Youth leadership profiles

Rym Elassal is an 18-year old girl from Lebanon who is committed to fighting sectarianism.

Rym Elassal is from Lebanon.

What issue are you particularly active in, and why have you chosen this issue?

Fighting sectarianism - this is my issue because sectarianism is the most hazardous conflict in my country, Lebanon, and it is what caused the civil war in 1975. Sectarianism is still causing retrogression.

Can you give some specific examples of the kinds of actions/projects you have carried out related to this issue?

• Participating in lectures that call for secularity and trying to show the importance of this issue to my peers on a regular basis.
• Working to come up with persuading justifications.
• Writing a report about “Mixed Marriage” and the obstacles that society puts on individuals’ lives. 

What were your successes, challenges and/or obstacles in carrying out these actions/projects?

One of my successes is building a base and a net of involved people in such an issue, which I hope leads to practical successes in future challenges and obstacles.

Why do you consider yourself a youth leader?

Because I have a goal and I have faith.  I have devoted myself to CHANGE.

What are your future plans related to this issue?

Develop an organized plan to let my issue spread and affect other minds to make a revolutionary stage into a better secular country and nation.

What one message would you like to send to other future youth leaders?

Trust your capabilities and believe you can always change if you have faith and always try to build your own thoughts and beliefs according to what reason calls and never surrender to what the surrounding implies.

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