Spotlight: Aie Serve

This spotlight interview is with the Lebanese civil society organization Aie Serve.


DL: What is Aie Serve’s mission?

AS: First, Aie Serve was a community service youth group aiming to spread cultural awareness, love, and tolerance, help and return to the poor and underprivileged, and promote open-mindedness, through action and experience, all for the sake of an improved future for humankind. Aie Serve was a student-based group founded on March 23, 2007 with the goal of spreading love and acceptance via increasing awareness and education. The word “Aie” is a Japanese word pronounced as “I” and means “Love” so the name of group is Love and Serve or I Serve...others. Although recently established, Aie Serve can already take pride in several accomplishments.

Now Aie Serve's mission is:

Aie Serve is a youth non-governmental organization that works on community service and development to promote the values of respect, acceptance, and love to achieve an improved future for humankind.

DL: What are the biggest obstacles facing Lebanese youth today? How can government play a more active role in creating opportunities for Lebanese youth?

AS: One of the main Lebanese youth obstacles are job opportunities where most of the educated youth are not finding a proper job that fulfills their dreams. These Lebanese youth are finding difficulties in their day life by facing economic barriers and emigrating from the country. As to the government side, it should take severe measures toward the Lebanese youth obstacles and try to discover the roots of them. If the issue is just economic, hopefully they will come up with a plan to solve the problem.

DL: Are you optimistic that the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18 will take effect for the upcoming municipal elections in 2010 as agreed in principle by the previous parliament? Does Aie Serve have any plans on projects regarding these elections?

AS: Lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 looks is pretty appealing. Yes we support that action but on the other side giving that responsibilities for us as Lebanese youth we should be educated enough to understand what is the meaning of this new responsibility and think wisely before we act. A new responsibility to decide our political representative now for upcoming municipal elections in 2010 and later for our parliament elections should be our new hope for a better tomorrow.

As Aie Serve is non-political non-religious organization, we are not going to take a stance concerning elections nor will we take direct role in the elections or lowering the voting age, but rather by working hand in hand with Lebanese youth to develop their skills via learning circles, camps, workshops, training sessions, and discussion panels we are going to make a difference and be a main partner in civil society movements.

DL: What role do you see technology playing in increasing coordination and outreach with other civil society organizations? Do you use any social media (SMS, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) in organizing your activities?

AS: Technology, which is essential nowadays in our life, is a tool to facilitate and serve our goals and make our dreams true! Yes, technology is our partner in this field the field of civil society, it is a great asset to mobilize and outreach and the amazing effect of the social media which is booming these days as Facebook, SMS, Twitter, YouTube.

Kindly visit our website, www.aieserve.org, join our Facebook Page, and frequently check our profile on www.LebanonSupport.org.

5. How do you sustain the interest of youth while maintaining realistic expectations about the change that can take place in their communities and in Lebanon?

DL: Finding interest of youth and maintaining it is the the most challenging aspect of managing a volunteer-based NGO but it is feasible nonetheless. Youth's interests change over time and are easily affected by the external environment. We able to keep an interest in what we are doing and what we are looking for while keeping in mind our mission and vision through continuous communication with our members based in our weekly meeting, by including everyone in the planning and decision-making and simply through our continuous work and accomplishments, whether on the organizational level or through the projects and campaigns we do.

DL: What projects will Aie Serve undertake in the near future?

AS: Lately we are working on a project called Middle East Expedition as part in partnership with Europe Expedition. This project will take place in August 2010 in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. We are also preparing for a day of food serving for the needy and another day for the elderly during the holy month of Ramadan. Moreover we are continuously working on launching Learning Circles and training programs. Last but not least we will be starting the phase 2 of a recycling campaign in schools in partnership with Holcim.

Safadi Foundation USA thanks Aie Serve for answering our questions and congratulates them for a job well done. For more information on how you can support Aie Serve in its mission for a better Lebanon, please visit there website at www.aieserve.org.

