International Understanding

Amongst all committees, the international understanding committee has its own charm. Our main goal is to break physical barriers and move beyond our differences to meet each other on a cultural, human, mental, and spiritual level. Our aim is to build strong bonds and develop friendships, merging our visions together with different clubs all over district 2452, our fellow MDIO clubs, and the whole world. I once read a quote by Chuck Palahniuk; “We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.” This is our purpose, as Rotaract Club De Beyrouth, to leave a mark wherever we go, to leave positive energy behind every encounter, a smile, and most of all be an inspiration to every human and to the community.

- Director Malek Mougharbel

De Beyrouth x Mediterranean

On January 16, Rotaract Club de Beyrouth, along with VDRR Wael Merhi and Lebanon Mediterranean Country Representative Elissar Ezzeddine,  hosted an enlightening international visitor, Incoming Mediterranean President, Mohamad Shalaby at the 13th General Meeting. This meeting was the club's mid-year recap as the directors presented this year's completed project achievements and ongoing project updates to the club members and guests. This was later followed with a an exchange of flags between Egypt by Mediterranean IP Mohamad Shalabay and Rotaract Club de Beyrouth by the club's President. 

De Beyrouth in Paris 

In November, the club's Vice President, Yara Abdallah,  travelled to Paris and took her bubbling Rotaract de Beyrouth spirit with her. Yara joined a meeting that served as a melting pot for many international visitors at which she had the chance to meet representatives from Rotary Club of Kanagawa Dei from Japan, Rotaract Club de Paris, and Rotaract Club de Tours. Additionally, Yara met the Mediterranean Country Representative of France, Emma Georges, who welcomed her warmly. Yara shared a sweet taste of Lebanon by sharing the traditional desert Baklava with them. 

Rotaract Club de Beyrouth had two flag exchanges, one with Rotaract Club de Tours and another with Rotaract Club de Paris, with the commitment to further future fellowship. 

Visit to Turkey 

The visit of our Director of Professional Development, Georges Chami to Turkey, coincided with the occasion of Turkish Independence Day. Georges attended an event of Rotaract Tarabya with which he carried out a flag exchange. 

Life After Breast Cancer 

"Once I overcame breast cancer, I wasn't afraid of anything anymore"- Melissa Etheridge, a breast cancer survivor

During October, we hear so much about Breast Cancer. However, not enough light is shed on the survivors and their journeys. Therefore, Rotaract Club de Beyrouth and Rotaract Smyrna from Turkey collaborated with CancerCom to give insight into the lives of breast cancer survivors. The session included general awareness, the importance of nutrition in a Survivor's rehabilitation process, a glimpse into what it means to be a survivor, and how every person can support. We also had the chance to hear the story of a Breast Cancer Survivor. 

We had the pleasure of twinning with Rotaract Smyrna following this inspiring collaboration. We look forward to further impactful joint efforts. 

A Meeting of Benevolence 

In an evening of fellowship, Rotaract Club de Beyrouth met with Rotaract Club of Cinnamon Gardens from Sri Lanka. Each of the clubs presented facts about their respective countries including bits of culture, favorite music, and our yummiest foods. We each tested the other club in a fun cahoot game. 

Our relationship with Rotaract Club of Cinnamon Gardens was sealed with a letterhead exchange through which we believe is our path to further collaborations and joint efforts. 

Discover The World With Us

In celebration of International Tourism Day, Rotaractors from all parts of the world gathered together and created videos that each show the wonders of their country..

This project was lead by Rotaract Ryad Ennakhil and was in collaboration with Beyoglu Rotaract Kulubu, Rotaract Damanhour Capital, Rotaract Marrakech Toubkal, Rotaract Tenerife Sur, Rotaract Club Tanger Espoir, Rotaract CasaCulture, and Rotaract Ishanya.  

Rotaract Club de Beyrouth showcased the Beauty of Lebanon in a beautiful video. 

Together, we create unity no matter where we are! Let’s enjoy the beauty of this world and spread kindness.  

Education for All

September 8th is the International Literacy Day. This year, our sister club, Rotaract Club de Beyrouth Millenium chose to lead a project to raise our voices even louder with Rotaractors around the world with the message of #education for all. 

Let’s raise awareness about the significance of literacy and make it an important milestone for everyone. Our goal should be to ensure no one remains unlettered in society. 

FOCUS

Rotaract Club De Beyrouth and Rotaract Club of Aley in collaboration with Rotaract Mediterranean launched FOCUS; an international competition among Rotaract Clubs around the world. The program consists of 8 months of challenges; starting September and are directed towards all 7 Rotary Areas of Focus! 

