Inside IC Fall 2023

The Ali Ghandour Center for Leadership, Diversity and Civic Engagement (AGC)

From Vision to Action: AGC’s Inspiring Journey of Social Impact

The Ali Ghandour Center for Leadership, Diversity, and Civic Engagement (AGC) kicked off the 2023-2024 academic year with excitement and optimism. Thirty-seven students joined the AGC for a three year journey, recruited from both IC and applicants to the AGC scholarship program. The AGC team was impressed by their understanding of social challenges in Lebanon and their strong commitment to acquiring new skills and acting as agents of change in their communities.

Over the past three months, the new cohort delved into essential concepts of civic responsibility, community engagement, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), particularly those linked with present-day social challenges in Lebanon. Engaging in thorough research on the first six UNSDGs, the students formulated small-scale actions, individually and in groups, to be implemented during their Christmas break.

As for AGC Levels 2 and 3 (Grades 11 and 12), the AGC introduced a dedicated summer course for the first time, spanning from July 3 to July 14, 2023. The program aimed to optimize balance, allowing AGC Level 3/Grade 12 students to focus on academics and college applications. During the summer, students dedicated their efforts to advancing previously designed Community Service Projects

(CSPs), including building partnerships, conducting fieldwork, and executing specific project tasks.

An exciting highlight was the presentation of project concepts to the Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service (CCECS) at the American University of Beirut (AUB). Valuable feedback from the CCECS team guided students in refining their project proposals, setting the stage for the implementation phase. Currently, five distinct projects are underway, each addressing unique community challenges with compelling narratives.

The Unuthati. Period team collaborated with the Pachamama project and Ms. Ella Lambert, the co-founder, working on making reusable sanitary products for women in refugee camps worldwide. Another collaboration with WingWoman Lebanon, led by Ms. Meelie Pemberton, introduced an alternative method for making reusable pads. The team produced approximately 100 reusable pads to be distributed to underprivileged women.

Now equipped with valuable knowledge, the Unuthati. Period team is gearing up to train marginalized women in Lebanon on creating these reusable pads. The aim is to empower women with the skills to produce their own hygiene products, fostering self-sufficiency and upholding their rights to accessible and dignified menstrual care.

AGC Level 2/Grade 11 students embarked on building their Community Service Projects (CSPs) during the summer course, initiating the formulation of project concepts. Five project ideas have been kickstarted, setting the stage for a year of dedicated refinement. These projects aim to benefit diverse communities, including hearing-impaired individuals, a Palestinian refugee camp, men’s mental health and well-being, and underprivileged children facing child traumas.

Engaging in various workshop sessions, AGC Level 2 students deepened their understanding of crucial aspects such as research methodologies, project proposal writing, and the intricacies of project organizer matrices.

Media Mastery: AGC Students Shine in Communication and Filmmaking Workshops

AGC students acquire a comprehensive understanding of various media applications for promoting social interventions and showcasing accomplished projects. They learn to determine the appropriate medium based on the target audience, comprehend key messaging in communication plans, and master filming and editing techniques for impactful narratives.

In particular, Grades 11 and 12 students participated in workshops on Communication and Social Media fundamentals led by Ms. Nayla El Khoury and specialized documentary and filming techniques led by Ms. Hala El Kouch, an award-winning film director, photographer, and IC instructor.