EL MANSOURI – There was a spirit of getting on together in the school in the southern Lebanese village and, as usual, the children greeted us with their smiling faces still warmed by the heat of the Sun.
In a region where recent armed conflicts and internecine disputes have devastated practically every village, we found that Inter Campus Lebanon is a rare beacon of integration and harmony.
"There are Sunni and Shiite Lebanese children at this school, as well as Syrians, Palestinians and Kurds," said Inter Campus coach Hussein. "Don't believe those who try to tell you Lebanon is a country still dominated by deep divisions. I'm Shiite and my best friends are Sunnis and Christians. We young people have turned the page and now we're creating a new future based on peace and unity."
The work progresses very well and thanks to our coaches Juri and Fabio, much loved by the children, we're able to offer a more all-rounded education to the pupils, since following the Lebanese government's decision to cut recreational funding in schools they wouldn't otherwise be able to do any sport.
"We're on the outskirts of the country," added the principal of the school Abu Hussein, "so any contribution or initiative aimed at helping the education of these children is really appreciated. The youngsters' understanding of freedom is framed by the Nerazzurri shirt by now."
As always, we stayed with the Italian contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, led by General Ugo Cillo, at the UN base in Shama.
We are always proud to contribute and spread the values of Inter Campus. Thanks to our stable partnership with the Multinational CIMIC Group, we can guarantee our project will continue functioning.
Of course, Lebanon is still a difficult place to understand. Unfortunately, El Mansouri is a far cry from other nearby areas where notions of acceptance and coexistence haven't yet set root. Nevertheless, we'll continue our work, aware that the good we're doing can only lead to more good.
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