Marina Sarruf
São Paulo – The Lebanese ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants has opened inscriptions for Lebanese descendants living abroad, including in Brazil, to participate in The Eighth Lebanese Emigrant Youth Camp, between July 16 and 25, in the Arab country. Those interested must be between 17 and 25 years old, and can enrol up to June 25.
The camp objective is to promote integration between young descendants worldwide and the native land of their forefathers. During the tour, the participants will have greater contact with the culture, and environmental and archaeological characteristics of Lebanon.
The youths will be staying at school Brumana Secondary School, in the city of Brumana, close to Lebanese capital Beirut, where they will be separated in male and female dormitories. The Lebanese government will be responsible for all housing, food, local transport, and outing expenses. The descendants will only have to pay for their air ticket.
Engineering student Marcos Dama Samara, who participated in the 5th camp, in 2001, stated that the experience is worth it. "It was great fun to know the land of my grandparents," he stated.
Student Raquel Borges Margi, who participated in the program in 2002, recommends the experience to everybody, as, according to her, it is an easy and cheap way to know the country of her ancestors. "Were it not for this opportunity, I believe I would never have gone."
Raquel added that apart from learning very much about the historic and cultural aspects of the country, the participants end up making new friends among Lebanese descendants who live in other countries. "I made friends with Spaniards, Colombians, and Jordanians," she declared.
Program
The group is going to visit various places of historic importance to Lebanon. They will visit the cities their families came from, and will also learn about the local cuisine and customs.
All outings will be in rented buses, and will be accompanied by security guards, police, and a medical team, as well as professional guides.
One of the cities included in the schedule is Baalbek, considered one of the largest Roman archaeological centres in the region, where the ruins of temples to Jupiter, Bacchus, and Venus may be found. Phoenician cities such as Byblos, one of the most ancient in the world, Tyre, Tripoli, Sidon, and Beirut will also be visited.
The youngsters will visit the Cedar forest 100 kilometres away from Beirut, where there are trees of up to 3,000 years old and over 30 metres tall. Samara stated that this was one of the best outings in the tour. "Apart from being a beautiful place, it is a Lebanese symbol," stated the student, referring to the fact that there is a cedar on the country flag. In the capital, visits to the National Museum and to the city centre, where there are stores and galleries, are also scheduled.
The descendants will also participate in night events, official visits, afforesting programs, where they will have the opportunity to plant trees in the south of Lebanon, and will also spend a day at Military Club/Manara, where they will be able to swim in the Mediterranean.
"After visiting all these places, we learn to give more value to the culture of our grandparents," stated Raquel.
Service
Who can go?
Youngsters between 17 and 25 years of age who are secondary, or university students, or university graduates
When?
From June 16 to 25
Enrolment can be done through site www.emigrants.gov.lb up to June 25
