Civic and religious leaders and government ministers gathered at SAT-7’s Lebanon studios on Thursday February 9th for an event to mark the publication of a very special book. It comprises moving stories told by young people in Lebanon at Storytelling Clubs that formed part of SAT-7’s Lebanon, Our Story (LOS) project.
The book features 36 contributions shared by youth from different backgrounds and from various regions of Lebanon. At the Storytelling Clubs they were encouraged to share their stories and build bridges of understanding among themselves. These created a sense of shared space and experience and pointed to ways of building a shared future together.
Several of the young people attended the Beirut event and expressed their excitement about participating in the project.
Soha from Syria, 13, said:
“We told our stories and heard other stories more painful than ours. Our stories are painful, so we shared our pains and our joys with one another. We found turning points in ourselves during that workshop. We realized that even though we come from different countries our difficult circumstances unite us and teach us solidarity.”
Roaa, another participant, added, “I got over loneliness and weakness. My weakness has turned to strength. I know my own value and my direction.”
Listening intently and visibly moved by the youth participants’ stories was Lebanon’s Information Minister, Ziyad Makary. He spoke with humility about the next generation:
“My hope and dream is for the youth to run the country. They have the right to dream for a better Lebanon and future.”
Endorsements and support
Juliana Sfeir, LOS Project Lead, explained how the project had gathered young people from across different communities who are involved and working diligently with a number of civil society organizations on the ground. Leaders attending the event expressed their admiration of the project and encouraged the youth, emphasizing the common humanity that provided the foundation for their shared story.
Daniel Nygaard Madsen, Project Coordinator from CKU, addressed the participants directly. “Please do not stop hoping for a better future,” he said. “Your situation in Lebanon may be even worse now than two years ago, when this project began. And it is tempting to give in to fear and to allow powerful people to divide you. But please think about this: Are you a Lebanese that happens to be a human being, or are you a human being that happens to be Lebanese? Are you a Syrian refugee that happens to be a human being, or are you a human being that happens to be a Syrian refugee? Please remember that our common humanity is what unites us.”
“This is an excellent project because it focuses on what our societies need, which is putting humanity above our sectarian, national, and cultural differences,” said Elie Al Hindy, Executive Director of Adyan Foundation.
Fadi Abi Allam, Executive Director of Permanent Peace Movement, declared that the project had achieved its purpose through the valuable participation of youth in supporting social integration and social cohesion in a region much affected by distancing and disintegration, which lead to violent conflicts.
And according to Dr. Nader Hadifeh, Deputy to the Minister of Education in Lebanon, the project is helping the Lebanese Ministry of Education achieve its goal of building a stronger community through students who focus on building the nation rather than sectarian differences.
During the event, leaders from SAT-7’s Lebanon studio gave awards to representatives of SAT-7’s co-workers on LOS: the Danish embassy in Lebanon, the Commander of the Lebanese armed forces, the Danish Bible Society’s Communications Manager, René Ottesen, and Daniel Nygaard Madsen.
Storytelling Clubs
The Storytelling Clubs were intended to strengthen the resilience and mental health of the participants and to promote social cohesion. The young people were encouraged to share their stories, offer peer support across national and sectarian boundaries, and identify common struggles, interests, and ways of overcoming hardship. This process bound them together around their common humanity and empowered them to write a new, shared story for themselves and their nation.
Speaking at the launch event, Anthony, a 15-year-old participant, said, “Nothing changes on its own; we must make more effort to effect change. There’s hope for change. As long as there are people like us in Lebanon, there will be change.”
“People must give the young generation a chance to show their work and not be prejudiced against them. With my ambitions, I can create opportunities and challenge the world to prove myself and prove that our generation can make a change for the better,” added Nancy, another contributor to the clubs.
Lebanon, Our Story
LOS seeks to tap into the power of storytelling to write a new, shared narrative of hope for Lebanon based on openness, transparency, and accountability. The project was formed in response to the challenges faced by civic society, especially social erosion driven by sectarianism. It enables young people to contribute to social cohesion and provides an impetus for meaningful civic engagement.
Fayez, a Syrian teenager, shared what these changes could mean for people like him. “When I first came to Lebanon, they wanted to throw me in the trash because I am Syrian, but not now. They blamed Syrians at first, but now it’s different. For people to get closer, one must make the first move to know them and make them feel comfortable,” he said.
For further information on Lebanon Our Story, please see our international website: https://sat7.org/los/los-about/
To download your copy of the book, click here.
For information on receiving paperback copies of the book, please contact:
Mark Kitzman, Director of External Relations
Email: markkitzman@sat7.org
Prayer Points
Would you please pause and continue to pray for the following right now?
- That the Lebanon, Our Story project will have an impact on all participants over the next two years.
- That this book will encourage and impact on its readers
