"There's never any good time or bad time to fight for human rights," she exclaimed, "It's always time."

UNRWA, in partnership with LAU-MEPI Tomorrow's Leadership Program and the Social Sciences Department, hosted a screening and discussion on May 24 on the Byblos campus called "Dignity for All". It unveiled some of the plaguing problems facing Palestinians in Lebanon and laid out ways to tackle them.

The presentation opened with a screening of Someone Like Me, a poignant documentary about a Palestinian boy living in Bourj el-Barajneh Camp, and the obstacles he faces trying to study, find work and fight stereotypes among Lebanese. Under the guidance of the University Enterprise Office, 20 LAU-MEPI TL students recently visited the same camp. "Second hand impressions are not sufficient," said Dismorr, who encouraged audience members who hadn't seen a camp to do so.

There are approximately 422,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, half of whom live in the country's 12 official refugee camps, where conditions are deplorable. Due to their legal status in the country, they cannot travel, own property and are banned from working in most high-level professions.

After the screening, a panel of experts shed light on the challenges facing Palestinians. Though a labor law giving them the right to work was passed in 2010, it was watered down and did little to open up many professions that are still closed off to them said Dr. Ziad el Sayegh, member of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue. He says their problem is not a humanitarian, but a political one, and that Lebanese may have sympathy for their plight, but do not want them to settle in Lebanon.

"Our universities are entrusted in reversing the stereotypes," he said. "We should work together to build a life of dignity. You are the new generation and you need to help."

Former legal advisor to the Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee (LPDC) Elias Moukheiber spoke of the need to recognize a "joined interest" of the Palestinians by the Lebanese, and to turn ministerial declarations into actual laws: "We need to reconcile between modern laws and the real situation at a political and social level."

"The film was really touching but I disagreed with the notion brought forward by one panelist that if you give Palestinians citizenship, they will not want to leave," said third year banking and finance student Nour Laswi who is of Palestinian origin. "I'm from Jordan where we have a high level of citizenship, and we all still want to return."

Laswi says there should be more awareness on campus about the situation of Palestinians in Lebanon. "Their right to work is so essential. If they can't produce money, they can't live," she added.

The war in Syria has compounded the difficulties for Palestinians as some 55,000 Syrian Palestinians have been flooding into the country and are taking shelter in the already over-crowded camps.

The nine scholars who graduated on May 21 are part of a unique group of 53 undergraduates enrolled in LAU's Middle East Partnerships Initiative's-Tomorrow's Leaders (LAU-MEPI TL) program. Jointly funded by the U.S. Department of State and the university, LAU-MEPI TL provides full scholarships for promising students from across the Arab world to study at LAU.

Representing a diverse mix of backgrounds, skills, interests and ambitions, the students are selected for their academic credentials and commitments to leadership work in their communities. LAU's first MEPI class, comprised of six students, enrolled in 2008.

"I was a troubled person with so much anger and sadness from my life in Iraq," said Hummam Wasfi, 22, as he addressed the hall before receiving his diploma. With a childhood marked by Baghdad's violent recent history, Wasfi knew little of peace, security or community prosperity as an adolescent. But he knew those ideals were worth working for.

Securing a place on the LAU-MEPI TL program not only afforded him an excellent education but, in his words, "gave me the chance to be among people who challenged me, inspired me and ultimately changed my life."

The LAU-MEPI TL program complements the university's ethos of harnessing not just the academic excellence of students but also a strong commitment to serving others. Its curriculum is designed to promote civic-mindedness, critical thinking and the professional experience required to contribute to positive change in their societies.

Throughout the program, students undertake community service, summer internships, roundtable discussions, and leadership training. They also spend a semester studying in the U.S.

"You will soon leave this institution, but I plead with you to go out with the values that you learned here, and to change the world for the better," said LAU President Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra in his address to the students. He also thanked the U.S. Government and people for funding a program designed to contribute to a more prosperous and peaceful region.

The importance of playing a positive role in society was also reinforced by keynote speaker Robert McGregor, chairman of PRO International business consultancy agency, and former chairman of INDEVCO Foundation. "Be people of virtue, vision and service," he advised the graduating class.

