Youth Connection Forum: “High on Life”

Beirut – October 25 2008 – Under the patronage of his Excellency the Minister of State for Administrative Reform Mr. Ibrahim Chamseldin, OUM EL NOUR organized a forum for youth, entitled “High on Life: from the youth to the youth”. The event took place on Saturday 25th October, at Michel el Murr Stadium, Dora, from 11:30 am till 7:30 pm. The main objectives of the event were to conclude the “Youth Connection Project”, funded by the European Union and managed by the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR), and started in July 2007; and to launch its resultant prevention tools to youth from all over Lebanon.

                                     
The tools _ one movie, two theater plays, one music CD, two books, three comic books and toolkits kit for a prevention campaign _ were conceived and developed by a group of youth volunteers throughout the project, under the supervision of a project management team from Oum el Nour and eight experts in the artistic and academic fields. They convey untraditional messages for drug prevention, in artistic and creative languages, emphasizing the importance of constructive adventures and healthy challenges to seek happiness and focusing on hope, teamwork, peace and nature.

Young boys and girls, aged between 15 and 25 years, attended this event, representing most public and private schools as well as civil society organizations and youth associations in Lebanon.

The event featured an opening ceremony, with speeches from Ms. Mouna Yazigi (Oum el Nour’s General Manager), Ms. Chantale Kallas (Youth Connection Project Manager), Ms. Youmna Ghorayeb (Representing the OMSAR) and Père Marwan Tabet (Secretary General for Catholic Schools in Lebanon); followed by theater plays, exhibition of the tools, movie screening and several entertainment activities and competitions. The event was brought to an end with the “In your hands” concert from the youth to the youth.

            

Youth in Lebanon are in need of a social cause to adopt and advocate for; for that reason, giving them the opportunity to work on drug prevention is of benefits to everyone. The “Youth Connection” project highlighted the positive characteristics youth express when encouraged to work on an issue of interest to them, for instance the spirit of volunteerism, the sense of belonging, the ability to prioritize, the creativity and determination to make a change.