Outreach Activities around the SDGs

Camping Around the Sustainable Development Goals

Participants in this year’s School of Arts and Sciences Summer Camps got a taste of university-level education in line with LAU’s SDG-based Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum.

This year, 79 high-school students congregated to participate in the School of Arts and Sciences Summer Camps, which were spread out across three individual camps focusing on essential SDG-focused majors: physics, chemistry and nutrition.

Following the immersive summer camps of 2022, the Liberal Arts and Sciences Department designed lectures and activities over five days of learning, from July 3 to July 7.

Campers had the opportunity to experience a university environment and explore multiple programs they might wish to study at LAU. This was facilitated not only by the number of seminars that were given at each camp but also by the chance to earn a 10-to-30-percent scholarship to study at the university upon completing the camp.

Introductory sessions for all the participants were held at the Adnan Kassar School of Business (AKSOB) on the Beirut campus before they dispersed among different schools. AKSOB hosted most of the physics and nutrition sessions, whereas the chemistry sessions took place at the chemistry facility in Sage Hall.

At the physics camp, students participated in interactive lectures on Einstein’s theory of relativity, electromagnetism and the realm of quantum mechanics by discussing their understanding of the theories with the instructors. Associate Professor of Physics Jimmy Romanos and Assistant Professors of Physics Rana Nicolas and Walid Malaeb organized lectures, experiments and documentaries to allow for an engaging learning experience.

“We tried to give the students an overall idea of the different interesting topics in physics,” said Dr. Nicolas, “especially since the subject itself can be intimidating. In all, I think the students were very interested and motivated and posed a lot of questions that were surprisingly good for their age.”

Grade 11 student Jana Abou Hijeily said that “the camp was a great opportunity to discover new aspects of physics that we don’t thoroughly learn at school. The practical experiences, like performing a residential energy audit, enabled us to visualize the pragmatic side of most of the theoretical knowledge we’ve acquired over the years.”

Over at the nutrition camp, discourses were designed by Associate Professor of Nutrition Nadine Zeeni, Associate Professor of Food Science and Technology Hussein F. Hassan, Assistant Professor of Nutrition Rana Rizk as well as Instructors of Nutrition Marwa Fadlallah and Marie Stephan to address emerging issues in nutrition and food science with a focus on the impact of food insecurity and malnutrition on communities worldwide.

Additionally, students got to explore sustainable food practices and how they contribute to both human health and the environment. “Throughout the camp, the intricate connections between nutrition and overall health were investigated,” said Dr. Rizk. “Lectures provided a comprehensive overview of this link, explaining how proper nutrition directly impacts physical and mental wellbeing.”

Youssef Itani, Grade 11, said that having this opportunity was beneficial for him and his peers as they made “new acquaintances in the field on top of learning about the role of nutrition in addressing the sustainable development goals.”

Inspired by videos featuring testimonials from practicing dietitians in diverse nutrition fields, the participants gained insight into real-life experiences and perspectives on the day-to-day responsibilities of a career in nutrition.

Meanwhile, the chemistry camp addressed the challenges related to soil quality deterioration in Mediterranean countries and introduced experimental procedures to the participants to sharpen their understanding of soil parameters and environmental contaminants.

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Elias Akoury, who was responsible for delivering all the lectures, was determined to ensure a learning experience for the students different from the methodology used in schools. And in fact, the campers felt enlightened as they discovered the multidisciplinary approaches used to address environmental issues.

All of this was made possible by the experiments they got to conduct in the chemistry labs, such as spectroscopic techniques, thermogravimetric analysis (observing the mass variation of materials with temperature changes) and X-ray fluorescence.

“I am glad I took part in the program because we were introduced to the different disciplines and experiments of science,” stated 11-grader Karim Kassem. “Tackling soil chemistry, its chemical composition and properties with Dr. Akoury was very enriching. I was able to form solid bonds with chemistry enthusiasts and obtain a rigid chemistry background knowledge.”

