Unique experience I passed through my visit to Lebanon (last week), it was work, as (UNDP-ICTDAR) was a partner in a project there.
I was touched by everything there…and really get confused!!The ppl are awesome on the personal level…
Lebanese ppl love life, have sense of humor, hospitable, kind, friendly, love dance and jokes…The country its natures just like a piece of heaven …
BUT..and there is always BUT…
I don't know why all these conflicts over there between the different parties….and the issue of denominationalisms as well !!
I went there as "Human Rights" Trainer for young youth in a project aiming to engage young youth from all Lebanon in a peace project ,the "TAWASOOL-Youth ICT Boot Camp-Lebanon", which took place in the "University of Balamand" and organized by "iJMA3". The campers took courses on Microsoft Unlimited Potential, Consensus, Red Cross lecture, and sure the "UNDP-ICTDAR" …
the camp was so interesting and different, where campers had the opportunity to have fun, play sports, watch movies.By the first day, I get touched by their wonderful spirit and I noticed that everybody is avoiding some kind of topics…
Later on, I realized that the organizing committee asked them and their parents to not get involved in religion nor politics..
Yess …this was good in some kind of aspects and has its negative points as well,
Good: the young youth get involved with each other forgetting their differences and focus on their common bonds as human and Lebanese youth.
Negative Point: that they didn't choose this but they forced not to declare their selves freely….
But in my sessions I broke these golden rules for sure :D@ the very beginning I asked for open space where trainees can sit on floor and that the materials will be activity based.
Through games and fun activities we all get engaged in religion and politics I was amazed by the Lebanese spirit in conflict management activities..
The participants were creative especially that they liked this style of learning, when they sit as groups, and deal with each other in a more friendly and informal way.
As Lebanese they got everything to celebrate life, and their spirit gave unique spirit to the sessions …
In my first session the organizing committee didn't believe what I am doing, they were standing watching ….and saying like "oh poor girl..you don't know what you are gonna do with ur self…don't don't get involved in such things..you are in Lebanon" and some of the other trainers asked the trainer from the "Red Cross" to be ready ..just in case for any broken necks or something …:))
But on the contrary the young participants were awesome, a lot of things raised up, and the best thing was that they opened their hearts and spoke up and shared with me a lot of things…
how challenges could we face in reall life…
Some of the participants mentioned how they don't feel any problem to share and talk with other parties but because of their surroundings may be it will be little difficult to solve issues…and so on when it comes to electioneering many times..
And this was quite true, I touched it my self, on the personal level they are gr8 ppl but when it comes to denominationalism you will see the big disaster..
The young ppl who I met there, were quite open minded, well cultured, may be this caused by the current situation in Lebanon which created unique generation …they are not kids any more..they are mature, the politics in their daily life changed them..some times I was little bit alarmed from their arguments in our sessions through games and activities…
This generation will create a new Lebanon..I pray to visit Lebanon after 15 years from now …
as I am looking forward to see "how this generation will do" …
Lebanon is changing …and this generation has a lot to share and give….but hopefully to be for good….in order to help this generation to do something, we have to step aside and give them a real chance for dialogue and not to be over protecting...and stop hiding behinde our fingers...
lets face our challanges and put hand together to solve our issuesI love Lebanon..and miss every body there…and I wanna be there again soooooooooooon…
--------Amira--------
Tues.,26-082008
I was touched by everything there…and really get confused!!The ppl are awesome on the personal level…
Lebanese ppl love life, have sense of humor, hospitable, kind, friendly, love dance and jokes…The country its natures just like a piece of heaven …
BUT..and there is always BUT…
I don't know why all these conflicts over there between the different parties….and the issue of denominationalisms as well !!
I went there as "Human Rights" Trainer for young youth in a project aiming to engage young youth from all Lebanon in a peace project ,the "TAWASOOL-Youth ICT Boot Camp-Lebanon", which took place in the "University of Balamand" and organized by "iJMA3". The campers took courses on Microsoft Unlimited Potential, Consensus, Red Cross lecture, and sure the "UNDP-ICTDAR" …
the camp was so interesting and different, where campers had the opportunity to have fun, play sports, watch movies.By the first day, I get touched by their wonderful spirit and I noticed that everybody is avoiding some kind of topics…
Later on, I realized that the organizing committee asked them and their parents to not get involved in religion nor politics..
Yess …this was good in some kind of aspects and has its negative points as well,
Good: the young youth get involved with each other forgetting their differences and focus on their common bonds as human and Lebanese youth.
Negative Point: that they didn't choose this but they forced not to declare their selves freely….
But in my sessions I broke these golden rules for sure :D@ the very beginning I asked for open space where trainees can sit on floor and that the materials will be activity based.
Through games and fun activities we all get engaged in religion and politics I was amazed by the Lebanese spirit in conflict management activities..
The participants were creative especially that they liked this style of learning, when they sit as groups, and deal with each other in a more friendly and informal way.
As Lebanese they got everything to celebrate life, and their spirit gave unique spirit to the sessions …
In my first session the organizing committee didn't believe what I am doing, they were standing watching ….and saying like "oh poor girl..you don't know what you are gonna do with ur self…don't don't get involved in such things..you are in Lebanon" and some of the other trainers asked the trainer from the "Red Cross" to be ready ..just in case for any broken necks or something …:))
But on the contrary the young participants were awesome, a lot of things raised up, and the best thing was that they opened their hearts and spoke up and shared with me a lot of things…
how challenges could we face in reall life…
Some of the participants mentioned how they don't feel any problem to share and talk with other parties but because of their surroundings may be it will be little difficult to solve issues…and so on when it comes to electioneering many times..
And this was quite true, I touched it my self, on the personal level they are gr8 ppl but when it comes to denominationalism you will see the big disaster..
The young ppl who I met there, were quite open minded, well cultured, may be this caused by the current situation in Lebanon which created unique generation …they are not kids any more..they are mature, the politics in their daily life changed them..some times I was little bit alarmed from their arguments in our sessions through games and activities…
This generation will create a new Lebanon..I pray to visit Lebanon after 15 years from now …
as I am looking forward to see "how this generation will do" …
Lebanon is changing …and this generation has a lot to share and give….but hopefully to be for good….in order to help this generation to do something, we have to step aside and give them a real chance for dialogue and not to be over protecting...and stop hiding behinde our fingers...
lets face our challanges and put hand together to solve our issuesI love Lebanon..and miss every body there…and I wanna be there again soooooooooooon…
--------Amira--------
Tues.,26-082008
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