Spreading heritage awareness right at your doorstep!
Erlebe Geschichte vor Deiner Haustür!
HEP - The Heritage Education Program, is an educational project, which aims to build
cultural heritage awareness in neglected regions in the Middle East for children and
the youth. Developed by a group of experienced archaeologists and education
officers, HEP relies on adaptible diverse hands-on interactive workshops in each
village, increasing knowledge in one‘s own local heritage. HEP triggers children‘s
curiosity to understand in their own local heritage, building a sense of attachment
and pride, therefore helping to protect and preserve it.
HEP aims to trigger children‘s curiosity and interest in their own local ancient heritage, building a sense of belonging and attachment to protect their heritage and enjoy it for future generations to come.
Lina and Selim, the mascots of our project, travel with the children on this adventurous journey through time, as they discover local ancient archaeological treasures, phoenician language, traditional neighborhood heritage and much more!
Das Heritage Education Program ist ein Bildungsprojekt, das darauf abzielt, Kindern und Jugendlichen kulturelles Erbe näherzubringen. HEP wurde von einer Gruppe erfahrener Archäologen und Lehrkräften entwickelt und basiert auf vielseitigen, praxisorientierten und interaktiven Workshops, die das Wissen über das eigene lokale Erbe erweitern. HEP weckt die Neugier der Kinder, ihr eigenes lokales Erbe zu verstehen, baut ein Gefühl der Verbundenheit und des Stolzes auf und trägt so dazu bei, es zu schützen und zu bewahren.

Lina und Selim, die Maskottchen unseres Projekts, reisen mit den Kindern auf dieser abenteuerlichen Reise durch die Zeit, während sie lokale archäologische Schätze, phönizische Sprache, traditionelles Nachbarschaftserbe und vieles mehr entdecken!
Projects
Projekte
22.09.2026 - Symposium - The Case of el-Qaa Village
Learning from the Past to Design the Future: The Case of el-Qaa Village
Text and further details will follow.
13.09.2026 - HEP in der Haeselburg Gera
On September 13, 2026, HEP was at Haeselburg and presented the history of the building in the context of Gera.
Open the gallery with the plans in a new window.Am 13. September 2026 war HEP in der Häselburg und präsentierte die Geschichte des Gebäudes im Kontext von Gera.
Zur Galerie mit den Plänen, neues FensterHEP Project in Qaa
empty
Qaa and HEP
press play button and deactive mute for sound
HEP Project in Anjar - 17.04.2025
HEP Projekt in Anjar - 17.04.2025
empty
for the World Heritage Day 18th of April 2025
Im Rahmen des Weltkultur-Erbe Tages am 18. April 2025
press play button and deactive mute for sound
Report destruction of cultural heritage in Lebanon
Bericht über die Zerstörung des kulturellen Erbes im Libanon
This report is an initiative to document the cultural heritage destruction in Lebanon, which is the result of the ongoing war in Lebanon. It is an initiative which was launched by the Heritage Education Program
Dieser Bericht ist eine Initiative zur Dokumentation der Zerstörung des kulturellen Erbes im Libanon, die das Ergebnis des anhaltenden Krieges im Libanon ist. Es ist eine Initiative, die vom Heritage Education Program ins Leben gerufen wurde.
Who we are
As a non-profit association, we are exempt from corporate income tax
pursuant to § 5 (1)
no. 9 of the German Corporate Tax Act (KStG) and
are authorized to issue donation receipts in accordance with § 10b of
the German
Income Tax Act (EStG).
We are listed in the Federal Donation Register (Zuwendungsregister des
Bundes).
Als gemeinnütziger Verein sind wir gemäß § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 9 KStG von der
Körperschaftsteuer befreit
und dürfen Zuwendungsbescheinigungen
gemäß § 10b EStG
ausstellen.
Wir sind im
Zuwendungsregister des
Bundes gelistet.
Partners
Partner
"
The American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization
whose mission is to initiate, encourage, and support research into, and public
understanding of, the history and cultures of the Near East and wider Mediterranean
world, from the earliest times. ASOR is apolitical and has no religious affiliation.
We were founded in 1900 by twenty-one institutions—including Harvard, Princeton,
Yale, and Columbia. Over a century later, ASOR has approximately 53 consortium
institutions, including universities, seminaries, museums, foundations, and libraries.
In addition, we have more than 2,200 individual members and more than 16,500 Friends.