Friday Twitter Roundup

RT: @MXML: RT @meedan Lebanese women continue to press for naturalization rights http://bit.ly/1P7EPE

Are banking and tourism the backbone of Lebanon? Discuss: http://tinyurl.com/lm7r5p

Kilna bil hayy - something's wonderful in the state of Lebanon: http://tinyurl.com/l8adov

MENA Community Service Org Leadership Institute & Association for Forests, Development, & Conservation hold wrkshp http://tinyurl.com/l3bojt

Good morning Lebanon! Read our latest post and watch the video on recovering war-torn economies: http://tinyurl.com/lm7r5p

Recovery of war-torn economies: http://bit.ly/3yjanx inc. video

Learn about Aie Serve, a Lebanese youth-based organization, here: http://bit.ly/bcJtV

In case you missed it: What Lebanese kids think of politics: http://tinyurl.com/nyppw9 Part 2 in our series of profiles.

A great civil society org, too! http://tinyurl.com/mold6l RT: @onoffbeirut: souk el tayyeb in ABC achrafieh on aug26

Lebanese blogger Across the Bay is on Twitter: @AcrossTheBay

Interesting. RT: @lebanonrss: Maybe it all comes down to education ... - Daily Star - Lebanon http://bit.ly/18GRXI
Leb film festival (DS): http://tinyurl.com/km6lkq

RT: @greenprophet: New blog post: Lebanese Farmers Market Makes Food Not War http://bit.ly/4znSix

Random Lebanese NGO of the Day: Beirut Marathon Association: http://www.beirutmarathon.org/

RT: @meedan Jewish synagogue in Virginia opens its doors to Muslim worshipers during Ramadan dueto lack of mosque space http://bit.ly/4i9ncG
2010 Municipal Elections in Lebanon: Electoral Systems Options from IFES: http://tinyurl.com/mxt3ef

Lebanon Votes: LIC report: http://bit.ly/2J9H1t
Barack wishes everyone Ramadan Kareem. http://bit.ly/E930R

To fight litter, join beach cleanups led by NGOs and other groups. You have to be the change you seek in the world.

Random Lebanese NGO of the Day: Forum for Development, Culture, & Dialogue: http://fdcd.org/

Progress: http://bit.ly/1dClO4
Path of Hope offers fun and friendship to disabled Lebanese (DS): http://tinyurl.com/npua92

Proposal 2 allow Leb moms 2 open bank accounts 4 kids. ST under Leb glitz, lack of rights of Leb women forgotten. http://tinyurl.com/oadgqa

Random Lebanese NGO of the Day: Teach for Lebanon: http://www.teachforlebanon.org

Counting the Costs - Recovery in War-torn Economies

Abdulwahab Alkebsi from the Center for International Private Enterprise talks about the potential of the West Bank's human resources if it is to become a post-conflict state. It is important to remember that even though a country may not have the natural resources that have traditionally made states wealthy, in the 21st century, human beings have the potential to create wealth by equipping themselves with the knowledge and technical expertise to move their countries forward, not only economically, but politically and socially as well.

Lebanon knows this, as it is going through the process right now. Not a block in Beirut is passed without a towering crane removing the wreckage of the past and replacing it with the splendor of the future, not a city stands tall whose monumental ruins do not hold the promise of better days ahead, not a vault in a bank is opened without the thought that yes, Lebanon can be a place where people live in peace and people want to visit and people come to adore. People will come. People have come, a record number of them this summer, and with some brainpower and a little elbow grease, even more people will come.

No oil flows from these ancient lands into the hands of the economy; no natural gas, either, but natural beauty is available in abundance. Banking and tourism are two of Lebanon's major industries, two industries that require vast amounts of human resources and an educated populous, something Lebanon does not lack.

Civil society can lead the way by pushing for transparency and accountability in the reconstruction process to ensure that Lebanon fulfills its shining potential.

