Dialogic Engagement Reinforces University Students to Counteract Extremism

Lebanon witnessed a harsh civil war that created a wide gap between conflicting political parties. These political animosities badly affected the interreligious connection between people. Every political party represents a specific religion, and people tend to blend the “political act” with “religion.” Youth are thus affected by the civil wars carried on by previous generations, referred to in the Lebanese dialect as “the war generation.” Youth grasp the spirit of conflict from their parents and accumulate some of the prejudices that make them unable to connect with those who are different from themselves, “the other.” My aim is to explain how social engagement can help youth widen their horizons and become more able both to accept the differences and to cherish them.

In order to understand concretely how social engagement can be a solid tool to help youth resist extremism in a world of discrimination between majorities and minorities, we need first to show the origin and activities of the Dialogue for Life and Reconciliation (DLR). Lebanon witnessed the birth of this nongovernmental organization (NGO), which gathers over 100 young women and men from different cultures, religions, and backgrounds, who are active in the field of peacebuilding. For seven years, this organization has helped youth to take a step toward each other. Engagement of youth in DLR activities helped them to cherish and respect their differences and similarities.

Each year the DLR organized an Interreligious Academy to act as a platform for youth, especially university students, to meet together and to organize workshops and activities to spread the spirit of reconciliation. Students had opportunities to interact with religious leaders, peacemakers, and scholars regarding various issues and prejudices. For instance, participants discussed the topic of the annunciation of the Virgin Mary in both the Qur’an and the Bible; in Lebanon the agreed common date for this celebration is March 25. The students agreed that such activity was indeed a turning point in their lives and that they were equipped with enough arguments to go back to their societies and fight against extremism and conflict. After numerous projects, the group of young people grew every year. Projects tackled issues from the Lebanese social community to caring for marginalized minorities in Lebanon to empowering young women to supporting interreligious dialogue and training for peacebuilding.

In addition to activities based in Lebanon, students have also participated in international projects. One example is the “Shadow Ambassadors” project that was initiated in Lebanon and expanded to Bosnia and Albania. Each country had faced extremism and violence during a period of their recent history, with their people obliged to fight in order to survive. Nowadays, after this period of violence, youth start to believe in reconciliation and peace. “Shadow Ambassadors” sought to instill in all participants a peacebuilding spark by following well-known peacemakers in each country, in order to gain the qualities required to become young peacemakers themselves.

Since peacebuilding is a heritage that can be transferred from one generation to another, DLR believes in the potential of youth to introduce a new “peacebuilding virus” that could be contagious to everyone in a society. Young persons now believe in one mission—to promote the dignity of being different and to build bridges of peace and reconciliation. By participating in such projects, youth become persuaded of the iniquity of war and conflict, are educated about different communities, become aware of the necessity of respecting marginalized minorities, and are armed to transcend the destructive extremism of their communities. Projects of such NGO’s do not have expiry dates—they do eventually end—but their sustainability evolves every day. Participants are continuously training and seek support to anchor their faith in this mission. Even after the closing of each activity, participants remain in close contact. Some gatherings are organized as a platform for follow-up programs. For instance, Christmas and Ramadan gatherings are good opportunities to cherish spiritual moments together, and March 25 is a date to glorify their common love and respect for Mary. The DLR provided the path for them to grasp this knowledge and also to spread it to others. [End Page...