The Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST) honored its staff working in the UNICEF youth program and invited them to an Iftar that took place on Monday, June 12th, 2017 in Tamooz Hall in Baalbeck. The meeting was attended by more than 250 staff members including field officers, supervisors, coaches, and LOST administrative staff.
The meeting was launched by playing the Lebanese national anthem, which is a very crucial tradition that LOST aims to preserve. Dr. Rami Lakkis, the founder and general manager of LOST, started the meeting by congratulating the staff on their hard work and commitment. Dr. Lakkis then moved on to talk about LOST’s mission and vision. LOST’s vision, “Empower and engage people in Lebanon to live in dignity and peace based on the respect, protection, and fulfillment of Human Rights”, is not merely beautiful poetic words, but a real commitment towards the community. LOST, since its foundation, always believed in their vision, and has always worked to fulfill it. In addition, Dr. Lakkis emphasized the importance of LOST’s values. He stressed that it is very necessary to make these values the basis of LOST’s work. Mutual respect, responsibility and responsiveness, transparency and rule of law, equality and equity, and independence are the values that LOST believes are the guideline to producing the most efficient and effective results to benefit the entire community and society without discrimination or favoritism.
These values, according to Dr. Lakkis, must also be passed on to the youth within LOST’s reach, mainly those that are part of the UNICEF Youth program. He insisted that in order to create a stronger and more advanced society, a set of values must be entrenched in one’s beliefs. This code of conduct will become a lifestyle and will greatly affect the members of our society, especially the youth. The youth are the main asset of every society because they are the builders of the future, and the creators of the next generations to come. It is very important to develop their skills and build their capacities, but it is also very critical to enhance their set of morals and values simultaneously.
Finally, Dr. Lakkis expressed his pride in the staff who are continuously giving the maximum efforts for the success of the project and advancement of society. He also wished everyone a happy holy month of Ramadan, as the time for Iftar has approached.