Post-conflict recovery in southern Lebanon
Peace building for youth
Recovery and development initiatives that have helped to rebuild homes, livelihoods and public service infrastructure in war-affected communities throughout southern Lebanon have fueled hope among many that a better future is on the horizon. Hassan Khazaal, a youth group leader in his village Tebnine, is among the hopeful; a beneficiary of the UNDP-supported youth programme in southern Lebanon, he believes that the greatest hope for the future lies in engaging youth.
According to Hassan, many youth – especially young men – lack the chance to participate in community revival, prompting them to seek opportunities in Beirut or abroad, where jobs and education are more accessible. To Hassan, the answer is found in providing young people with the resources and skills that they need to succeed. Otherwise, he fears that a continued loss of youth in struggling villages and communities may impact future peace and prosperity. He sees progress, however, describing a recent youth workshop on peace building and nonviolence, organized as part of the UNDP-supported programme, as “one of the best I ever attended.”
The youth workshop focused on theatre and art as tools for mediation and conflict resolution. Hassan feels these workshops help youth learn how to express themselves more constructively. Teaching youth to communicate their needs and problems with skill and confidence, through peaceful dialogue and non-violent methods of conflict resolution, means that they will not only find more productive ways of participating in recovery and development, but also have a role in building a peaceful environment for generations to come.
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