Beirut and many of the larger cities."

In-kind support:
 * ASHOKA: Innovators for the Public, UK and Washington, DC offices - www.ashoka.org
 * Zafer Achi

Direct Support during July War 2006 from around the world: (USD 4077.69)
 * Patrick and Jennifer O’Reilly, Kevin Roache, Benjamin Fritz, Emma Ingermansson, Anthony Des Lauriers, Roxanne Wales, April James, Jacon Bjorheim, Peirre Van Hoeylandt, Armando Laborde de la P, Richard Tahta, Stephanie Bailleul, Simon Hirsch, Lauren Hynek

List of donors Source
 * AMIDEAST - USAID
 * Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
 * Royal Netherlands Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon
 * German Foreign Ministry
 * National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
 * Heinrich Boell Foundation (HBF)
 * Embassy of Finland in Lebanon

Contact

 * Web: http://www.sdclebanon.org