Lebanese and Palestinian Youth Perform for Peace
Young people from Akkar came together for a day-long cultural event last month to celebrate their commitment to living in peace.
The event went forward in stark contrast to the recent social reality in the district, as Lebanese and Palestinian youth in the region have rarely socialized since the 2007 conflict between Islamist militants and the Lebanese Army that inflamed communal tensions, despite living in mixed communities.
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| Young Lebanese and Palestinians prepare to dance at the WWA-sponsored cultural event in Akkar.
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The festivities were organized by the Welfare Women Association (WWA), an Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) partner, and activities featured young people involved with civil society organizations from across north Lebanon. The participants spread messages of peace and advocated for tolerance and unity while showing off their skills and artistic talents through a series of theater and dance performances, a poetry reading, and a photo exhibition.
A number of OTI partners and other youth-focused organizations active in promoting Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue also attended the event, including Mosawat and the Ribat Association, whose members conducted drama and dance performances.
"This was a great opportunity to change Lebanese perceptions of Palestinians," said Mahmoud Saif, 25. "It gave us the opportunity, as Palestinians, to express our thoughts and fears in great liberty and freedom."
The cultural event also provided a chance to showcase WWA's other efforts to improve relations between youth from different backgrounds and advocate for peace and tolerance between Lebanese and Palestinian communities.
In recent months, WWA has led area youth in two community projects. First, the group coordinated an effort to create a mini football court to establish a safe space for recreation and increase opportunities for youth interaction. The court was constructed on land donated by the town of Bebnine, which demonstrates the strong working relationship WWA has developed with the local municipality.
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"It was a great experience to participate in this project, bringing Lebanese and Palestinian youth together to break down barriers, especially after the war in Naher el Bared. These workshops built solidarity and brotherhood between both communities."
—Fatima Karissa, 23
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Through a second project, a number of WWA's young activists learned how to use the art of puppetry to spread social messages. This innovative theater tool allowed the trainees to address sensitive topics such as sectarianism and violence through a non-threatening medium. The puppeteers scripted shows and performed them in three public schools in Bebnine and Wadi el Jamous, including a performance on Lebanon's Independence Day.
For further information, please contact:
Marialice Ariens, Program Manager, 202-712-4031, mariens@usaid.gov
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