Kilna Bil Hayy

For too long the squabbles of petty politicians and pundits have been perceived as emblematic of the sectarian divisions within Lebanese society. Does this dialogue, or lack there of, really represent demographic interactions within Lebanon? Search for Common Ground believes actual Lebanese people have far more productive and nuanced relationships with one another, and they hope to capture this through their new LBC Series Kilna Bil Hayy. Kilna Bil Hayy follows the lives of six Lebanese children, all from different ethnic and religious communities, living in the same apartment complex. These children work together to build communal pride and problem solve, offering a more realistic and hopeful model of productive dialogue. Kilna Bil Hayy can be viewed on Saturdays on LBC.

Safadi Foundation USA will be providing brief profiles on the stars of the show, showcasing the actors own feelings in communication and peacebuilding.


Sally

How has your participation on this show changed your perceptions/attitudes about conflict resolution in Lebanon?I used to have a complex with Shias. The program made me feel we are all people and we need to communicate with one another and talk to others because they are human beings just like us.

Why is it hard for Lebanese youth to understand each other? How does your show help bridge the difference?Lebanese youth in our society and situation belong to their own political parties. People of different parties like Hizballah and those with Jumblatt will directly fight without looking at logic so this is a problem. The show is a message for these people to tell them that we are of different religions yet are the same and we need to help each other despite religions and parties.

What can Lebanese children teach adults about effective communication and compassionate understanding?We can tell them that we are all the same despite our religions since we all worship God and that is what matters. If we keep the same way we will reach destruction and war so we should not follow our leaders blindly we must follow ourselves and our minds. This is what we can do. Talk to adults and make them understand.

What do all Lebanese children have in common?

Their love to God.

If you could give a wish list of anything you wanted to Lebanese political leaders, what would it say?If I could ask politicians everything I want I would ask them to stop all political parties in Lebanon. I will ask leaders to cooperate together; nothing is worth differing about, not money, not power. I will also ask them bring back Lebanon that the world knows, its image in tourism. Bring it back the way it was in the past. It was better that way.


The Safadi Foundation USA would like to thank the Search for Common Ground, and the stars of Kilna Bil Hayy for their participation in these interviews.

Tuesday Lebanese Blog Roundup

Blog Roundup 8.18.09

The Ouwet Front notes a non-fictional prison break.

Qifa Nabki passes along some interesting articles.

IndyACT covers climate change workshop in Beirut.

Who's afraid of Beirut with some nostalgic football(ahem soccer!) stories.

Maya with a new cartoon.

Episode 4 of Flying Kebab on Blogging Beirut.

If you or someone you know is battling a twitter addiction, don't be afraid to ask for help...from Krikor.

Security and other armed forces teaming up via Hummus Nation.

Thursday Lebanese Blog Roundup

Blog Roundup 8.13.09

Land on People on the dangers of waning snow levels.

Blacksmiths of Lebanon pass along a NY Time's review.

If you haven't seen it yet, Who's Afraid of Beirut has the giant water-slide video.

Indyact asks if social media can help save humankind.

Brands and social media via Krikor.

Justimage reviews Marcel and Omaima.

Wednesday Lebanese Blog Roundup

Blog Roundup 8.13.09

Worried Lebanese note a security first approach to relations with Israel.

Remarkz references connections between charities, taxes, and settlers.

Rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, Ouwet Front weighs in.

Land People say 6 million is not enough.

Scowcroft can't pronounce things, Qifa Nabki pokes fun.

Indyact mentions a new award for environmental journalists.

Maya's fingers have been freed.

Lebjournal with some thoughts on elections.

Kilna Bil Hayy

For too long the squabbles of petty politicians and pundits have been perceived as emblematic of the sectarian divisions within Lebanese society. Does this dialogue, or lack there of, really represent demographic interactions within Lebanon? Search for Common Ground believes actual Lebanese people have far more productive and nuanced relationships with one another, and they hope to capture this through their new LBC Series Kilna Bil Hayy. Kilna Bil Hayy follows the lives of six Lebanese children, all from different ethnic and religious communities, living in the same apartment complex. These children work together to build communal pride and problem solve, offering a more realistic and hopeful model of productive dialogue. Kilna Bil Hayy can be viewed on Saturdays on LBC.

Safadi Foundation USA will be providing brief profiles on the stars of the show, showcasing the actors own feelings in communication and peacebuilding.