"I've been hugely inspired by what I've seen today and I hope these young people realize they are part of a community of thousands across the region who have shared in MEPI programs," said Richard Mills, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon. "I know that LAU has provided an enriching educational environment and given these students the tools to make a difference in their communities."

The skills and values instilled by the LAU-MEPI TL program means its cohorts are well prepared for life after university, said Dr. Walid Touma, director of LAU's Enterprise Office, which oversees the program. "There are revolutionary ideas among these students and I am so proud of every single one of them."

Kokko is just one of several European students currently at LAU on an exchange program and who are learning that there is more to Lebanon than what the headlines would have them believe. Their time in Lebanon is made possible through the university's involvement in three European Union-funded exchange programs: Dunia Beam, WELCOME and MEDASTAR.

LAU students also have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to exchange places with a European classmate at a number of prestigious universities. The exchanges are fully funded and last six to ten months, or even for a full Master's degree.

For many, such exchanges are life-changing trips that introduce them to new ideas, cultures and philosophies. "The development of knowledge, skills and experiences on a global plane is fast becoming a fundamental part of learning at LAU," says Dina Abdul Rahman, Study Abroad program coordinator at LAU's Outreach and Civic Engagement office. "Study abroad opportunities are invaluable as they help students become better leaders and informed experts in their fields."

As an LAU Computer Science student currently on exchange at Newcastle University, Hussein Mohsen is ecstatic at the chance to learn in and about a new culture. "It's been a great experience," he says. "I've made many friends from all over the world and I've been able to take specialized courses in bioinformatics which are not available in Lebanon."

For Kokko, coming to LAU was also a chance to do something new: "I've joined the LAU choir, which is something I always wanted to do in France. I've also benefited a lot from the Arabic program at SINARC (Summer Institute for Intensive Arabic Language & Culture)."

LAU's involvement in these projects is a chance for students to serve as ambassadors for the Arab world, says Abdul Rahman. "Stereotypes about Lebanon and the region are pervasive. These exchanges expose European students to our societies and help dispel misunderstandings."

Arcvin Babajan, a political science student from Brno, Czech Republic, agrees that the exchange has given him a much deeper appreciation for Lebanon. "It's a welcoming place and offers a good balance of cultures." During his time at LAU, Babajan says his English and Arabic language skills have improved, he has benefitted from the university's interactive way of teaching and has enrolled in courses that are not available at home.

The deadlines to apply for these exchange programs are rapidly approaching. For more information, visit: http://students.lau.edu.lb/student-engagement/exchange-programs.php
 

This gathering was different. They were there not to welcome new additions to the program, but to bid farewell to 12 of their comrades as they prepare to graduate in July and return home. For some, home is just down the coast in Sidon. For others, it is in Yemen, Tunisia, the Palestinian territories, Egypt and other Arab countries they may hardly recognize anymore.

“We are overjoyed to be sharing your achievements with you,” said LAU President Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra during the June 13 farewell ceremony in Byblos. “You have all worked so hard to succeed, and we cannot hide how much we’ll miss you. Our only consolation is that you are going back to your communities to change them.

“And when you go back,” Jabbra added, “don’t forget the values you’ve shown here, particularly that of giving. The most powerful means of changing a society, a community, is to commit to it, and give to that community to improve it.”

The first batch of six MEPI-TL students arrived in 2008 as part of the US State-Department-financed program. Now they, and six others who joined the following year, are set to be LAU’s first MEPI-TL alumni.

Dr. Walid Touma, director of LAU’s University Enterprise Office which oversees the MEPI-TL program, looked at the students with emotion. “You are my leaders,” he said. “You have really grown your wings. You don’t need us anymore. Your wings will take you on your own journeys.”

Wistfulness aside, the event — co-organized by UEO and the Alumni Relations Office — was framed not as a valediction but rather as an “alumni welcoming ceremony.”

“When Walid talked to me about organizing a farewell reception for you guys, I said, ‘Farewell? We don’t do that. We only do welcoming receptions,’” said Abdallah Al Khal, executive director of Alumni Relations. Al Khal ran through a presentation of the benefits of joining the alumni network. “LAU will always be your second home,” he said.

