On Thursday September 12, 2013, L’Orient des Campus launched its second round table entitled “Mediterranean Cultures as seen by Lebanese Youth”, in collaboration with the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (Francophone university Association - AUF) and the Phoenix Center for Lebanese Studies (CPEL) at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK).
This round table was organized to create a platform to facilitate interaction between Mediterranean youth within the MyMed project undertaken by three French researchers. It also aimed to revive the role of youth, generate a definite vision of the current issues in the region, and shed light on the initiatives of youth.
Journalist Ms. Maya Khadra inaugurated the session and indicated that the subject of the event was chosen to shed light on the different daily challenges we face in a country where we are fighting to survive rather than living our lives. Ms. Khadra hoped that “The interventions would give convincing answers to our main question: what is the relationship between the Lebanese youth and the Mediterranean cultures?”
Then, the three French researchers, Marie-Gabrielle Gaulard-Castello, Marion Maestripieri and Tiphaine Guérin, presented their project, MyMed, an initiative aiming to explore Mediterranean cultures.
Afterwards, Dr. Wissam Macaron, Professor at the Higher Institute of Political and Administrative Sciences at USEK, talked about insecurity in Lebanon as well as the tight censorship on artistic productions in the country. He stated: “Dialogue is of an utmost importance and what is more important is the culture of dialogue…It is a shame that this culture is absent in Lebanon, along with civic education at an early age…”
Journalist Roula Douglas explained how the L’Orient des Campus page, a section in L’Orient-Le Jour, evolved and said “The Lebanese youth longs for entertainment, going out and dancing. They have a long vision and seek to discover the world. However, they are frustrated every time their country gets hurts and they always look for the better”. In the end of her talk, Mrs. Douglas presented some activities and achievements undertaken by some young people in Lebanon.
Finally, Dr. Pamela Chrabieh, Professor at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology took the floor and gave a lecture entitled “The Lebanese Youth, Between the Culture of Peace and the Culture of War”. She explained that she completed a qualitative and quantitative research on the Lebanese youth in universities which showed that 70% of Lebanese students support war, among which 30% who are willing to hold weapons and participate in battles. The remaining 30% supports peace with different visions.
The event was brought to an end with a musical show performed by the band “Zeid and the Wings”, in addition to a live graffiti show by student Alain Moussallem.
