10 August 2005
When some of Lebanon's bright young minds were brought together to discuss conflict resolution, ideas of moderation and tolerance spoke louder than radicalism and hatred.
The summer program, organized by the United Nations and held at LAU's Beirut campus, will focus on training the participants in non-violent communication, negotiation and mediation skills, in an effort to bring Lebanon one step closer to the ideal of peace and stability.
The course is being held in partnership with the Institute for Peace and Justice Education at the Lebanese American University, the Mennonite Central Committee Lebanon and the Forum for Development, Culture and Dialogue.
"The aim is to help the participants understand and analyze conflict" said Irma Ghosn, director of the Institute for Peace and Justice Education at LAU.
The two-week curriculum, which began on Monday, will comprise lectures, debates and public sessions, taught by renowned scholars from Lebanon and abroad. The students are expected to stay on campus for the entire duration of the program, accomodated in dorms at the American University of Beirut, explained Ghosn.
The experts involved in the project will offer a wide range of activities balancing theory and practice.
Two public sessions, one on the Arab Human Development Report, and one on Interfaith Mediation Dialogue and Conflict Prevention, are also scheduled for the program.
Though the 26 participants were selected with the intention of forming a diversified group, with students from different religions and backgrounds; most of them seem to share the same interest and faith in the possibility of a peaceful resolution of conflict within the country and in the wider Middle East.
In fact, while many participants have studied law or political science, most of them aspire to careers in humanitarian fields.
Wissam al-Salibi, who studied law at the Lebanese University, explained that after he completes his Masters in humanitarian law, he would like to work for an NGO.
Commenting on the program he said "I will need those skills in my professional life."
Randy Nahle, who published his first book at age 12 and subsequently featured in the "Guinness World Records 2002" as the World's youngest series writer, said he was very interested in the topic of conflict resolution and feels "it's going to be an incredible learning experience", but remained skeptical, albeit hopeful, about the extent of personal growth the program could actually offer in practice "I don't know, we'll see, but I'm hopeful."
Others, like Mona Iskandarany already see the personal changes the program is triggering "I used to deal with issues in a selfish way; I've learned I should put emotions aside and be more objective."
