From 150 to 300 Schools: Neamat Aoun Launches Second Year of 'Citizenship School'

Lebanon's First Lady, Mrs. Neamat Aoun, launched the second academic year of the "Citizenship School" initiative, announcing its expansion from 150 to 300 public and private schools distributed across various Lebanese regions, from the far north to the far south. This step aims to consolidate a culture of active citizenship among young and emerging generations and enhance its presence in school and community life.

The First Lady's position was announced during a gathering held at the National Library in Beirut, attended by Ministers of Education and Higher Education Rima Karami, Culture Ghassan Salamé, Social Affairs Haneen Sayed, Youth and Sports Nora Berqdarayan, and the President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, former Minister Mohammad Chaker. The event also included political figures, representatives of educational bodies from participating schools, supporters of the initiative, and media representatives. Media personality Jerry Ghazal hosted the event.

The meeting served as an occasion to present the outcomes of the initiative's first year, review evaluation results and school experiences, announce the expansion for the second phase, and launch the "Generation of Citizenship Grant" along with new initiatives aimed at enhancing student participation and highlighting their role in spreading a culture of citizenship.

First Lady: Building the Human Being

In her speech on the occasion, the First Lady emphasized that the essence of the initiative goes beyond theoretically teaching concepts of citizenship, reaching instead to building the human being and reinforcing values of peace, responsibility, belonging, and respect for difference.

She said: "The Citizenship School is not a one-year project, nor a passing activity, nor an initiative tied to a specific circumstance. The Citizenship School is a culture of building bridges, a culture of building peace, a culture of respecting difference, and a culture of building the human being."

Mrs. Aoun added that the responsibility of educational institutions and society lies in giving youth the opportunity to participate in shaping their future, stressing that building this future is not achieved through words alone, but through joint action. She affirmed that Lebanon is not a fate condemned to repeat the past, but a possibility that the new generation can contribute to achieving through awareness, participation, and daily practice of citizenship.

From 150 to 300 Schools: Expanding the Initiative Across the Nation

With the launch of its second year, "Citizenship School" moves from 150 to 300 public and private schools, distributed across various Lebanese regions, expanding the scope of participation and allowing a larger number of students to engage in educational experiences that reinforce values of active citizenship, responsibility, belonging, and respect for others.

This expansion comes as a completion of the first phase, which focused on integrating citizenship concepts into the school environment and transforming them from theoretical principles into concrete practices and initiatives reflecting students' ability to positively participate in their communities. The meeting also highlighted prominent school experiences showing how students can translate citizenship values into daily behavior and practical initiatives, strengthening the school's role as a space for learning, participation, and human development.

Honoring 10 Schools

In recognition of excellence in applying citizenship concepts, ten schools that achieved the highest results according to the "Citizenship School" index were honored. Four of these schools were selected by lottery to participate in leadership conferences held in Seoul and Nairobi, supported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This selection honors these schools' excellence in citizenship practices and provides an opportunity to exchange experiences and benefit from international models.

Evaluation Results: Knowledge as the Basis for Developing the Initiative

The meeting included a presentation of monitoring and evaluation results conducted by the Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship at the American University of Beirut, alongside the institute's report and policy paper related to the initiative. The evaluation results provide a knowledge base for understanding the impact of "Citizenship School" and identifying areas for its development, supporting expanded participation and enhanced educational practices that place the student at the heart of the citizenship-building process.

The President of the American University of Beirut, Dr. Fadlo Khuri, presented data-based policy recommendations addressing ways to strengthen citizenship and develop related practices.

"Generation of Citizenship Grant"

In a step linking learning with practice, the First Lady announced the launch of the "Generation of Citizenship Grant," awarded to students who excelled in their citizenship practices during the past academic year, in appreciation of their responsible behavior, initiatives, and contributions to embodying citizenship values in their daily lives. The grant does not merely honor achievement; it aims to encourage students who have shown excellence in practicing citizenship and motivate their peers to transform these values into daily behavior and actual commitment inside and outside the school.

Mrs. Aoun affirmed that this initiative carries a message of support and confidence in the ability of youth to create change and contribute to building a better future, saying: "We are with you... and we believe in you."

The Student at the Heart of the Initiative: "Launching the Student Digital Ambassador"

To enhance youth participation and amplify their voice, the conference revealed the launch of the "Student Digital Ambassador" for the "Citizenship School" initiative. This ambassador will follow students and the public through digital content highlighting student experiences and initiatives, reinforcing their presence as active partners in spreading a culture of citizenship.

This step falls within the context of the initiative's direction toward utilizing digital tools to expand positive participation of the emerging generation, while emphasizing the importance of awareness and responsibility in technology use, especially amid rapid developments in artificial intelligence.

The meeting concluded with confirmation that the launch of the second year of "Citizenship School" represents a new milestone in the path of expanding the initiative and enhancing its impact across the nation, through partnership between schools, students, teachers, and supporting institutions, working to transform citizenship from a concept taught into a culture practiced daily, and a behavior reflecting actual commitment to building a more responsible, solidary, and respectful society towards difference.