A grassroot environmental initiative
starting in Jdeidet-Ghazir, Keserwen
Who We Are
We are a grassroot environmental initiative consisting of 7 cousins that took it upon themselves to be environmentally conscious. Our projects take on proactive and reactive approaches. Since some of us live outside of Lebanon, we plan our projects throughout the year and meet during the summer months to execute them. We are working very hard on this initiative. Please take some time to meet the faces behind the team.
Our Mission Statement
(En) Green Vests is a grassroot initiative that focuses on the encouragement and development of a healthy, sustainable, and environmentally friendly community starting in the Jdeidet-Ghazir and Qattine region.(Fr) Green Vests est une initiative de base qui se concentre sur l'encouragement et le développement d'une communauté saine, durable et respectueuse de l'environnement à partir de la région de Jdeidet-Ghazir et Qattine.
Our Goals
(En) In order to fulfill our mission statement, we have adopted 6 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).(Fr) Afin de accomplir notre énoncé de mission, nous avons adopté 6 des 17 Objectifs de Développement Durable des Nations Unies
Transparency
We believe in building trust through transparency. In addition to our Facebook and Instagram pages, we are offering public access to our financial and governing documents.
Governing Documents
Financial Documents
Meet the Team


Joe Seif
Executive Manager

Maroun Seif
Office and Media Manager

Sarah Seif
Finance Manager

Joanna Nehme
Project Manager

Émile Nehme
Executive Deputy

Maria Nehme
Personnel Manager

Yara Seif
Project Manager
Meet Joe
Co-Founder & Executive Manager
I live in New York and have completed my Master's degree in Public Administration from Binghamton University. While most of my education took place outside of Lebanon, my passion for my hometown has intensified since graduating. I am now committed to leveraging the knowledge and skills I've acquired to support and uplift my community. I have developed a strong foundation in leadership and social engagement. My goal is to play an active role in rebuilding and strengthening my community, ensuring that it thrives and flourishes in the future. I believe that by applying my education to real-world challenges, I can contribute to meaningful change and inspire others to join in this vital work.
Meet Maroun
Office and Media Manager
I was born in Lebanon but currently reside in France. I am pursuing an engineering degree in Paris. Despite the physical distance from my homeland, my connection to Lebanon remains incredibly strong and unbreakable. I carry the rich culture and traditions of my native country with me, and my heart is always in Lebanon. My goal is to help and support the people there, particularly during these challenging times. I aspire to leverage my education and experiences to contribute positively to my homeland, whether through innovative engineering solutions or community initiatives. Ultimately, I hope that one day, Lebanon can reclaim its former beauty, thriving as a beacon of culture, and resilience.
Meet Émile
Co-Founder & Executive Deputy
I was born and raised in Jdeidet-Ghazir, where my passion for environmentalism continues to grow. Living in such a beautiful natural setting has deepened my appreciation for the environment and the importance of protecting it. In my free time, I love to immerse myself in nature by going on hikes. Additionally, I enjoy playing football (soccer), which fosters teamwork and camaraderie among friends. I aim to combine my passions for environmentalism, leadership, and creativity to contribute positively to my community and inspire others to appreciate and protect our planet.
Meet Sarah
Finance Manager
I am Lebanese currently living in France, but my heart remains deeply connected to my roots in Jdeidet-Ghazir, the village where I grew up. My biggest dream is to become a doctor. I am passionate about pursuing a career in medicine because I want to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, especially those who are underserved or in desperate need of care. I envision myself traveling the world with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), providing medical assistance to communities facing health crises and challenges.
Meet Joanna
Project Manager
I was born and raised in Jdeidet-Ghazir. My love for nature inspires me to appreciate the beauty of our village and country, and I find peace in the outdoors. Equally, I have a passion for children, which fuels my aspiration to become a pediatrician. I am committed to pursuing a career where I can make a positive impact on the lives of young patients and their families. In my free time, I immerse myself in music by playing the piano, and I enjoy playing basketball.
Meet Maria
Personnel Manager
I was born and raised in Jdeidet-Ghazir, Lebanon, a village that holds a special place in my heart. My deep affection for my community inspires me to seek ways to give back and contribute positively to its development. I'm currently a student at the Lebanese University, with aspirations for a career in sports and health sciences. I am passionate about promoting wellness and encouraging an active lifestyle among my fellow villagers. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball, which helps me stay fit and fosters camaraderie and teamwork. My aim is to blend my interests in sports and health with my commitment to my community, ultimately helping to inspire others to lead healthier, more active lives.
Meet Yara
Project Manager
I was born and raised in Lebanon, a country I hold close to my heart, though I now reside in France. My deep connection to my homeland and my desire to give back to my community drive much of what I do. With aspirations to college my goal is to dedicate my career to helping those in need. Beyond my academic pursuits, I have a profound love for nature, finding peace and inspiration in its beauty.
Support our Mission and Goal
We dream of a greener and cleaner environment and aspire to expand beyond the Jdeidet-Ghazir/Qattine area. There are a few ways you can help us make our dream come true. You can support us by donating either online or in person, you can also shop on our online eco-store, and you can sign up to volunteer.
100% of contributions fund projects like our tree-planting initiative and public space improvements.
Note:
- All monetary donations go directly to fund our projects, we do not have any operational costs.
- All products from the online store are eco-friendly and all profits funds our projects.
- Volunteering with us does count towards community service hours.
Volunteer Sign-up
Where's your green vest?
Fill out this form to join our volunteer list. We will get back to you with event details and how you would be able to volunteer.
Volunteering with us can count towards your community service hours requirements. Community Service Letters of Recognition can be emailed to you and/or your associated institute upon request.
What We Do
Our Upcoming Projects
Summer 2025
Coming soon...
We are working on a new EcoCamp initiative for the summer of 2025. Where we plan to go into Lebanon's wilderness, camp, clean the surrounding areas and plant indigenous trees. Be sure to continue your support as we make our planet a better place.
Please support our mission to create a healthier and more sustainable community, starting with the small villages of Jdeidet-Ghazir and Qattine in Mount-Lebanon.
Public Garden

