Point of View

Intergenerational Cooperation in Majdal Anjar.

Young activists and the local municipality come together to improve the involvement of young voices in local policy. 

In Lebanon, a challenge that young people face is the intergenerational gap between them and parents, elders, community leaders and policymakers. Decisions are made on their behalf with limited involvement, despite their interests.

This gap can alienate young people who may seek alternative sources of authority – religious, ideological, political – which fuels community conflict and violence.

The Point of View team in Majdal Anjar wanted to bridge the gap with elders and work with them to enable their peers to adopt a proactive role in decision-making. Their activity included training young people in public speaking and communication followed by a series of dialogue sessions.

They followed up with research, and cooperative workshops between young people and the municipality to design solutions for more youth-inclusionary programming, which was compiled into an action plan.