During my period of residence in Lebanon– I'm someone known for being active, and loving life – I was able to establish friendship with Lebanese of all political stripes, social backgrounds, and sectarian affiliations. I appreciate the hospitality and good treatment that I received from most of them. But I was also angered by the stereotypes that some of them have about Syrians, namely that they are backward, only because of their financial situation or the way they dress, or the type of work they do.
One cold winter day I went to the local “manakeesh” place, as usual, and had some coffee, as usual. I was well-dressed that day, which wasn't usual. After looking at me for a while, the proprietress said, "It's good that the Lebanese have taught you how to dress." I felt angry that I had to put up with such things.
My humble experience in social work didn't prevent me from joining a Lebanese-Syrian committee that was active in Marjayoun and Hasbaya to help Syrian refugees.
This committee attracted a number of Lebanese and international relief organizations, which helped in the gathering of statistics and the distribution of assistance to Syrians. However, my colleagues and I noticed that the displaced were being dealt with in a negative fashion. Their dignity and their humanity were being violated, until the committee began cooperating with the "Youth Network for Civic Activism (YNCA)," a local association in the south that helped the Lebanese-Syrian committee to improve its internal organization. It trained me and my colleagues in communication and outreach skills. This cemented my conviction, in practice and not in words, that relief for refugees represents a right and not charity. Thanks to this network, I established social relations and friendships with my Lebanese peers, in a number of towns and cities. I took part in conferences, relief activities, and a play, as well as various activities inside Syrian refugee camps. We planted a smile on the faces of children, the elderly, those in need, and those who have suffered injustice. We helped establish sound ties between them and the host communities while avoiding preconceptions and racism (by both sides).
This experience returned me to my true self. It restored my self-confidence and taught me that the only option in life is to be positive and spread joy, and call for peace wherever possible.