Nader

How has your participation on this show changed your perceptions/attitudes about conflict resolution in Lebanon?The first thing is the mixing of the religious communities, the dialogue, and to hear the others. This idea changed me and changed my political attitudes. I found common ideas with others especially the people I didn't agree with on politics. I know now that if the potential leaders fight we don't have to do so.

Why is it hard for Lebanese youth to understand each other? How does your show help bridge the difference?It's hard because of the parents' and political leader's hatred: the inability of the parents to forget the memory of the war, and not being able to open a new page. The youth follow their parents and their political leaders. They follow them without thinking, parents and political leaders are their idols. The program made us go though different situations, good and bad ones, and showed us how our parents push us and how we change their attitudes. For sure it needs time, but we are trying, and by communicating and follow up we can help. Children are so pure and they can help change their parents attitudes.

What can Lebanese children teach adults about effective communication and compassionate understanding?There is a saying that says: "hear their secrets from their children." Children don't know how to lie. And the problem in Lebanon is that people don't listen to each other. Everyone talks and tells what he wants without listening to the others. When children ask their parents, they will not answer directly, they will try to run away from answers, but by children's insistence parents will finally answer them, and children will make their parents listen to others.

What do all Lebanese children have in common?

The common thing between Lebanese children is Lebanon, education, and having their own common language as well as the religious mix. Some of them have relatives from different religions, and religions mixing in schools.

If you could give a wish list of anything you wanted to Lebanese political leaders, what would it say?Despite the fact that I follow a political leader, the things I wish to do is put all political leaders on one airplane and take them away. I wish to see in the news something about technology instead of about them. I wish parents listen and understand their children. I wish the political leaders leave Lebanon and search for another country to destroy. I wish they leave us and the future youth to build Lebanon. I wish the war ends, and Lebanon will not be linked to war anymore. I wish they form a government that works for Lebanon. We live in peace despite the different political leaders. War are to united with one another so let them leave us in peace; we do not want war anymore.


The Safadi Foundation USA would like to thank the Search for Common Ground, and the stars of Kilna Bil Hayy for their participation in these interviews.

Tuesday Lebanese Blog Roundup

Qifa Nabki has some fun at Saad Hariri's expense.

Ouwet Front covers a strange partnership between certain Lebanese and Russian intelligence services.

Lebanese Tag captures the summer friction.

Indyact has more updates on the Kfar Dhebian bridge situation.

Who's Afraid of Beirut ain't afraid of computer hardware.

The Wild Garden offers up a Lebanese driver's manual.

More than just exports, suggests Land and People.

The fodder for killing productivity via Blacksmiths of Lebanon.

Blogging Beirut with some nice pictures of Chekka.

Never Twice the Same City examines shoes and Santa Clause.

Lebjournal shares some thoughts on sectarianism.

Give a hoot, don't pollute

Americans who grew up in the seventies and eighties no doubt remember Woodsy Owl, a mascot with a message. Woodsy was the brainchild of a National Park ranger who came up with the idea to combat litter, first at National Parks, then across the nation.

By the time Woodsy was born, however, America's fight against litter and pollution was already in full force. Keep America Beautiful was established in 1953 and is one of the most successful non-profit organizations in history. Not only did they manage to convince governments to impose stiff fines for littering, but they instilled a nationwide consciousness - a pride even - about littering through public awareness campaigns and educational programs. If you were born in the second half of the 20th century, anti-littering programs were a part of your primary school education. As a result, if you go to America, you will notice clean streets, mainstream recycling, and a general awareness about the problems that result from littering. Sure, there is the occasional bad seed that sprouts an unsightly and unhealthy piece of litter - you're never going to get all of the people to cooperate all of the time - but for the most part, Americans are conscious about what they do with their garbage, especially in comparison to other parts of the world.

Like Lebanon.

