The Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) was pleased to host the “Media Literacy and Freedom of Speech” workshop, part of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Project, funded by the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.

Dates and Locations:
- Wednesday, March 26, 2025 – USEK Zahle Campus
- Thursday, March 27, 2025 – USEK Kaslik Campus, Building H, Room HS 313

Time: 9:30 am – 3:00 pm

The workshop featured two distinguished professors:
- Dr. Chris Demaske (University of Tacoma, Washington) – The Role of Freedom of Speech and Expression in Securing and Maintaining Women’s Rights
- Dr. Helena Vanhala (Robert Morris University) – Empowering Women: Media Literacy for Gender Equity and Equality

The sessions explored the role of free speech in advancing gender equality, enhanced media literacy, and provided participants with content creation tools to counter stereotypes and promote inclusivity. The program included expert-led seminars, group discussions, and hands-on activities.

Agenda:
- Seminar Presentation 1 by Dr. Demaske (50 minutes)
- Seminar Presentation 2 by Dr. Vanhala (50 minutes)
- Seminar Wrap-Up by Dr. Demaske & Dr. Vanhala (25 minutes)
- Lunch Break (1 hour)
- Manual Creation Set-Up
- Manual Creation in Groups (80 minutes)
- Workshop Participant Presentations (30 minutes)
- Workshop Wrap-Up

This initiative was part of the broader Women, Peace, and Security project, which aimed to empower young Lebanese women, address gender-based challenges, and provide a platform to amplify their voices through media literacy and freedom of speech.