Forging Change Through Unity and Empowerment
Meaningful change is forged through deliberate action and collective effort. Participating in the Unite for Change initiative provided a platform to witness this firsthand, working to empower voices that too often go unheard and contribute to tangible support within our communities.
A significant part of our work involved engaging directly with the queer community in Aley and Shouf through roundtable discussions. This allowed us to hear the challenges and aspirations of this often-overlooked group, fostering understanding and solidarity. In the Aley and Shouf regions, we found a community with unique strengths. It’s a region considered less conservative than other regions away from the capital. However, the community faces challenges, including limited job opportunities and homophobia in public spaces, private spaces, and at home, leading to social isolation and mental health issues. Despite these obstacles, the community is actively developing empowerment strategies, such as creating safe spaces and networks, promoting mutual cooperation, and advocating for social change.
The principles and networks fostered through Unite for Change became particularly vital during the Israeli aggression on Lebanon. We were able to leverage our training and connections to support displaced communities and contribute to emergency response efforts. This experience powerfully underscored the importance of community mobilization and collective action in times of adversity.
Experiences such as these, within frameworks like Unite for Change, highlight the incredible resilience, intersectionality, interconnectedness, and — above all — strength of marginalized communities. They serve as a reminder that by working together, we can build a more inclusive and equitable society. The lessons from this period, and the connections made, will undoubtedly shape my future advocacy.