Randall Kaailau, MEPI Coordinator at U.S. Embassy Beirut, said that MEPI’s mission is to create partnerships in the region and to empower citizens to create more prosperous societies. “I hope what you learned here will help your communities and your region,” he concluded by telling the students.

Over the years, the MEPI-TL group has earned a collective reputation for their efforts to help others. One of their earliest campaigns was organized in response to the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti; they raised money to contribute to the relief effort. But it was just one of many.

MEPI-TL students currently number 55, including 12 graduating students, and hailing from 11 Arab countries. Each student has a profile on the MEPI-TL website.

“I didn’t imagine that I would meet people from Palestine and Yemen and Egypt,” said Layla al Bizri, one of the graduating students from Lebanon. “And these aren’t the elite. These are people of modest means who share similar ambitions — we all want to help bring about change.”

Several of the Lebanese students invited their parents to the ceremony. Mira Daher was one of two students chosen to give a brief speech recounting her experiences since arriving in 2009. After the ceremony, she was embraced by her visibly moved parents, Mona and Wissam.

“We are so happy and proud of them, all of them,” Mona said. “It is such a beautiful day. We just hope they all have great futures.”
 

Last October, LAU joined the WELCOME (Widening Egyptian and Lebanese Cooperation and Mobility with Europe) consortium, which comprises 19 universities from the EU, Lebanon and Egypt, and is coordinated by Politecnico di Torino, Italy.

The grant is worth €4 million (roughly $6.7 million), $600,000 of which was awarded to LAU, spanning a four year timeframe – from October 2011 to October 2015.

Six universities from Egypt, five from Lebanon, and up to 10 from the EU will benefit from the exchange program. Accepted candidates will spend between 6-36 months in a European partner university studying, training, teaching and/or researching. The scholarships are open to undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students as well as post-doctoral faculty and staff. They will cover various expenses, including travel costs, living allowances, tuition/registration fees and insurance.

"The study abroad office at LAU works extensively to provide international exchange opportunities to our students with the main purpose of widening their horizons and expanding their perspectives on many academic, social, and humanitarian aspects," says Elie Samia, executive director of the Outreach and Civic Engagement unit. "Also, we strive to promote LAU as an academic institution of high standards that thrives on international exchange."

The MEDASTAR (Mediterranean Area for Science Technology And Research) project is similar to WELCOME in its objectives, details, and budget, according to Dr. Fouad Hashwa, professor of microbiology and biotechnology at the Byblos campus and LAU’s liaison to the Erasmus Mundus headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

Run by the University of Oviedo in Spain, MEDASTAR is a consortium of 18 universities, again from Lebanon, Egypt and Europe.

“LAU's share from each grant will be about $400,000, solely to facilitate and cover the two-way exchange expenses for our students and staff,” says Hashwa. “Both grants will be effective in early 2012, thus doubling the number of scholarships for LAU’s students at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels.”

A total of 400 exchanges will be made possible by the grants, according to Hashwa, who represented LAU at WELCOME’s inauguration in Turin, Italy in December and organized MEDASTAR’s kickoff meeting at LAU Byblos on January 19-20. Along with a host of LAU officials, the Spanish Ambassador to Lebanon Juan Carlos Gafo, and Erasmus Mundus representative Anila Troshani attended the meeting, which was opened by Provost Dr. Abdallah Sfeir.

Participation in the programs will not be limited to Lebanese and Egyptian students. Students from European institutions are expected to constitute around 30 percent of the total exchange, says Hashwa.

Other Lebanese universities participating in the two projects include the American University of Beirut, Notre Dame University, Lebanese University and Saint Joseph University. Students in most majors are eligible.

"As the executive director of OCE, I believe that offering opportunities for LAU students to enrich their intellectual and cultural experiences through Erasmus Mundus is an integral part of LAU’s mission statement — totally committed to academic excellence, civic engagement and leadership," says Samia.

Also participating in the visit were three international students currently completing an elective in social medicine and global health at LAU’s Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine (SOM).

Nima Sheth, a fourth-year medical student at the Saint Louis University in Missouri, joined the program because of her interest in social justice and her desire to work with the phenomenon of post-traumatic stress disorder among refugees.

