Racing for Their Rights
Civil society groups are promoting youth activism with running events.
The youth of Lebanon are no longer running away from their responsibility to make their country a better place. Instead, they are running for their rights and against violence, corruption, sectarianism, and a system that marginalizes young people.
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| Young people in Baalbeck run for tolerance and against sectarianism.
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In the Beqaa Valley, more than 1,700 youths from Baalbeck and Hermel ran to promote civil peace, tolerance, coexistence, and balanced development. The Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST) organized the race as part of the Academy of Youth and Municipal Work program supported by USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI).
Mounif Raad, 17, used to make fun of slogans promoting change, but now he is working for transformation. "I am changing the image of the youth of Baalbeck," he said. "We are known to be followers of political parties because these only provide access to services, but these services are our right…This marathon is a demonstration that civil society can create a better alternative."
The academy provided workshops on citizenship, conflict resolution, and municipal roles and responsibilities, seeking to empower young people with nonviolent communication skills and enable them to take leadership roles in their communities.
"Before the trainings, I used to start the quarrels," said Oussama Al Achi, 17. "Now, I am the mediator," he said.
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"Running is probably one of the rare things that we all agree on. This race is an opportunity to raise awareness on the many issues in our community. It's also our chance to target the older generation that is still instilling the concepts of fanaticism and sectarianism into their children's minds."
—Nadine Mahfouz, 15
participant in the LOST race
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Village leaders joined the race, as did runners from the Lebanese Army, Internal Security Forces, several sports clubs, and a number of local non-governmental organizations, including OTI partners the Lebanese Association for Students, the Lebanese Youth Network, Cultural Heritage Organization, Yammuni Cultural Club, and Forsa.
In the North, OTI partner Al Hadatha organized a similar event. And local public figures came out to show their support for more than 2,200 young people who ran to promote a better image of youth activism. Following the race, 21-year-old Hussein Al Ghandour said, "They say we are undeveloped people, and we want to change this preconceived perception."
Other OTI partners in the North—including Welfare Women Association, NOTA, Akkarouna, Akkar Cultural Forum, and Cross Arts—also participated in the event, showing that civil society is united around constructive goals in this region of divisions.
For further information, please contact:
Marialice Ariens, Program Manager, 202-712-4031, mariens@usaid.gov
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