by Elite Shehadeh and Anthony Guerbidjian

01 June 2010

Beirut, Lebanon: UNV led the UN system in Lebanon's 'Teach-in' initiative during 'Education for All' Week (23-30 April 2010). The activity was supported by the National Commission for UNESCO with the participation of 14 UN agencies active in the country.

'Education for All' is a global commitment to secure the right to basic education, as stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that “everyone has the right to education".

Eight national and international UNV volunteers helped engage Lebanese youth from 36 schools in dynamic discussions and debates about the social, political and development work of the United Nations in Lebanon. The UNV volunteers presented UNV in Lebanon, promoted its objectives and informed the students about the difference made through volunteering. Several UN officials, including the Special Coordinator for Lebanon Mr. Michael Williams, the UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Marta Ruedas, several Heads of Agencies and many UN staff also took part.

In addition, UNV volunteers demonstrated to the students how they can become an engine for change in their society, and discussed ways for youth to participate in local development through volunteering.

Students were very pleased to meet UN officials and staff; they asked for volunteering opportunities, suggested ideas for projects, and debated ideas on volunteerism. Several schools even requested follow-up visits to guide their students on volunteerism and to engage them in becoming active members of society through volunteering.

“I want to show people what I am passionate about, and maybe I will inspire them too” said Davigh Karamanoukian, a national UNV volunteer serving with the UNDP Peacebuilding project. Ms. Karamamoukian was motivated to participate in the sessions “to tell students about the importance and values they could get out of volunteering.”

Christina Andriotis, one of the 13 national UNV Volunteers serving as Hotline Operators for the current UNDP Municipal Elections project at the Lebanese Ministry of the Interior, joined Ms. Karamanoukian in this eagerness to participate in the sessions. “I want to share my unique experience with the students and to let them know that they can do the same”, she said.

Following the 'Teach-in' session at the El Hadi Institute for the Hearing and Sight Disabled, Anthony Guerbidjian, a national UNV volunteer serving under the UNDP 'Live Lebanon' initiative, explained: “Invest in youth – they are very passionate to make a difference in their country.” Mr. Guerbidjian talked about the impact of promoting local development and supporting sustainable growth in economically and socially vulnerable parts of the country. He noted that “the UN’s work in the country is vast and unfortunately, not everyone knows how much of an impact it has in Lebanon and on its people”.

The 'Teach-in' campaign was launched during the 1990 World Conference on Education for All, held by UNESCO in cooperation with UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and the World Bank.  Conferees agreed back then to universalize primary education and massively reduce illiteracy, objectives that were later set among the Millennium Development Goals.