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Unite for Change

Civic Empowerment Programs, Inclusive Engagement Programs

Project Detail

The project “Unite for Change: Empowering Lebanon’s Youth for Inclusive Democracy,” led by DAWRUNA and funded by the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), aims to empower youth and engage marginalized communities across Lebanon to strengthen democracy and enhance political participation. We focuse on creating cross-sectarian spaces for dialogue, providing youth leadership training and promoting community involvement.

LocationLebanon
WebsiteDawruna.org
Date19 March 2025

Objectives of Unite for Change

  • Empower Young Leaders as Agents of Social Political Change: In light of Lebanon’s ongoing economic crisis and the challenges leading to youth emigration, this initiative seeks to empower young leaders to become leaders for social change and peace. Through mentorship, training, and capacity-building programs, we will equip these leaders with the skills to counter hate speech and divisive ideologies while promoting peaceful societal transformation.
  • Promote Active Community Participation and Shape Political Decision-Making: Our project emphasizes fostering community engagement to reshape the political landscape toward a more inclusive and transparent model. We aim to rebuild public trust in leadership and traditional political institutions by creating opportunities for citizens, especially marginalized groups such as women, the LGBT community, individuals with special needs, and stateless persons, to interact with elected representatives. This engagement ensures that their voices are heard in decision-making processes and encourages collaboration among communities and political figures.

Activities

1- Building the capacity of young Leaders: Our project is dedicated to empowering diverse young leaders    committed to fostering positive change and promoting democracy in Lebanon. The participants were drawn from the DAWRUNA community (50%), active youth groups (25%), and marginalized groups (25%), ensuring diverse representation and inclusion. We emphasize gender parity, with 50% of the participants being women and girls, to guarantee equal opportunities for all.

  • Social Justice: in January 2024 Participants explored socio-economic rights and the state’s role in providing equal access to essential services, particularly for marginalized groups, in a training led by Rasha Abou Zaki, a respected Lebanese economic journalist and researcher.
  • Freedom of Expression and Countering Hate Speech: In February 2025, Jad Shahrour from the Samir Kassir Foundation guided discussions on the vital role of freedom of expression in democracy, addressing civic space challenges and the rise of hate speech.
  • Citizenship and Dealing with the Past: In April 2025, Manal Hamdoun Ghandour, a seasoned human rights advocate with over 15 years of experience in Lebanon and Nigeria, led the sessions. The training focused on citizenship issues, personal status laws, and the rights of women, the LGBT community, and the stateless. Additionally, it included addressing transgenerational trauma and peacebuilding, providing participants with insights into Lebanon’s complex historical context and the importance of dealing with the past for a sustainable future.
  • Advocacy Strategies and Tactics Workshop: In April 2025, we hosted a workshop led by Diala Haidar, a human rights campaigner and Gulf researcher at Amnesty International. The workshop focused on effective advocacy strategies and tactics to mobilize the community, build networks, and create alliances that influence decision-makers. Participants learned various techniques, including effective communication, grassroots organizing, coalition building, and leveraging digital platforms.

2- Community Meetings : Our series of community meetings, hosted in collaboration with partner organizations and held in public spaces, were facilitated by youth leaders to foster open discussions and gather valuable insights from diverse groups. These sessions aimed to engage marginalized communities, identify key political focus areas, and collect recommendations for MPs to consider when shaping laws and community priorities.

  • Empowering Voices in Bekaa – December 2024 This meeting took place in the Bekaa area and was dedicated to engaging with people with special needs. Participants expressed their views and shared recommendations on how political activities can be more inclusive.
  • Celebrating Inclusivity in Broumana – December 2024 Held in collaboration with Dar Al Amal, this meeting included a Christmas celebration activity with residents and follow-up discussions with management. It focused on the needs and priorities of individuals with mental health special needs, aiming to integrate their perspectives into political discourse.
  • Listening to Marginalized Voices in Mount Lebanon – March 2025: This session brought together marginalized groups in Mount Lebanon, providing a platform to discuss their challenges and propose recommendations for political groups to consider in their agendas.
  • Stateless Engagement in Bekaa – April 2025 This meeting focused on Lebanese stateless individuals in the Bekaa area, highlighting their unique position and gathering insights to inform policy recommendations for improving their socio-political inclusion.

Network events : The project will organize two network events to enhance collaboration among stakeholders. The first event will target young, politically active peers and youth groups, focusing on promoting collaboration, sharing recommendations, and discussing concrete actions to present to Lebanese MPs. The second event will bring together political leaders and Lebanese MPs, featuring youth leaders and representatives from round table communities, aiming to facilitate dialogue between political figures and the public to ensure effective implementation of the recommendations gathered from previous discussions.