A model of accessibility and social inclusion

Through its collaboration with the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association (LMTA), EQUAL NGO transformed inclusive hiking from an idea into a lived reality for persons with visual impairments. Together, they developed accessible hiking practices built on training, trust, and community participation. 

The initiative challenged stereotypes, strengthened inclusion in public spaces, and created a replicable model linking accessibility, environmental stewardship, and social inclusion. Their partnership continues to expand opportunities for dignified, accessible outdoor experiences across Lebanon.

Cultural Connection and Shared Heritage

Kinetika first connected with Takla Khoueiry (LMTA Field Coordinator) at the 2024 WTN (World Trails Network) conference in Ottawa, where a shared vision emerged to create community-based silk artworks along the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association. 

Despite the ongoing war, Takla insisted on continuing the project, believing creative expression was essential for displaced communities. Through workshops, remote sessions, and local storytelling, families and children across Lebanon contributed drawings that inspired 27 hand-painted silk pieces. Her energy, resilience, and vision also extended to reviving sericulture on her family land, deepening the project’s spirit of cultural connection, creativity, and shared heritage.

Exploring natural heritage, local culture and environmental conservation through a Photo Contest

The Lebanon Mountain Trail Association engaged university students from across Lebanon in a unique photography and environmental education initiative celebrating the country’s biodiversity. Through a guided Photo Tour in the Shouf Biosphere Reserve, students explored nature, local culture, and conservation while developing their artistic skills. 

Their work culminated in a public exhibition in Beirut, combining powerful imagery with scientific research on native species. The project inspired deeper environmental awareness, strengthened connections to Lebanon’s natural heritage, and encouraged ongoing youth engagement, with several participants later joining LMTA as volunteers.

Bchaaleh: A Model for Inclusive Tourism in Rural Lebanon

Bchaaleh is emerging as a pioneer of inclusive tourism in rural Lebanon through a collaboration between the Municipality of Bchaaleh, the Bchaaleh Trails Association, and the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association. 

Since 2022, local guides have received specialized training in inclusive hiking techniques, including the use of the Joelette Chair and guiding people with visual impairments. 

In 2025, the village officially launched its inclusive tourism strategy, reinforcing its commitment to accessibility, dignity, and community participation. Today, Bchaaleh continues to expand accessible trails, improve public spaces, and create welcoming tourism experiences for visitors of all abilities, proving that inclusion can become a defining part of rural life and local identity.

Making Nature Accessible for All

Following Lebanon’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2025, the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association, in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross, continues to advance inclusive access to nature through its Access to Nature initiative. The program aims to make the Lebanon Mountain Trail and selected nature reserves accessible to persons with disabilities, helping transform outdoor access into a lived reality.

In 2025, the initiative supported 34 children with disabilities from rehabilitation centers in Aley and Tripoli through accessible outings in the Shouf and Tannourine Nature Reserves using specialized Joëlette all-terrain wheelchairs and directional bars. The program also integrated environmental education activities and trained 34 new accessible trail guides, volunteers, and Red Cross staff in inclusive outdoor practices. Beyond recreation, the initiative promotes dignity, social inclusion, environmental awareness, and equal access to Lebanon’s natural heritage.

Run for Life: Where Every Step Tells a Story

There are evenings that pass quietly, and there are evenings that stay with you. The “Run for Life” screening was one of those rare moments when stories did more than unfold on a screen — they resonated deeply with us.”
Hosted by the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association, the event brought together runners, hikers, and believers in purposeful movement under one roof. It was not simply a film screening; it was a celebration of resilience, health, and the invisible strength that keeps us moving forward. Through powerful imagery and heartfelt storytelling, Run for Life explored what it truly means to run, not only across distances, but through fear, doubt, and limitation.
The film captured far more than physical endurance. It reflected the quiet discipline of early mornings, the rhythm of breath against the landscape, and the profound connection between body and terrain. Mountains became metaphors. Trails became teachers. Every stride echoed a universal truth: movement is life.
Run for Life was more than a screening. It was a call to keep going, to keep believing, and to remember that every step, however small, holds the power to shape a life.

Fall Trek and Spring Hikes

The Lebanon Mountain Trail Thru Hike is the country’s premier long-distance hiking event, bringing together hikers from Lebanon and around the world to traverse the 450 km linear trail from north to south. Beyond adventure, the event promotes environmental awareness, cultural exchange, sustainable tourism, and direct support for rural communities along the trail.