Lynn Chehab

Sustainability is one of my core values. Ever since the surge of economic and political instabilities in Lebanon, multiple strikes have been taking place demanding the reform of the system.

For many years, Lebanon has been suffering from a mismanagement of resources and this has led to environmental, social, and economic crises. This situation fueled my passion for sustainability: I was aware of the urgency of the problem, and I believed that the best way to deal with it would be to set up a strategic sustainable framework for the country.

"As a chemical engineer, I am knowledgeable about the environmental aspect of sustainability, and this is why I am interested in using a multidisciplinary approach to tackle this topic. Safir was an amazing opportunity to nurture my knowledge in this field."

The advocacy training program was a turning point in my career path since it opened my eyes to new ways of looking at the matter. I was able to connect with peers coming from different regions of Lebanon and work with them to understand, analyze, and assess the sustainable development goals issued by the UNDP. During this experience, I researched thoroughly the SDG5 (Gender Equality) and discovered a new approach to understand this topic. It is important to analyze the targets as well as the sub targets in order to suggest and work on innovative ways that specifically address the goal.

Also, I am now aware of the steps that need to be undertaken to launch an advocacy campaign, so I can hopefully work on my own during the second phase of the program.

"Being part of Nahnoo, a non-governmental organization in Beirut, was an enriching and one-of-a-kind experience since the goals of the NGO aligns with my own."

For instance, the organization was working on a campaign “The Coast for All” to prevent private individuals and companies from occupying the coast and monopolizing its economic value.

All in all, I believe that Safir is a valuable program that sheds the light on the importance of the sustainable development goals. Not only that but it also encourages the youth to act in order to reach the objectives set by the UNDP. It is a great opportunity that exposes young people to the work of non-governmental organizations across the Arab world. At the end of the day, collaboration is the main source of success for such a project.