Signing a Consortium Agreement for the Youth Leadership Building Project in Lebanon
Together for A Better Future!
Following the implementation of the first phase of the Youth Leadership Building (YLB) Project in Lebanon, a coordination meeting was held between the partners who launched the project, which are the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Youth for Christ (YFC), the Bible Society, the Ithraa Center, and the Kerk in Actie (KIA) organization, on Thursday 11 September 2024, at the Bible Society headquarters in Beirut.
The meeting included the Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, the Project Coordinator in the Department Ms. Maria Bzdigian, the Representative of Kerk in Actie (KIA) organization Mr. Dick Loendersloot, the Secretary General of the Bible Society Dr. Mike Bassous, the Psychosocial Support Coordinator at the Bible Society Mrs. Rita Zakhour, the National Director in Lebanon for Youth for Christ (YFC) Mr. Maher El Hajj, the Executive Assistant at YFC Mrs. Rouba Yammine, and the Founder and Director of the Ithraa Center in Lebanon Dr. Chady Rahme.
During the meeting, a consortium cooperation agreement was signed between the partners of the Youth Leadership Building (YLB) Project in Lebanon. Noting that its first phase was completed in an Ecumenical camp that brought together 35 youth from various Church Families, between 2 and 7 September 2024, at the Monastery of Our Lady of Consolation for the Jesuit Fathers, Taanayel - Lebanon. This agreement aims to enhance joint work and coordination together in order to develop and follow up the project towards achieving the desired Ecumenical, spiritual, and leadership goals, and hence ensuring the involvement of all Youth in all Church Families to participate in it.
The attendees also presented an overview of the results of the first phase of the project and evaluated the mechanisms that were adopted for its implementation. They discussed the lessons learned from it and stressed the importance of educating the youth and developing their capabilities in order to prepare them to build a better and brighter future. They also discussed the steps that must be taken in the coming period, welcoming the World Student Christian Federation (WCSF) who will join the project, and agreeing on holding future meetings.