Principal of The Higher Metn Artisan Speech

Welcome, the representative of His Eminence the Sheikh of the Druze Sect, a member of the Cultural Committee in the Druze Council, Dr. Firas Zaidan.

Welcome, the priest of Deir El Harf, who honored us with his presence, Father Maroun Shamoun

We are honored to have all of our esteemed guests with us today, including representatives of different religions, government officials, leaders, school principals, association presidents, social activists, and families who are building the future generations. Your presence encourages us to continue and motivates us to progress.

Esteemed attendees,

We are approaching the end of our program for this year, which will conclude with a professional sewing workshop. We will announce our program for the next year later on.

With great pride, I would like to present to you the achievements of 2022, which benefited 144 participants in various courses and workshops offered in collaboration with the National Committee for Lebanese Children and professional artist Nabil Saad. The programs included an academy for youth capacity building, focusing on child and youth psychology through a series of workshops on Childhood Cornerstone and Youth Matters, as well as computer fundamentals, Loom Weaving, Sewing Principles, and Managing, Marketing, & Developing Business Skills.

• An annual literary and theatrical competition for high schools in the Higher Metn region supervised by artist and syndicate Jihad Al-Atrash and artist and doctor Michel Hourani. We thank them for highlighting young talents and nurturing them.
• The first visual arts gathering was attended by 16 artists from various regions, showcasing their talents in the field of visual arts.
• The Higher Metn Artisan Foundation was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from Category A issued by the United Nations Secretariat

Distinguished guests, I would like to highlight that our achievements so far have been the result of hard work, perseverance, and self-funding from myself and my colleagues, with special thanks to Ms. Wafa Nawayhed for her significant contribution.

At the Higher Metn Artisan, our aim is to empower individuals by providing vocational and scientific knowledge, and supporting creativity in all fields. We believe that building individuals is a responsibility towards advancing society and building a nation. We hope and request your contribution in achieving this goal.

Dear esteemed guests, we have placed great importance on culture and literature as a driving force for organizing such events. Today, we are hosting our first event on Arabic poetry and the art of Oratory, with the hope that it will inspire a love for beautiful words among the youth.

The event will be repeated every two years, honoring those who have made unforgettable contributions in the field of poetry, art, and literature. Today, we will be honoring our esteemed guests, who are distinguished professors with remarkable achievements in the field of poetry, art, and literature.

• The Esteemed Writer and Novelist, Chakri Anis Fakhouri.
• The Renowned Visual Artist and Poet, Rudy Rahmeh.
• The Maestro and Poet, Joseph Murad
• The Poetess Sanaa Al-Banna, Head of Education Affairs at the United Lebanese Writers.
• The Artist and Poet, Mr. Ghazi Saab, Director of Baakline National Library.
• The esteemed artist with the mountainous voice, Mr. Afif Shayya.

This is how we express our appreciation for individuals who have made a significant contribution in preserving our language, dialect, and unique Lebanese identity. We are people of action, not just words.

Please do not hold us accountable for any unintended shortcomings, and do not blame us for our sincere love for you. Thank you for your ongoing contributions.

On behalf of myself and my colleagues, I extend my gratitude and appreciation to the administration of Mar Yousef De Lyon School, represented by Sister Kristine Salameh, and to the Academy of Arab Cultural Ambassadors, represented by His Excellency Dr. Bassam Jamal Eddine, as well as to Syndicate Jihad Al Atrash for his valuable contributions and guidance. Thank you for your ongoing support and guidance.

We express our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of today's event. We appreciate your encouragement and trust in us.

Welcome!

Inas Nowaihed

Chairperson of the Administrative Committee.