‘Wahda’ stands for unity and togetherness in Arabic. It is through fostering this sense of unity and togetherness by building dialogue skills that this USAID-funded programme aimed to increase tolerance of difference and diversity of participating young people (aged 14 - 29) from October 2019 to December 2021.

The goal of this intervention was to contribute towards building communities that are accepting of Religious and Ethnic Minority populations in Lebanon through facilitated youth dialogue sessions at youth clubs in Saida and the surrounding region (Barja, Dalhoun and Siblin). The program aimed to achieve this by building the capacities of 20 facilitators, aged 18 - 29 to deliver and monitor dialogue-based activities to 250 participants, aged 14 – 17.

As part of the 13-module curriculum, beneficiaries took part in activities designed to develop their ability and confidence to engage in constructive dialogue with diversity. These activities were adapted for delivery via WhatsApp and Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Young people were also provided with opportunities to put these skills into practice by participating in facilitated dialogues (video conferences) with fellow participants in other Wahda dialogue groups, as well as global peers across Jordan, Palestine and the United Arab Emirates.

A Youth Dialogue Handbook was designed during the delivery of the Wahda programme. It provides a practical resource, in English and Arabic, to support teachers, facilitators, youth volunteers, practitioners, dialogue trainers, and anyone who wants to give young people, whether in school or elsewhere, an exceptional experience of dialogue with their peers and community.