“The team has great energy and everyone shows real empathy with the patients,” she says. “It’s good to be exposed to underprivileged environments, because there’s much more we can help the patients with here.”

More than 8,500 residents currently live in acute privation within the one-square-kilometer bounds of the Shatila camp, one of Beirut’s most impoverished communities.

Initially established in 2001 by physicians, medical students and volunteers from the American University of Beirut, VOC offers primary care services to camp residents every Thursday, and occasionally for half-days on Saturdays.

The clinic is not officially under the umbrella of any university. It is now staffed, however, largely by students and physicians from SOM’s Social Medicine and Global Health program.

Under the supervision of Dr. Mona Haidar, the program’s coordinator and an SOM instructor at LAU Byblos, and Dr. Myrna Doumit, associate professor and assistant dean at the Alice Chagoury School of Nursing, students participate in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients.

“We believe in the team approach. One person can’t cover all of the patients’ needs, and we cannot function solo,” says Doumit.

“Inter-professional education is the founding pillar of healthcare education and delivery, and that’s what we’re implementing through VOC,” she notes, adding that the nutrition and social work programs will soon be joining.

VOC’s mission is to provide, at minimal or no cost, quality health services to underprivileged and neglected individuals in Lebanon, regardless of race, gender, geographic location and religious affiliation. VOC promotes a message of solidarity among both patients and practitioners.

Despite limited availability of medical equipment at the clinic, the LAU team provides reliable care and responsive support to VOC patients.

Since most Shatila residents can rarely afford the laboratory tests they need, however, financial support is needed to make the clinic an ongoing primary healthcare facility for its patients, as well as a comprehensive learning site for students.

Impressed with LAU students’ contributions to the clinic, Assistant Vice President for Development Robert Hollback hopes to find ways to increase the larger community’s involvement with the VOC.

“Students and faculty members are providing the only healthcare available at the clinic right now,” says Hollback, adding that sustainability remains an unresolved problem since the clinic relies mostly on donations.

“We currently have a $50,000 funding proposal, and we’re waiting for it to come through. But this is still not a sustainable source of funding,” he says.

Up to ten patients frequent the clinic every Thursday, and the numbers are steadily climbing.

“We want to attune our students to the idea that the patients are coming from a certain community, and tailor our care accordingly,” Haidar says, adding that community assessment lies at the core of the process.

Lara Oson, a third year medical student at LAU, finds the VOC experience to be genuinely gratifying.

“We get to see the patient from the very beginning, make a plan and discuss it with Dr. Haidar. It’s a big responsibility and we feel that we’re truly making a difference,” she says.

“In the United States, you see certain images in the media, and then you come here and see the vibrancy of Beirut, and see that it’s safe, no one is afraid,” says Dr. Aram Shahin, a JMU Arabic instructor, who accompanied the students.

The joint venture brings together instructors from JMU and SINARC, one of the leading language institutes in the Middle East. The program relies on LAU professors to teach courses in Lebanese dialect and Arabic for beginners, while Shahin is teaching advanced students. The program runs from June 25 to July 13.

JMU has previously held summer programs in Jordan and Morocco, but Shahin says the university is excited to hold its first study abroad program in Lebanon at LAU.

The JMU program runs alongside SINARC’s usual summer program. Language classes are held separately, but the students from the two programs come together to attend weekly lectures on current affairs and visit popular tourist sites around Lebanon.

For Amanda Michatti, a junior studying international affairs at JMU, the program gave her an opportunity not only to experience Arab culture, but also to “see how a city can be [Arab] but so Westernized, and learn how different religions and mixes of people interact with each other.”

This year’s program includes visits to Lebanon’s tourist attractions, including Baalbeck, Byblos, Tyre, Tripoli, Beiteddine, and Deir al-Qamar, as well as a four-day tour of Jordan.

“The trips are a side of Lebanon that I would have never seen had I come here on my own. I wouldn’t have done all this without the group,” says Michatti.

For others, such as Yassir Razak, an English major at JMU, the political insight gleaned from the weekly lectures has allowed him to engage in streetside political debates. “It’s been great going out and talking politics to people like cab drivers,” he says. “I feel like I’m learning more than just language.”