Lebanon from a distance (if you can see it through the haze) is a beautiful place, and Lebanese are right to say so. But you would think they hated it. This is a country with beautiful beaches where sunbathers and swimmers have to navigate piles of garbage to find a place to lay their towels. This is a place that gets complaints from other countries when they have to combat all of the garbage that floats to their shores. Lebanon is a place that can inspire poets and artists to create things of beauty - until they see the garbage and want to cry.

I know I did. I stood at the Pigeon Rocks, thinking about all of the people throughout history who had sailed the Mediterranean, all of the people of all different backgrounds, ethnicities, races, all of those who had seen this same rock formation, had see this same horizon. And then I looked down.

A boat would have a hard time getting through those waters below. Plastic bottles, bags, cans, coffee cups, styrofoam...hoards of it, all running together like a buffalo stampede, ready to destroy anything in its path. Fish and birds and other wildlife eat that stuff until they die of the toxins or their stomachs explode (literally). Others are imprisoned by it, caught up in plastic bags or god knows what else, unable to free themselves, sometimes starving to death, sometimes succumbing to asphyxiation.

How can one claim to love his land called Lebanon and disrespect it by throwing his garbage on the ground?

What Lebanon needs is a Woodsy Owl or a Keep Lebanon Beautiful, and civil society must take the lead in creating public awareness about pollution and starting a recycling program. There are some great civil society groups in Lebanon who are working towards a better environment in Lebanon, groups like IndyAct, Amwaj, Beeatoona, Mawassem Khair, and so many others. They have ordered beach cleanups, organized awareness campaigns, worked towards fighting global warming, and other issues. Check out their websites and give them a hand.

Give a hoot! Don't pollute!

Friday Roundup

Italy donates over $10 million to fund 12 new projects.

RT @robertkatz: On Paul Farmer for USAID - @nytimeskristofsays if he can't get through vetting, time to vet the vetters.
DS article on the Lebanon Mountain Trail. Check out LMTA.

Change Lebanon can believe in? Feel free to comment.
CRTDA is also good resource for Arab women's leadership issues.

The Federal Budget and Appropriations for FY 2010: Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights in the Middle East.
RT: @mobileactive: few projects focused on transparency and accountability using mobile tech. Surprising. If you know of any, let us know.

RT: @aljamiat: Awesome coverage @mideastyouth RT @Jared_Cohen: Youth, Middle East, & Technology @NicoleLapinCNN
Strategies and instruments used to tackle discrimination against women in the Arab world report.
Ziad Baroud will visit the Baldati Centre in Mayfouq on Aug 7 during the youth summer camp.

This month's Gender and Development Brief by CRTDA.
Spotlight on Lebanese NGO BASSMA.Today's Lebanese

Civil Society Organization of the Day: Collective for Research and Training for Development-Action
RT: @SamerKaram: RT @sygma: A Rally to save Lebanon's Natural Bridge of Kfardebiene, Faqra.
RT: @Monajem: Interested in using social media in your NGO/school.. projects? Read this opportunity.
2nd Beirut Salsa Festival 21-23 August.
Read about Lebanese NGO BASSMA at Developing Lebanon:
Lebanon Knowledge Development Gateway launched.
Please become a Facebook fan of Developing Lebanon!
Lebanese NGO of the day: A Step Away: expanding role of art in promoting the awareness of rights, democracy, justice.
RT: @Plus961: Maya Zankoul's Amalgam Book Signing.

RT: @hibz: RT@ribalo Beirut’s synagogue kicks off.

Lebanon Youth Economic Forum to participate in Nam Lil Hiwar session Aug 3. Facebook info.

Daily Star: Lebanese civil society must set a common agenda to shape policy. SafadiUSA aims to help with that!

EU accepting grant proposals for projects aimed at strengthening the role of civil society in human rights and democratic reform in Lebanon.

Blog Roundup 8.7.09


Lebanese tag carries some news about Israeli tank upgrades.


I knew video games were corrupting the souls of Americans, The Ouwet Front suggests the Lebanese as well.


+961 wants you to save Kfardebian natural bridge. The Lebanese Inner Circle agree.


Debt and health, from Land and People.


Maya's Amalgam on MTV.


A vicious crime in Europe, getting some much needed attention from Lebanese nights.