Each 2 months will be dedicated to a theme that tackles a focal area and the SDGs relating to that area. Clubs can participate in this challenge by creating projects that tackle each area of focus based on the month segregation found in the flyer! A winner will be chosen for every theme. An overall competition winner will be chosen for the project and will collaborate with Rotaract Club of Aley, Rotaract Club De Beyrouth, and Rotaract Mediterranean on an international project to create a substantial united impact!

To participate in this challenge, please fill in this form

73 Questions with De Beyrouth

“And we danced, and we laughed and had a really, really, really good time!!” This is the vibe you get from “73 questions with De Beyrouth”. You love food? Music? Dancing? Humor? New friends? Well welcome to one of the most outstanding projects you can ever experience. As part of this year’s international understanding committee projects, our club wanted to experience international with a twist. SO... Welcome to De Beyrouth’s kitchen! Thanks to the support of two amazing Lebanese local businesses “KitchenLab” and “Markit” both fully sponsoring us with the location and the food needed to make this happen. International projects are often challenging to make everyone involved and to maintain the interaction, so “73 questions with De Beyrouth” made it super smooth and funny. The main idea behind this project was to build strong friendships with international clubs, get to know more about their culture, story, music and most importantly meet them as individuals closely through cooking together...We love Fooddd! Our first session was with our lovely Rotaract Nozha United. Our members were all together in one kitchen preparing an Egyptian Koshari and Salad, on the other side the Egyptian club was cooking Lebanese Rice and chicken along with Tabbouli while asking each other 73 questions! Two laptops and two cell phones were used to connect both clubs from different angles to have the best interaction. Some cooked, some danced and sang through zoom but together both clubs had the best bond getting to know each other’s culture and story. Also, an important part of this project was to donate all prepared food to underprivileged families; This blessed our day! And when we thought this can’t any better ... We Had Our Twinning with Rotaract Nozha United.

Breaking Language Barriers

“It’s Been A Blast”
As part of our International Understanding Committee Collaborations, we had an amazing evening on Saturday 21st of August with our partners Rotaract Maraval. An Outstanding and unique culture exchange was hidden behind this club ranging from music and nature to food and humor. We also shared a heartwarming video about our beloved Lebanon. A bonding session like no other.

Explore With De Beyrouth

Did you ever travel to another country while staying home? Well, welcome to our outstanding series “Explore with De Beyrouth”- Lebanon through De Beyrouth’s Lens. As part of the international understanding committee this year, one of our main goals was to let the world know what it feels like to live in our beautiful country, Lebanon with every aspect of the experience and also for us to explore other countries and cultures. So, with all the challenges around the world; Covid-19, political issues and economic crisis, our club had to find an easier way to do this and what a better idea then taking advantage of the social platforms we have? In order to travel the world and give our international friends a Lebanese experience like no other while at home, we decided to take over their Instagram stories for one day and film a series of videos and photos for them to enjoy the ride with us. No happiness can be described while seeing the comments, replies and feedbacks. Those are not usual stories, No! Every time was a story telling experience where they’ve seen our nature, our architecture, our food, listened to our music, our culture and most importantly interacted with us and the Lebanese people, they felt our energy and they fell in love with Lebanon. We had so far 4 episodes each one with a different international club, so different country. We started with our dearest Turkish club, Rotaract Smyrna Kulubu in a trip to Tripoli North Lebanon, then with our Dear French Club, Rotaract Antibes Cap’Azur in an experience of one of our biggest community service events “Beyond Art”, Also the third episode was with the lovely Egyptian club, Rotaract Nozha United, with an amazing experience to our mountains covered with snow as they’ve never had such weather in Egypt and our latest episode was with our friends in Dubai, Rotaract Club Jumeirah, in a trip to Batroun one of the oldest towns in Lebanon, what a beauty! One of the main things we focused on, are the small businesses and craftsman’s shops throughout the stories each time to promote their work internationally. We aim to keep this project for years to come and with each year a new spirit and new adventures for our international friends to witness.

Ft. Rotaract Club Jumeirah

Ft. Rotaract Smyrna Kulubu

Ft. Rotaract Nozha United

Ft. Rotaract Antibes Cap’Azur


Address

Beirut, Lebanon

About us

The word "Rotaract" takes after a combination of the words Rotary and Action. It is a nonpolitical and nonreligious organization. Today, there are more than 10,904 Rotaract clubs in more than 189 countries. Rotaract club de Beyrouth was founded in 1985. 

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