The four-week JMU program offers its participants beginner and intermediate courses on standard Arabic, along with instruction in Lebanese dialect. SINARC’s other summer program offers four levels of intensive courses in Arabic language and culture, taught over a period of six weeks.

The institute has grown considerably in the last decade, last summer attracting 164 students from around the world. This year 96 students enrolled in the summer program, in addition to the 16 JMU participants.

Dr. Mimi Jeha, SINARC director, attributes the drop in numbers to the regional unrest, but adds that a number of the participants are completing their second summer in the program.

For Jeha there is a huge role at the institute for faculty-led programs similar to JMU. Last January, LAU hosted a group of students and faculty from Oberlin College, Ohio, USA, for a three-week intensive course in Lebanese dialect. The University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, is also working to establish a similar program for next summer.

What attracts the universities?

According to Jeha, the LAU faculty are year-round instructors, who have watched the program grow over time and are eager to innovate. “For foreign faculty, they get the opportunity to teach their students in an Arab environment, while immersing them in Lebanese culture,” she adds.

SINARC also offers 15-week programs throughout the academic year. The fall program is from September 5 to December 9, 2011, and the spring program from January 23 till April 27, 2012.

Visit the SINARC website to learn more about its programs.
 

In front of the Safadi Fine Arts Building, each of the nine participating clubs set up a stand to promote its culture’s unique customs, food, national products, distinctive attire and other aspects of its heritage.

Dr. Tarek Na’was, associate professor of biology and pharmacy, opened the ceremony, which kicked off at 11 a.m. Na’was welcomed students, staff, faculty and guests, and introduced LAU president Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra.

Jabbra gave a historical overview of International Heritage Day, noting that its roots date back to the early 1980s.

“In an international community meeting in Tunisia on April 18, 1982, one of the decisions was to set a day on which humanity would celebrate its heritage,” Jabbra said.

“In 1983, UNESCO expressed concern that international heritage was vulnerable to the behavior of leaders and to the effects of war,” he added. “They thus mandated that states do what they can to protect the diversity and richness of international heritage.”

The president thanked the university’s cultural clubs and diverse student body for contributing to the ongoing success of the annual event since the 2003–2004 academic year.

“The event has been made vibrant by their energy and commitment,” he said.

The students were equally pleased with the event, saying it successfully represented their cultural identities.

“I think the Palestinian Cultural Club’s stand really reflected the cultural image of the Palestinians through their presentation and folk dance,” said Aya Ibrahim, a Palestinian student in her first year studying literature.

The USA Cultural Club’s booth, sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon, featured — among other things — a group from the embassy that distributed applications for exchange programs and Fulbright scholarships to student passers-by. The embassy representatives explained the experiences and benefits successful applicants could gain through these programs.

Students were also delighted by the level of cooperation between the different clubs.

“The atmosphere is friendly and supportive. The clubs even share ideas about how to improve the appearance of each others' stands,” said Adnan Adam, a Greek-Cypriot student.

Program coordinator Riman Jurdak expressed pride in the students’ ideas and effort.

“They continue to surprise me, honestly — I’m so happy and proud of their work,” Jurdak said.

The show opened with a Lebanese folkloric dance, followed by each club performing its national dance.

The Armenian Club, Greek Group, Iraqi Group, Jordanian Cultural Club, Palestinian Cultural Club, Saudi Cultural Club, Syrian Cultural Club, UNESCO Club (presenting Lebanese culture), and USA Cultural Club participated in the event.

According to SINARC Director Mimi Jeha, people of Lebanese origin and students of Arabic or Arab culture join the program every year, seeking to better understand the language and the people who speak it. The program provides participants with an enriching experience, offering cultural exposure they cannot get anywhere else, Jeha said.

Travis Moe, a literary and cultural studies major at New York University, had heard a great deal about the beauty of Arabic poetry and its effect on converting people to Islam, and thus wanted to learn the language in order to be able to read it for himself.

Moe, who signed up at the elementary level, said that SINARC allowed participants "to get the real, complete Lebanon experience along with learning the language."

During a field trip to North Lebanon, participants hiked through the famous cedar forest, spent the night in the mountains, went sightseeing in the city of Tripoli, and visited the Rabbit Island, a nature reserve off the coast of the city.

