Druze and Christian Youth from Divided Lebanese Village Come Together

Recently, 11 youth – five Druze and six Christians – from the Lebanese village of Breih came together at a cafe in Beirut to collaborate on projects to improve life in their village. The meeting was made possible through the Youth Civil Society and Leadership Program in Lebanon (YCSL), a US State Department project administered by IREX. Breih, a village in South Mount Lebanon, was once cohabitated by Christian and Druze families, but a massacre in 1983 displaced the village’s Christian population. The meeting is the first of its kind where Druze and Christian youth from Breih agreed to meet with each other and work towards a common goal.

With assistance from YCSL staff, Druze youth from Breih invited displaced Christian youth to meet in Beirut to discuss conducting joint civil society projects in their village. The Druze youth want Christian families to return to improve the local economy and bring peace to their village. If Christian families return to Breih, the Ministry of the Displaced will facilitate the return of confiscated homes and land. At first, the Christian youth were hesitant to meet with Druze youth, but the idea of returning to their homes and rebuilding their community eventually led them to accept the invitation.

During the meeting, which was moderated by IREX staff, the Druze and Christian youth brainstormed ideas for collaborative projects. As a result, the youth decided to conduct an advocacy campaign using the media to convince local politicians and ministers to support the reconciliation process between Druze and Christian youth in Breih. In addition, the youth agreed to work on a project to restore a grotto in the village to boost tourism and improve the local economy. Both initiatives require cooperation among Druze and Christian youth.

The meeting between the youth from Breih separated by violence and memories of past massacres demonstrates YCSL’s ability to bring together divided communities to advocate for a shared cause.