The village lacks public space that is green and clean. There are a few areas, such as parking and paved lots and a basketball court, however they are impractical and insufficient. Building a public garden would encourage locals to engage more in outdoor activities in their own village, especailly during a time of crisis. We acknowledge that there is a lack of space in the village, however we hope that locals would donate unused/unwanted land for this cause.
Our Impact
Summer 2024
1 - Plant-A-Tree 3.0
Continuing our mission, we expanded the Plant-A-Tree initiative in 2024 with a budget of $250. We distributed and planted 100 citrus trees on private properties. Landowners committed to nurturing these trees, which aim to support their families in the future. Although the trees won’t yield fruit immediately, they will provide a sustainable food source within a year or two. Our initiative addresses deforestation and food insecurity amid Lebanon’s economic crisis. Let’s plant for a
better future—one tree at a time.
Summer 2023
1 - Plant-A-Tree 2.0
Continuing our mission, we expanded the Plant-A-Tree initiative to Aaramoun, Keserwan, in 2023. With a $250 budget, we distributed and planted 45 citrus trees on private properties. Landowners committed to nurturing these trees, which aim to support families in the future. Although the trees won’t yield fruit immediately, they will provide a sustainable food source within a year or two. Our initiative addresses deforestation and food insecurity amid Lebanon’s economic crisis. Let’s plant for a
better future—one tree at a time.
2 - Zouk Mikael Beach Clean-up
This summer we met and partnered with a non-profit called Chabeb Zouk Mikael. With their resources, we decided to clean a public beach in Zouk Mikael (North of the Zouk electricity station, near Solemar). All the plastic, aluminium, and recyclables were transported to a recycling sorting facility run by Chabeb Zouk Mikael. The recyclables are sold, and the profits are used to pay the wages of the workers (which are retired/older citizens and citizens with disabilities) and any left over are used to help local Lebanese families in need.
Keeping our beaches clean benefits both the environment and our community.
Please recycle; what seems like trash to you can be valuable to others.
3 - Food Parcels
As part of the Plant-A-Tree project, we have gathered, sorted and distributed food parcels for local families in immediate need of support. As our influence expands, this year we have sent parcels to Aaramoun, Jdeidet-Ghazir, Qattine and Ghazir.
Special thanks go to Metro Supermarket for allowing us to collect donations from their customers and to Tony Abi Raad’s Village Market for their generous contributions. We also appreciate the close collaboration with the Araamoun Municipality.
4 - Mar Michael Stairs
With just $12 and a full day of work, we decided to quickly repaint the Mar Michael stairs with more durable paint. We wanted to revive the fading colors and highlight the colors of nature. Please keep our village and environment clean and beautiful.
Summer 2022
1 - Plant-A-Tree
In the summer of 2022, we have launched a new initiative called Plant-A-Tree. We were able to distribute and plant 60 fruit trees on private properties. These trees aim to provide families with a sustainable source of food over time. We also provided 25 food parcels for families facing immediate challenges.
Ambitiously, this initiative tackles deforestation and food insecurity in the amidst of the economic collapse. Although the trees may not produce fruits immediately, they will start to become a sustainable source of food within a year and many more years to come.
Let's start planting for a better future, one tree at a time.
2 - Stairs Maintenance / Clean-up

