Michel Ghazal, Founder of the European Negotiation Centre, presented the 2019 Conflict Prevention and Peace Prize in Lebanon to the Lebanese Association CHAML.

During a moving and joyful ceremony held on 14 December at Saint Joseph University in Beirut, the 2019 Prize for Conflict Prevention and Peace in Lebanon was awarded to the CHAML Association (Young Non-Denominational and Non-Violent Citizens) by the Ghazal Foundation for Education, Research and Peace in Lebanon.

Hosted by journalist Tanya Ghorra, in the presence of a full house and a jury made up of Lebanese personalities recognised as independent and impartial, the prize was presented by Michel Ghazal to founder Ogarit Younan and Secretary General Hala Bou Ali. The ceremony was punctuated by the performance of the national anthem by Aline Lahoud, young people from CHAML singing Imagine in English and Arabic, and baritone Fady Jeanbart masterfully singing “Je chante avec toi liberté”. The spotlight was on the culture of peace, education for non-violence and Lebanese youth.

Since 17 October, they have been at the forefront of a movement demanding far-reaching changes for Lebanon. In his speech, Michel Ghazal highlighted the many concrete actions taken by CHAML on the ground. He described its two founders, Ogarit Younan and Walid Slaybi, as builders of peace. He expressed the fervent hope that Lebanese youth and its peaceful struggle for a new Lebanon guaranteeing it a future other than emigration would not be taken over by the demons of division and violence.

Michel Ghazal, surrounded by the jury, presents the 2019 Prize for Conflict Prevention and Peace in Lebanon to the representatives of CHAML.