"
Die American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR) ist eine gemeinnützige Organisation
nach 501(c)(3)
deren Mission es ist, die Erforschung und das öffentliche Verständnis der Geschichte und
Kulturen des Nahen Ostens und des weiteren Mittelmeerraums von frühester Zeit an zu
initiieren, zu fördern und zu unterstützen. Die ASOR ist unpolitisch und hat keine
religiöse Bindung.
Wir wurden 1900 von 21 Institutionen gegründet – darunter Harvard, Princeton, Yale
und Columbia. Über ein Jahrhundert später umfasst die ASOR rund 53
Konsortialinstitutionen, darunter Universitäten, Seminare, Museen, Stiftungen und
Bibliotheken.
Darüber hinaus haben wir mehr als 2.200 Einzelmitglieder und mehr als 16.500 Freunde.
El-Qaa is a plain located in Baalbek–Hermel District, bordered by Syria, Hermel and Ras
Baalbek. Since the Middle Ages, El-Qaa was famous for its honey production and its
remarkable landscape. Its beautiful natural lake was a crossroad for traders. El-Qaa
remains the village for religious tourists. Its many religious sites attract local
residents and foreign visitors. Located between Anti-Lebanon mountain range and the Assi
River, El-Qaa is best known for its hot semiarid summer and its cold winter. What marks
El-Qaa are the Roman and Ottoman monuments that engrave the ancient civilizations in
this village.
El-Qaa ist eine Ebene im Bezirk Baalbek-Hermel, die an Syrien, Hermel und Ras Baalbek
grenzt. Seit dem Mittelalter war El-Qaa für seine Honigproduktion und seine
bemerkenswerte Landschaft bekannt. Sein wunderschöner natürlicher See war ein
Knotenpunkt für Händler. El-Qaa ist nach wie vor ein beliebtes Ziel religiöser
Touristen. Seine zahlreichen religiösen Stätten ziehen Einheimische und ausländische
Besucher an. El-Qaa liegt zwischen dem Antilibanon-Gebirge und dem Assi-Fluss und ist
vor allem für seine heißen, halbtrockenen Sommer und kalten Winter bekannt. Was El-Qaa
auszeichnet, sind die römischen und osmanischen Monumente, die die antiken
Zivilisationen dieses Dorfes widerspiegeln.
Our congregation can look back on over 160 years of eventful and varied history. It was
founded in 1856 by German, French, and
Swiss merchants. The goal was to establish a third, neither English-
nor Arabic-speaking Protestant congregation in Beirut.
Unsere Gemeinde kann auf eine über 160-jährige, ereignisreiche und wechselvolle
Geschichte zurückblicken. Gegründet wurde sie 1856 von deutschen, französischen und
Schweizer Kaufleuten. Ziel war die Etablierung einer dritten, weder englisch- noch
arabischsprachigen evangelischen Gemeinde in Beirut.
Sela is a non- profit company founded in 2015 (Reg.# 712/2015) by five members of the
communities living in the surroundings of the World Heritage site of Petra with the aim
of actively engaging Jordanians in the protection of their cultural heritage.
Sela ist ein gemeinnütziges Unternehmen (Reg.-Nr. 712/2015), das 2015 von fünf
Mitgliedern der Gemeinden in der Umgebung des Weltkulturerbes Petra gegründet wurde.
Ziel ist es, Jordanier aktiv für den Schutz ihres kulturellen Erbes zu gewinnen.
Impressum
Heritage Education Program e.V.
registered in district court of Gera, Germany: VR 281684
Eingetragen am Amtsgericht Gera, Deutschland: VR 281684
Presidents
Thomas Fares, Graziella Nakad
Vorstand
Thomas Fares, Graziella Nakad
Headquarters
Sitze
Berliner Strasse 24
07545 Gera
Germany
Berliner Strasse 24
07545 Gera
Deutschland
Lebanese army martyre street
bldg 115
mar chaaya, metn
Lebanon
Lebanese army martyre street
bldg 115
mar chaaya, metn
Libanon
ContactKontakt
Thomas Fares: Whatsapp: +49 176 914 83 289, info@hep-web.org
Alia Fares: Whatsapp: +9613720061, afares@hep-web.org
As a non-profit association, we are exempt from corporate income tax pursuant to § 5 (1)
no. 9 of the German Corporate Tax Act (KStG) and
are authorized to issue donation receipts in accordance with § 10b of the German
Income Tax Act (EStG).
We are listed in the Federal Donation Register (Zuwendungsregister des Bundes).