The Bullet Hole Post

I saved this one until I could think about it some more. This is the one that affected me the most. Twenty years on, and the rich build new buildings while the poor and the ordinary continue to live in structures riddled with bullet holes. This is the contradiction that hurts. This is the contradiction I can't understand. This is what makes me wonder how they don't rise up against their nepotistic government, rise up united against those who only seek to get rich no matter how many they leave in the dust. This is where I realize my good fortune, where the superficial comparisons to the more developed countries end. This is where I grab my passport not as a badge to brag about where I've been, but as a blessing I don't feel I deserve.

This is reality.

Yet, life still goes on. And you're left to wonder about the resilience of the human soul. All of those deaths, all the blood, all the destruction, all the hatred...yet they still live, they still breathe, they still dance, they still hope.

Life makes no sense to me.

This place was an apocalypse twenty years ago. I don't know how anyone could have come out of that sane (and is anyone there who lived through it really sane? When people say they are afraid to drive anywhere, when half the country floods the airport and the roads out of town because six fighter jets pass over the city - even though they were the Lebanese Army - is anyone older than 25 really sane there?)

You know, I walked by the old American Embassy and didn't realize it until I was back in DC. It was a pile of rubble overlooking the ancient blue of the Mediterranean. There was no building there, just a bunch of rocks. I was probably too distracted by the beauty of the sea to realize I was standing next to the place where more than two hundred United States Marines took their last breaths. But god, two hundred deaths was nothing compared to the tragedies of the fifteen year war. And that was just the 1975-1989 stuff - there were the 1860 massacres, the first civil war in 1958, and all of the Israeli crap in the last two decades.

And why didn't we call the fifteen year civil war World War III? Every power in the world was involved in that catastrophe. The US was playing both sides in supporting the barely functioning Lebanese government and giving Israel free reign under the table. The French were there, the British were there, the Saudis were there, the Syrians were there...what a freaking mess.

What. a. freaking. mess. It's been twenty years. Two decades. But so many buildings are still riddled with bullet holes.

I went to Belfast the day after the peace treaty was signed in 1998. It's the only thing I can compare to this, and it's nothing like Beirut. I've never seen brightly colored laundry hanging off a balcony of a bombed out building. I've never seen a wartorn highrise in which the first three floors are inhabited and six above them cannot be.

Anyone who thinks war is glorious, anyone who says there is honor in battle, anyone who supports a government who would go to war...you are responsible for these holes. You have blood on your hands. It matters not what country is involved - the mentality for war is universal.

Thursday Lebanese Blog Roundup

Blog Updates 8.6.09

From Beirut to the Beltway breaks down cabinet developments.

Across the Bay links to a synopsis of US sanctions on Syria.

Want to know where YOU stand? Blacksmiths offer an illuminating quiz.

People and food in Detroit considered by Land and People.

Qifa Nabki asks about the next war.

Real world anatomy from some Worried Lebanese.

The Ouwet Front, much like the rest of us, enjoy puns.

If you know French, and are into cool ads, Never Twice the Same City has you covered.

Lebanese Blog Roundup is a roundup of Lebanese blogs for today - the views expressed in these blogs does not necessarily reflect the views of Safadi Foundation USA. If you would like to add your Lebanese-related blog to our blogroll, please contact us.

Lebanon through a car window

I think half of my time in Lebanon was spent in a car, whether it was going to and from meetings or traveling to Baalbek, Byblos, Tripoli, or Saida. I thought it'd be interesting to post my photos taken from the car, even those that are blurred, as a sort of representation of my trip. My camera has a 1600 ISO which made some of the shots less blurry, but that doesn't stop the bumps from losing the frame.

What you get in these shots that you don't get in a framed shot is a lot of the day to day stuff you wouldn't photograph, like billboards, road signs, ordinary buildings that wouldn't normally implore you to take their portraits.

It's too bad Lebanon is such a filthy country, because the haze really does ruin the beauty of it. Thank goodness for groups like IndyAct who are fighting for a cleaner Lebanon. They have their work cut out for them.