South Lebanese students learn about UNIFIL’s work
Tala al-Zain from Cadmous College, a school in Tyre, points at a bowl on a table heaving with tasty Korean food and asks a UNIFIL peacekeeper from the Republic of Korea, “Is this potato?” She gets a nod, tastes the dish and beams. Then quickly takes another bite. Her fellow student Shadi Ma’anna says, “We have been invited by the South Koreans to come here and see what they have. Now they are serving us Korean food. It is delicious and has a distinctive taste.”
Whether it is road safety training, internet safety classes or mine awareness outreach, UNIFIL prioritizes supporting south Lebanese communities by doing outreach projects with schools. UNIFIL contingents and UNIFIL’s civil affairs officers also regularly invite local school groups on coordinated visits to UNIFIL bases to demystify UNIFIL’s work. These outreach events are also an opportunity to share and learn about Lebanese and international cultures.
Albagir Adam, Head of UNIFIL Civil Affairs elaborates, “Here we have two way communication. It’s for our troops to know who these young people are and where they come from, and for the young people to get to know who the peacekeepers are and to learn what they are doing in south Lebanon.”
On another day at UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura, young children from Ayta ash Sha’b school are brought on a tour to see up close the helicopters run by UNIFIL’s Italian peacekeepers.
As the children walk around the UN helicopters and take selfies, Iman Ismail, a UNIFIL Civil Affairs Officer, smiles and says, “These coordinated school visits are very special for us at UNIFIL. We work with schools because the young people are the future of Lebanon.”
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Article: Aoibheann O'Sullivan
Video Editor: Mohammad Hamze, Suzane Badereddine
Video Camera: Mohammad Hamze
Photo: Pasqual Gorriz
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