Als gemeinnütziger Verein sind wir gemäß § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 9 KStG von der
Körperschaftsteuer befreit
und dürfen Zuwendungsbescheinigungen gemäß § 10b EStG
ausstellen.
Wir sind im
Zuwendungsregister des
Bundes gelistet.
Website Terms and Conditions of Use
Nutzungsbedingungen für die Website
1. Terms
By accessing this Website, accessible from https://hep-web.org, you are agreeing to be bound by these Website Terms and Conditions of Use and agree that you are responsible for the agreement with any applicable local laws. If you disagree with any of these terms, you are prohibited from accessing this site. The materials contained in this Website are protected by copyright and trade mark law.
2. Use License
Permission is granted to temporarily download one copy of the materials on Heritage Education Program's Website for personal, non-commercial transitory viewing only. This is the grant of a license, not a transfer of title, and under this license you may not:
- modify or copy the materials;
- use the materials for any commercial purpose or for any public display;
- attempt to reverse engineer any software contained on Heritage Education Program's Website;
- remove any copyright or other proprietary notations from the materials; or
- transferring the materials to another person or "mirror" the materials on any other server.
This will let Heritage Education Program to terminate upon violations of any of these restrictions. Upon termination, your viewing right will also be terminated and you should destroy any downloaded materials in your possession whether it is printed or electronic format. These Terms of Service has been created with the help of the Terms Of Service Generator.
3. Disclaimer
All the materials on Heritage Education Program's Website are provided "as is". Heritage Education Program makes no warranties, may it be expressed or implied, therefore negates all other warranties. Furthermore, Heritage Education Program does not make any representations concerning the accuracy or reliability of the use of the materials on its Website or otherwise relating to such materials or any sites linked to this Website.
4. Limitations
Heritage Education Program or its suppliers will not be hold accountable for any damages that will arise with the use or inability to use the materials on Heritage Education Program Website, even if Heritage Education Program or an authorize representative of this Website has been notified, orally or written, of the possibility of such damage. Some jurisdiction does not allow limitations on implied warranties or limitations of liability for incidental damages, these limitations may not apply to you.
5. Revisions and Errata
The materials appearing on Heritage Education Program's Website may include technical, typographical, or photographic errors. Heritage Education Program will not promise that any of the materials in this Website are accurate, complete, or current. Heritage Education Program may change the materials contained on its Website at any time without notice. Heritage Education Program does not make any commitment to update the materials.
6. Links
Heritage Education Program has not reviewed all of the sites linked to its Website and is not responsible for the contents of any such linked site. The presence of any link does not imply endorsement by Heritage Education Program of the site. The use of any linked website is at the user's own risk.
7. Site Terms of Use Modifications
Heritage Education Program may revise these Terms of Use for its Website at any time without prior notice. By using this Website, you are agreeing to be bound by the current version of these Terms and Conditions of Use.
8. Your Privacy
Please read our Privacy Policy.
9. Governing Law
Any claim related to Heritage Education Program's Website shall be governed by the laws of lb without regards to its conflict of law provisions.
1. Geltungsbereich
Diese Nutzungsbedingungen gelten für die Nutzung der Website hep-web.org, betrieben vom Verein Heritage Education Program e.V., eingetragen beim Amtsgericht Gera unter der Vereinsregisternummer VR 281684.
Mit dem Zugriff auf diese Website erklären Sie sich mit diesen Bedingungen einverstanden. Wenn Sie mit den Bedingungen nicht einverstanden sind, bitten wir Sie, die Website nicht zu nutzen.
2. Inhalte und Urheberrecht
Alle Inhalte auf dieser Website – einschließlich Texte, Bilder, Videos und Dokumente – sind urheberrechtlich geschützt und dürfen ausschließlich für private, nicht-kommerzielle Zwecke verwendet werden. Eine Vervielfältigung, Verbreitung oder öffentliche Wiedergabe ist nur mit ausdrücklicher schriftlicher Genehmigung des Vereins gestattet.
3. Datenschutz gemäß DSGVO
Der Schutz Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten ist uns wichtig. Wir verarbeiten Ihre Daten ausschließlich gemäß der Datenschutz-Grundverordnung (DSGVO) und nur in dem Umfang, wie es für die Nutzung unserer Website erforderlich ist.