On the final day, in an awards ceremony held on the Beirut campus, scholarships covering up to 30 percent of the tuition were granted to the 17 participants who scored high on their final examination to kick off their university education at LAU.

Outreach and Civic Engagement

The Outreach, Leadership, and Empowerment (OLE) and the Community Service & Engagement (CSE) units at LAU integrate civic engagement with the extra-curricular activities of LAU students and encourage them to broaden their horizons both within and outside Lebanon through leadership training, skills development, and volunteering opportunities.

Outreach, Leadership, and Empowerment (OLE)

• Outreach and Leadership Programs

You’ll get the chance to participate in local and international programs, visits, and conferences

What is OLE and how will OLE transform my experience?

The Outreach, Leadership & Empowerment (OLE) at LAU aims at fostering holistic student empowerment. Through specific leadership and outreach programs, OLE aims to equip students with essential skills, promoting resilience and inclusive leadership. It fosters a diverse and inclusive campus environment and provides opportunities for personal and professional growth. It encourages students to broaden their horizons both within and outside Lebanon through leadership training, skills development, and volunteering opportunities.

OLE prepares students for their future roles as global citizens and ethical leaders. Its main objective is to have students equipped with needed skills and tools to thrive both personally and professionally.

• You will be exposed to like-minded people in Lebanon and beyond.
• You will develop essential soft skills such as leadership, communication, conflict-resolution, team-work and resilience.
• You will grow your life-knowledge beyond academics, through volunteerism, local and international conferences, as well as seminars and training.
• You will benefit from OLE’s 10+ years of experience in offering unique programs and opportunities that will match your interests and challenge your givens

Community Service & Engagement (CSE)

• Volunteerism, Networking, and Civic Engagement

You’ll learn, engage in the community, and share your knowledge by training others

• Capacity Building

We’ll help you build your soft skills, character development and career-readiness

What is CSE and how will CSE transform my experience?

The Community Service & Engagement (CSE) at LAU aims to provide LAU students and student recipients of USAID scholarship grants with the tools, opportunities, and guidance needed to not only excel academically but also become active, compassionate, and socially responsible leaders within their communities and the world at large.

CSE serves as the driving force behind fostering a culture of community engagement throughout the LAU community. We provide innovative and immersive programming that encourages LAU students to explore the diverse landscapes of their nation while contributing to meaningful causes. This experiential learning is not just an addendum; it’s a vital facet of the LAU academic journey.

Join us in shaping compassionate pioneers dedicated to making a profound impact in their communities. Discover how CSE at LAU transforms students into engaged citizens, equipping them with the skills and empathy needed to build a better tomorrow.

How will CSE transform my experience?

• Aptitude Development: Participating in CSE programs allows you to hone your core competencies through practical experiences, workshops, and interactions with mentors, empowering you to become a more effective and influential changemaker.
• Community Impact: CSE offers chances to engage in community service and public service initiatives, enabling you to make a positive impact on society and develop a sense of social responsibility that goes beyond the classroom.
• Personal Growth: Beyond academic excellence, CSE promotes personal growth by encouraging self-discovery, resilience, and adaptability, preparing you to face challenges and seize opportunities with confidence.

Domestic Workers

Awareness Guide for Female Domestic Workers in Lebanon: What should I know?

AiW undertook an awareness-raising campaign that entailed developing, printing, and distributing brochures to domestic workers in Lebanon.

With a grant from the Foundation of Open Society Institute, AiW developed and printed the brochure for the campaign. The brochure was written in English to address migrant workers from the Philippines, and immediately translated into three languages, Amharic (Ethiopia), Nepali (Nepal), and Sinhala (Sri Lanka). A total of 24,000 brochures were printed.

Since the printing process has been finalized in December 2010, AiW has been working on disseminating the brochure to migrant domestic workers in Lebanon.

