Lebanon: El Hajje (Beirut), “Our generation doesn’t want the war”

“Ours is not a generation that wants the war, nor do we intend to experience the same terrible events and stories that our parents used to tell us during our childhood”. That of Daisy El Hajje, a young Lebanese woman, is a firm “No” to war. She echoes the sentiments of many of her peers who, she says, “regardless of their views, they are all suffering the same hardships and are all losing what’s left of normalcy with each passing day.”

Daisy is one of the many young people who are involved in the projects developed in the framework of the “Mediterranean Border for Peace, Education and Reconciliation” (MED) initiative, which was launched following the “Mediterranean Border for Peace” meeting in Bari in 2020 and which the Italian Bishops’ Conference, in collaboration with Caritas Italy, entrusted to Rondine Cittadella della Pace association with funds from the voluntary tax contribution scheme (so-called “Eight x 1000”). In Beirut, which has been under Israeli bombardment for weeks, Daisy has continued to develop her project “Corruption: enemy of freedom, peace and prosperity”. But now there is another enemy to fight, and that enemy is war.

How is the war between Hezbollah and Israel affecting young people in Lebanon?

This war is experienced differently by the young Lebanese population. Some young people find it difficult to understand what’s going on, either because they were very young during the 2006 conflict or because they are simply not politically involved. Conversely, politically active youth are angry. Everyone is affected in the same way. They’re losing what’s left of normalcy with each passing day. They are volunteering to help the internally displaced, moving their families out of dangerous areas, some have had to reduce their working hours in certain zones because of the impact of the war on businesses; they are constantly checking the news, worrying about their friends and relatives. These things have replaced the Lebanese youth’s normal everyday life. All that remains is the hope of falling asleep without the sound of rockets.

How does the conflict affect Lebanese (and non-Lebanese) youth’s daily lives: school, work, social life, already severely tested by the political, economic and financial crisis?

Lebanese youth have been severely affected by the revolution of 2019 and the concomitant financial crisis, aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Beirut port explosion of 2020 and the ongoing armed conflict. These events have forced many young people to emigrate to Europe or to the Gulf. The consequences of these events have also had an impact on their relationships, as many young people left the country leaving friends and family behind. In addition, the schools have been struggling to adapt to the post-Covid period and to bring school fees into line with the circumstances of families who are barely able to make ends meet. There have been delays in this year’s school programme as a result of the conflict, while some public schools are currently being used as shelters. In terms of employment, there are very few job opportunities and, unless companies have commercial links with foreign countries, salaries are low.

Do some people choose to stay despite all this to help the country?

I think that the most common answer to this question is “I will stay if my parents stay, I can’t leave now”. As I said before,

ours is not a generation that wants war,

We don’t want to experience the same terrible events that our parents went through. For us, war is a terrible ordeal. At the moment, being close to our loved ones, making sure everyone is safe, helping and offering assistance whenever possible, is is the main part of serving our country.

Are there opportunities in different sectors of society for people who want to contribute to a new Lebanon, one that is free of corruption?

Social, economic and environmental development initiatives are being pursued by various organisations and citizens across the country. This, combined with the educational achievements of the Lebanese youth, is creating a highly motivated generation of young people eager to tackle the country’s social problems. Under normal circumstances, projects like mine would be welcomed and supported. But today, so-called ‘development’ projects are being put on hold to make way for crisis management. The priority now is to provide shelter for displaced people, not to educate young people about corruption and its dangers.

How is the anti-corruption project of the “Mediterranean Border for Peace, Education and Reconciliation” initiative progressing?

The impact is satisfactory, as the young people attending my seminars confirm.

Corruption has played a role in the country’s current situation. Apart from the conflict, the public sector has been plagued by corruption for a very long time.

The main objective of our project is to raise awareness among young people on this issue and to create a proactive and committed generation of young people who are willing to get involved in social development projects and initiatives. Once the storm has passed, anti-corruption activities will resume. Reform is necessary and inevitable, and when that time comes, our project will be well on its way.

What will it take for Lebanon to recover from this serious crisis?

One of the biggest problems we face in Lebanon is the lack of a sense of belonging. The population’s first allegiance is to our respective factions, and perhaps only after that to our nation. It is essential that Lebanese youth, politicians, members of civil society, and anyone who plays an active role in building the country, start to put Lebanon first. By this I mean that we must begin to learn how to feel part of the country.

We cannot expect to feel a sense of belonging to a country whose history we barely know. We must learn more about our own history, delve deeper into our culture, learn more about our problems in order to find solutions.

I am convinced that big changes start small. As long as the Lebanese people are divided over their history, it is impossible to imagine a bright future for this country.

What could Lebanon’s religious leaders and the international community do to support the country in this respect?

At this critical juncture, there is a high risk of civil strife. If not properly managed, the multi-religious nature of Lebanon could easily lead to problems. IDPs and host communities belong to the country’s various religions and factions. In such troubled times, these are highly sensitive issues. Religious leaders are called upon to highlight the value of tolerance and coexistence. They should publicly condemn any act of faith-based violence.

Religious leaders in Lebanon are well respected and their actions are often under scrutiny. So while they preach about coexistence, they should also act accordingly by helping those in need, regardless of their background, and by reaching out to leaders of other faiths when the situation calls for it.

How should the international community respond?

To end this conflict, which could escalate into a regional war, the international community must use all diplomatic means at its disposal. Failure to use diplomacy and respect international laws and rules will severely damage the international community’s credibility.

There is now concrete evidence of the human rights abuses that are taking place,

The press and NGOs are documenting the atrocities committed. Condemning these crimes, delivering aid and putting pressure on the parties to de-escalate will restore the authority of international law, created precisely to prevent such abuses.

How do you see the future of Lebanon?

I love my country.  Like so many of us here, I love my country, its countryside, its social life, its family-oriented culture, its many traditions, its cuisine. This love is translated into action, which is why, while today we may be compelled to leave and seek brighter opportunities abroad, we will always have a strong reason to return. I will always see a bright future for my country; I will see educated and resilient young people returning to rebuild the country and raise our families here. We have what it takes for the reconstruction of the country, and

We managed to raise Lebanon from the ashes many times before.

After the explosion in Beirut, people were out in the streets picking up the shattered glass left by the blast. This is emblematic of our strength: we will always rebuild with our bare hands, our wits and our skills. I have no doubt that we will rebuild a country that reflects who we are and our collective values. My grandparents did it, my parents did it, and I will too when the time comes.