We were able to clean up the stairs that we painted last year. Although many of the colors have faded, we did not repaint. Our mission is to clean up the environment and encourage others to keep it clean and profit from it recreationally. We remain committed to keeping these areas clean and accessible.
Summer 2021
1 - Old Walkway/ Stairs Beautification
Jdeidet-Ghazir is a charming little village with potential. Throughout the village we cleaned-up, cleared-up and beautified select stairs by painting and adding color to encourage more locals to use them for basic travels and even recreational use. These walkways are located near churches and connect the village's residences to the supermarkets and shops on the main road.
In the span of one month and with a tight budget, we have cleaned and beautified 3 strategically located stairs in Jdeidet-Ghazir and Qattine. Two in Jdeidet-Ghazir (Saint Michael and Saint Maroun Stairs) and one in Qattine (Saint Charbel Stairs).
Although this project doesn't directly pertain to our mission, we saw a void that we felt needed to be quickly filled. This project aimed to promote mental well-being by encouraging locals to walk, use the walkways for basic travel, and find a sense of peace during Lebanon’s ongoing crisis
2 - Municipality Street Clean-up

We conducted a four-day street clean-up, dividing areas into colored zones to improve efficiency. The collected garbage has been sorted and sent to be recycled. The goal is to create a healthier and more sustainable environment while also promoting eco-friendly practices and community building.
In this project, we have worked with the local municipality and cleaned up the Jdeidet-Ghazir area. This includes picking up garbage from the main, internal and old roads. We were not able to clean up the village creek due to limited access and supplies.

Please support our mission to create a healthier and more sustainable community, starting with the small villages of Jdeidet-Ghazir and Qattine in Mount-Lebanon.
Our Recycling Guide



About Jdeidet-Ghazir and Qattine
Jdeidet-Ghazir and Qattine, part of the Jdaidet Ghazir-Harharaya-Qattine Municipality, are picturesque villages nestled in a valley with a flowing creek. Located on the outskirts of Ghazir, overlooking Jounieh and the Mediterranean, they are known for their scenic views, old stone churches, and traditional homes that embody Lebanese heritage. The villages' fertile soil has historically supported agriculture, especially olive cultivation, and is home to grain mills producing both locally and internationally. While maintaining their rural charm, these villages also hold a reputation for abundant water, reflected in the name "Ghazir."
Our Partners