“Shabaket el Meem”: LGBTQ Youth Support Platform

In 2018, The AiW began working on a new project with a funding from the Embassy of Netherlands in Lebanon that aims to promote issues related to the LGBTQ community in Lebanon. The project focuses on the dearth of reliable information and support available to the LGBTQ community, and strives to promote a strong civil society network of organizations and actors that can fill this gap. The AiW, together with a number of local subject-matter experts, produced an online platform “Shabaket el Meem” for LGBTQ youth in Lebanon that features short animations, a podcast series, a Q&A section, and a glossary with LGBTQ terms in English and Arabic. The platform also includes a map where visitors can share their own experiences.

Visit www.shabaketelmeem.com for more information and follow them on Instagram (@shabaketelmeem) and on Facebook (Shabaket el Meem).

Coordination and Support for the Human Rights Network

In 2019, the AiW continued its work with Management Systems International (MSI), within the “Building Alliances for Local Advancement, Development and Investment – Capacity Building” (BALADI-CAP) program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The purpose of the project concluded in March 2019 by the AiW is to build alliances and bring to the table participating CSOs, to communicate, collaborate, and create a human rights network (HRN) in Lebanon. During its last year of funding, the HRN concluded the project funded by BALADI CAP working to address human rights issues in Lebanon and focusing on vulnerable groups in media, specifically social programs on Lebanese television. AiW will continue sustaining the Human Rights Network with all its members Soins Infirmiers et Developpement Communautaire (SIDC), Skoun, and Dar Al-Amal.

Support for Incarcerated Women

Guide for Working in Women Prisons in Lebanon

The Arab Institute for Women launched the “Guide for Working in Women Prisons in Lebanon”. The guide was funded by the United Nations Population Fund and authored by Anita Nassar, former Assistant Director of IWSAW (AiW).

The guide aims to help those wishing to implement projects in women’s prisons by providing general information on rights and status of women prisoners in Lebanon, as well as a 1999-2010 comparative study on women’s situation in prison. It targets a wide array of groups, mainly: local civil society (especially social workers) and international bodies dealing with the affairs of prisons in Lebanon; religious institutions; officials and decision-makers in charge of prison management.

Women Prison Project

The AiW was granted funds to purchase items needed by women prisoners. The following items were purchased as per the amounts allotted by the fund:

Hygiene pads, bath soap bars, bath sponge, laundry detergents (5kg/pack), hair shampoo gallons (4kg/gallon), bed sheets and underwear.

Connecting Students and Alumni with Top Employers

Extending over a week, the hybrid LAU Spring 2023 Career Fair brought leading employers to LAU campuses. Meanwhile, and building on a long list of services available to students, the Office of Career Development ran an interactive campaign enticing students to perfect their elevator pitch, prepare a resumé and get to know more about the participating firms.

Panel Discussion - Healthy Eating and Weight Management Mythbusting by Experts

The Alumni Relations Office in collaboration with the Nutrition Program at the Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, organized a panel discussion on the Beirut campus on June 23, 2022.

The event started out with dietitians who are LAU alumni, and who were available for individual consultations on proper diet programs. Followed by a panel discussion, which featured:

Dr. Nadine Zeeni, Associate Professor of Nutrition at LAU, Dr. Myriam El Khoury Malhame, Assistant Professor and Program Lead of Psychology at LAU and Dr. George El Khoury, Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery, LAU Medical Center - Rizk Hospital. The panel was moderated by Dr. Hussein Hassan, Director of Academic Compliance, Provost’s Office and Associate Professor of Food Science and Technology.

Keep Learning Alumni Webinar: Resilience in Extreme Contexts by Leadership and Business Advisor: Rabee Fares

International award-winning leadership coach Rabee Fares offered an eye-opening session that was of great benefit to all those in executive 

or leadership positions across industries.

Rabee spoke about extreme events and extreme contexts, adapting to extreme contexts and how to bring out your best and the best of others in extreme contexts.

Keep Learning Alumni Lecture: Logotherapy | Finding Meaning, Purpose, and Success

The LAU Alumni Relations Office (Lebanese American University - Alumni) in collaboration with the LAU - Continuing Education (CE) held on Thursday, October 28, 2021, its KEEP LEARNING.