AND
n July 2016, the Lebanese NGO ABAAD-Gender Equity Resource Center (link in English) and Promundo launched the Ra Program in Beirut with the support of the first Womanity Prize , from the Womanity Foundation (link in English). Adapted from our Program H, Program Ra encourages men and boys to challenge gender-based stereotypes, question traditional ideas about masculinity, and contribute to ending all forms of gender-based violence in Lebanon.
Estephan “Tino” Bechara is a young man who works with the Red Cross in Lebanon as a Youth and Health Trainer. He participated in the first Ra Program validation workshop with other young people. In the following interview, he talks to Promundo about his own experiences of being a man, the challenges men and boys face in Beirut, and what he expects from the Ra Program.
Tino's interview is the third in a series of three in-depth interviews that Promundo is publishing this month with Ra Program champions in Lebanon. The first interview in the series, with Tala Noweisser, is available here and the second interview in the series, with Hussein Safwan, is available here .
What challenges do men and boys face in Beirut?
The patriarchal system we live in is based on sectarian lines [so strong] that they can even prevent people from entering into romantic relationships with each other. Men in power make us focus on our differences – like gender, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation – rather than our similarities.
Another big challenge is not being heard, which takes away the initiative to do anything. The power lies with the political parties. We've been living in rubbish for almost two years now. This is fair? The country has been without a president for more than two years, but when it comes to changing the price of gas [a decision that does not benefit the community], this is decided overnight.
It makes you feel angry, angry, and desperate for help. That's not fair. Some people move to dangerous areas of the community or start using drugs, while others just stay quiet and go with the flow. Others will leave if they can.
My father was a public relations manager for an international company in the Middle East, but he recently became very ill. Now he can't work anymore. So, as a young person, I'm working hard to support my mother, but what I really want to do is radio, film and photography. And I feel trapped. At the same time, you see politicians and other rich men throwing money away to buy cars and properties. There is huge inequality in life in general.
But despite all this, I'm happy because I have my family. My family used to be rich and now we are poor. But through it all, we kept laughing, and that's what I love about my family. Faced with all these problems in life, all you need is a family and someone you can count on. So we need to try to make everyone feel like they have someone to count on.
How did you get involved with the Ra Program?
ABAAD asked the Red Cross to make two people available to participate in the Ra Program validation workshop with young people. [In this workshop, ABAAD tested selected Program H sessions with young people to see how they should be adapted]. At the validation workshop, Anthony Keedi from ABAAD said he saw potential in me and wanted me to learn how to implement the Ra Program.
How did you feel, as a young man, participating in the Ra Program?
I felt like there was a new path, a new way to find progress. I have the Red Cross, my art and now this work with the Ra Program to help men accept others and open their minds.
The best thing was seeing how other young people experienced the sessions. One of my favorite moments from the validation workshop was the session on anger. I had already been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, so I was sharing my experiences with anger issues and the disorder with other young people. I explained how anger can be a difficult emotion to control and how frustrating it is. The group was so loving, like a family, and it was amazing.
What do you hope the Ra Program will achieve?
I hope the Ra program spreads the message and lets people know that we are all in this together, under one roof. We are not just Christians, Muslims etc – we are human. Our home is the Earth. I want us to accept each other. That's it. I see my friends being bullied for being gay, myself for being “more modern” and very “outside the norm” and my other friends for being black.
I know it's difficult and it will take a long time for us to achieve it, but I know that, deep down, we can achieve equality, get rid of our ego, our sexism and racism. I'm not asking people to set aside all our desire for traditions, but to open up a little and we'll achieve our goals.
Editor's Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Hozzászólások