Under the Youth Solidarity Against Extremism (YSAE) project and within the community projects phase, Baalbeck core group and participants visited the Lebanese Armed Forces NCO Institute in Baalbeck. They had already visited the facility and examined its conditions supervised by LOST’s technical unit director and engineer who provided primary technical support and consultation on site, after which they have decided on what to do starting from renovation, cleaning, and painting. They took part in determining project BOQs, implementation, and promotion. Furthermore, youth were offered the chance to have an open dialogue and an awareness session with the officer in charge (Col. Usama Lakkis) to improve their knowledge about this institution and governance into the bargain. The objective of this meeting was getting youth to better know about the LAF, and to talk about the roles of the Lebanese armed forces as well as citizens in maintaining security and building civil peace.
Col. Lakkis was as excited as the youth to hold a mutual gathering that would build new bridges and fill gaps between citizens and governmental security in the area. He first provided a fast detailed introduction to the LAF, its mission, structure, work modality, and how the system works, after which he resumed an open dialogue about social, economic, and political aspects with the youth.
Col. Lakkis started the dialogue by saying that “war is evil, but fires are eating our forests, buildings shattering down, corruption, poverty, and absence of the real meaning of citizenship can be as evil as war. There is that common perception that a soldier is a person with no empathy and no flexibility. I would like you to know that military people are those most organized, dedicated, and sacrificing”. He also spoke about the importance and necessity of providing state agencies with the necessary means and expertise as well as boosting the cultural and scientific cooperation with schools, institutes, and national universities and the committees of the civil community.
Moreover, Col. Lakkis gave time to talk to the female attendees by mentioning hundreds of Lebanese women who have entered the military society just as the other women in the world and have proven over the years to be successful in all assumed missions. Young girls were very delighted and motivated to know that they can be assigned to fields missions to highlight their capabilities. These youth deeply felt that they can be an added value to the military institution.
Some of the youth were not familiar with the LAF communal development sector that includes: infrastructure construction, forestation and extinguishing fires, distributing aid, rehabilitating touristic sites, spraying pesticides, managing natural disasters, and rescuing citizens. Getting to know these sides of the LAF’s work, participants felt that the army and citizens are both humanity and service soldiers of the beloved country.
The dialogue was a pure “from the heart to the heart” talk. Youth had a lot to add, share, and inquire about. They asked about compulsory military service, ways of volunteering and supporting the LAF.
With the 2-hour gathering coming to an end, youth became friends with Col. Usama Lakkis. Youth expressed how little they knew about the LAF and that their whole vague perception is more clear now. Their participation and engagement in this activity strengthened their sense of ownership, belonging, and loyalty to governmental institutions. Feeling more secured and engaged, youth developed increasing belief in the rule of law and justice. Having discussed the importance of strengthening their relation with the army, these youth now look at the army as the guarantor of security, livelihood, and lifestyles.