Other excursions included visits to the cathedral of Harissa, the ancient city of Byblos, the Jeita grotto, the renowned Baalbeck archeological site, the mountain palace of Beiteddine, and the southern coastal cities of Sidon and Tyre. The students also went to Syria, where they toured Damascus, Saydnaya, and Palmyra.

Marie O'mara, who also participated last year, was once again impressed by Lebanon. It is "the most brilliant country in the Middle East," she said. It has "the perfect mix of cultures...[since] Arab culture [is] mixed with a European, Mediterranean atmosphere," she explained.

Half British and half Pakistani, O'mara is writing her final-year dissertation on Lebanon. So, she is staying in the country a while longer for research before going back to Edinburgh University.

Mary Farah, from Washington D.C., wanted to learn Arabic because of her Lebanese background. Farah, who enrolled in the elementary program, said her favorite part was the dialect course, adding that they got to sing a lot as part of the learning.

The program that took place July 23–August 1 also offered 20 hours per week of intensive classroom instruction in Arabic language at four levels. Every course also included a smattering of Lebanese dialect.

The program is further enhanced by means of lectures or film presentations on various aspects of Arab history, society, politics, and culture. Students who want to speak the Lebanese dialect better can also enroll in a separate eight-credit course. Credits are transferable to the students' home universities.

SINARC also holds a 15-week program from early September until mid-December. Fall participants receive 14 credits per course at the intermediate or advanced levels. The program includes two courses on Arabic writing and the challenges of the Middle East in the 21st century.

SINARC is a total-immersion program that caters to foreign students, working professionals, expatriate youth of Lebanese origin and even children of foreign nationals stationed in Beirut.

Around 55 students enrolled in the program this year (June 27-August 5), mostly from the United States. The group included Europeans and students of Lebanese descent seeking to improve Arabic reading and writing skills, if not acquire them from scratch.

"We have 15-year-old high school students as well as doctorate students and working professionals," said Dr. Mimi Milki Jeha, the program's director.

Dr. Jeha said the turnout was a result of close contacts the program had maintained with American universities that offered degrees in Arabic studies. "Our website is doing a great job too," added Jeha, as the majority of the applications were submitted online.

"It is an amazing program," said Natalie Bonomo, a half-Italian, half-Lebanese participant who lives in North Carolina. "We got so much support from everybody," she added. Bonomo first attended SINARC last summer. It was also the first time she ever visited her mother's homeland. The experience was so positive, she decided to return for more courses in 2005.

Natalie Bonomo, Piotr Demski, Dennis Kumetat

Piotr Demski, who hails from Poland, enrolled in the program five years after graduating from Warsaw University with a degree in Arabic studies. "When I looked up the course on the internet, I thought it was the best way to practice and improve my Arabic," he said.

An employee at Polish Airlines, Demski enjoys vacationing and learning at the same time. He amazed everybody during a field trip to the Bsharri cedar forest in North Lebanon (photo below) when he started muttering verses from a poem by Mikhael Neaimy. To him, walking between the cedars was evocative of Fairuz.

Dennis Kumetat was continuing graduate studies at the American University of Beirut when he heard about the program at LAU. He enrolled hoping to improve his basic knowledge of Arabic in preparation of his master's degree.

Most of the American students took SINARC courses as part of major requirements at their home universities.

The program was based on the Beirut Campus, but not confined to it. During a field trip to North Lebanon, all participants hiked to Qornet Al Sawda, the highest mountain peak in the country at more than 3,000 meters above sea level with a thrilling panoramic view of Lebanon. Other excursions took them to Byblos, Beiteddine, Anjar, Baalback, Douma, Sidon, Tyre and Syria.

SINARC offers eight-credit, six-week courses covering the elementary, upper elementary, intermediate and advanced levels, in addition to the Lebanese dialect (two levels).

A student enrolled in one course is expected to attend 20 hours per week of intensive classroom instruction, where Arabic is the only language used. The credits are transferable to students' home institutions for evaluation. Weekly lectures on topics related to Arab and Lebanese politics, history, society and culture are also offered in addition to weekly field trips and cultural excursions to historic and tourist sites across the country.