- Verantwortlicher: Heritage Education Program e.V., E-Mail: info@hep-web.org
- Zweck der Datenverarbeitung: Kontaktaufnahme, Projektkommunikation, technische Sicherheit
- Rechtsgrundlage: Art. 6 Abs. 1 lit. a, b und f DSGVO
- Speicherdauer: Nur so lange, wie es für die jeweiligen Zwecke erforderlich ist
- Ihre Rechte: Auskunft, Berichtigung, Löschung, Einschränkung, Datenübertragbarkeit, Widerruf
Weitere Informationen finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklärung.
4. Haftungsausschluss
Die Inhalte dieser Website werden mit größtmöglicher Sorgfalt erstellt. Dennoch übernimmt der Verein keine Gewähr für die Richtigkeit, Vollständigkeit oder Aktualität der bereitgestellten Informationen. Die Nutzung erfolgt auf eigene Verantwortung.
5. Externe Links
Unsere Website enthält Links zu externen Websites Dritter. Für deren Inhalte übernehmen wir keine Verantwortung. Die Nutzung externer Links erfolgt auf eigenes Risiko.
6. Änderungen der Nutzungsbedingungen
Der Verein behält sich das Recht vor, diese Nutzungsbedingungen jederzeit zu ändern. Es gilt jeweils die aktuelle Version, die auf der Website veröffentlicht ist.
7. Anwendbares Recht
Es gilt das Recht der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Gerichtsstand ist Gera, sofern gesetzlich zulässig.
Furthermore,
Alia has specialized in Roman architecture, as she finalises her
PhD from the
University of Cologne, Germany about a Roman temple in North
Lebanon. Alia has
also
founded Herigatech Ltd., a heritage management and
archaeological resources
company.
Moreover, she dedicates most of her free time for the Lebanon
Mountain Trail
Association, leading cultural heritage initiatives and assisting
in the
protection
and preservation of the cultural and natural heritage along this
480km trail in
Lebanon. Alia is a staunch advocate of the utmost importance of
engaging
communities
in the identification, study and future preservation of local
cultural heritage.
She
believes that once people understand their archaeological
heritage and are given
the
proper tools to protect and preserve their ancient sites and
monuments, they
will
become the custodians of their own past and therefore their
identity.
In
2014, she became a Museum Assistant at the American University
of Beirut's
Archaeological Museum and has been leading since then the museum
education
program,
where she assists school classes and visitor groups, planning
and executing
activities for children on various archaeological themes. She
also assists in
exhibitions, among other things. In HEP, Aimee mostly leads the
pottery
restoration
and story-telling sessions. Her dedication for heritage
education is exemplary
and
she is an essential pillar of HEP’s program. For her,
archaeology and heritage
education are about making history accessible and engaging for
the community,
especially for young people, ensuring that uncovered histories
are shared and
appreciated by everyone.
Therefore, he became very
active in his native village Ghalboun, where he co-founded the
Ghalboun Hiking
Trails, promoting eco-tourism and environmental conservation. As
a Sustainable
Development Strategist for the Ghalboun Municipality, he plays a
crucial role in
advancing sustainable community practices. Passionate about
creating cultural
heritage awareness, Chady joined HEP in 2023. He believes that
the younger
generations have a crucial role to play in preserving their
community's history
and
core values, therefore contributing to protecting their cultural
heritage
resources
and creating better societies in the future.
In 2016, she started working for the Directorate General of
Antiquities, heading
their department in the western and central part of the Beqaa
valley. Whenever
she
can, Lamis leaves her bureaucratic responsibilities, to
volunteer for HEP,
especially with children with disabilities, where she thrives in
assisting them
in
various cultural heritage activities and awareness tasks. Lamis
is truly
dedicated
to her profession and the HEP team are lucky to have her.
She later continued her work in
Baalbek, focusing on Bustan Nassif, an area that demonstrates
continuity from
the Roman period through the late Middle Ages. Since 2018, she
has collaborated
with architectural conservators to preserve the remains of the
ancient city of
Uruk in Iraq. Alongside her research projects, Julia is deeply
committed to the
idea that societies can only build a meaningful future if they
understand their
past. She gladly volunteers for HEP projects, advocating for
educating local
communities about their history and actively involving them in
the preservation
of their local cultural heritage.
His
experience in
website design and computer sofware/hardware needs is essential
and his database
knowledge and IT security keeps HEP’s projects safe. Whenever he
can, Thomas
leaves
his comfort zone in Germany, to travel to Lebanon, helping
communities in
understanding their cultural heritage. Furthermore, he is a
founding member of
serveral other cultural heritage NGO’s in Germany and Lebanon,
such as