Written by Lina Younis

NNA - The Lebanese Cultural Union in the World went all out in a remarkable endeavour to bring the young people of Lebanese origin back to their roots and to explore their ancestral homeland, as they are considered the ambassadors of the Lebanese culture across all continents by declaring their identity and raising the Lebanese flag up high.

Despite the remote distance that separates between young emigrants' parents and grandparents from their mother country, Lebanese emigrants have always kept Lebanon inside their hearts and were always open to dialogue with other cultures and peoples.

A delegation of the World Youth Committee of the World Lebanese Cultural Union visited their mother country, Lebanon, for the first time coming from all over the world, to explore its most prominent cultural, historical features and its diverse archaeological, touristic sites, not to mention strengthening ties with their country of origin.

Around one hundred Lebanese young emigrant took part in the delegation coming from sixteen countries across the world- on a visit that lasted from August 16 till 26, 2013- and partook in the Union's two-day conference at Notre Dame Du  Mont-Fatka that took place from August 19 to 20, 2013.

Speaking to NNA whether the delegation's visit has been affected by the recent security incidents that recently occurred in Lebanon, the Union's Secretary General, Toni Kidissi, said that "We proceeded with the visit as schedule till its end... We [Union] solely had to cancel the program of activities which was respectively set for Saturday and Sunday (August 24 & 25) to each of Tyre and Tripoli... due to the sorrowful explosions that rattled Tripoli."

In the name of the Union, Kidissi extended condolences to the families of the victims of Tripoli and Dahieh explosions.

"These recent explosions shall not deter the Union's resolve to pursue its efforts to strengthen relations between the youth in the Diaspora and the youth residing in Lebanon," Kidissi said, wishing Lebanon further peace, tranquility and stability.

Union Youth Committee Head, Dimas Chantiri, for his part, stressed to NNA that "the purpose of the visit lies in the Union's determination to bring together the Lebanese Diaspora with their mother of origin."

He said "We came here to combine the history of our ancestors with that of our young emigrants across the world," underlining the Union's commitment to a one Lebanon.

Chantiri stressed that the youth committee does not distinguish between one religion or another, saying "we are all Lebanese and we all belong to the nation."

"Religion is for God... Land is for all", Chantiri said.

On the outcome of the youth delegation's visit to Lebanon, Chantiri said that "On the personal level, I thought it is going to be the happiest moment for me when I visit my grandfather's hometown... Unfortunately, it turned out to be a sad one once I realized the astounding beauty of my grandfather's hometown that he had to leave behind when he took the decision to travel abroad."

On the institutional level, Chantiri expressed satisfaction regarding the visit's outcome, saying the Union successfully managed to bring to Lebanon around one hundred Lebanese young emigrant, giving them the chance to see its astounding beauty and culture and thus becoming the ambassadors of their mother country in the Diaspora and relaying the beautiful picture they have saved in their heart.

Speaking to NNA about the impression his mother country left on him, delegation member of Lebanese origin, Carlos Alvarez Barroso, said "It is a country that blends the past, the present and the history of mankind... It is a country that blends between the East and the West in an impressively balanced manner."

Barroso said he will carry to his country a "message about the strength of Lebanon's culture that survived through history and is still doing so till the present time."

"No matter where you live in the world, Your home is where your family and your heart," Barroso told NNA, saying he has seen a more beautiful Lebanon than the one he saw in movies or TV or what his parents or grandparents have told him about.

"If you want to closely discover a place or a country, you just need to see it with your own eyes."

Another young man of Lebanese origin, Joffrey al-Bayeh, told NNA that his visit to Lebanon has entirely changed the way he used to view the Lebanese Diaspora.

"Prior to my visit, I knew that Lebanese expatriates live in Argentina or in other countries... But after the visit, I got to know the amount of love that they hold for their homeland despite the distances," al-Bayeh noted.

al-Bayeh thanked the Union for giving him the chance to see his country of origin, hoping "to engage more in the Union's activities in the future in a bid to to assist his country."

Rita el-Khoury, a university student who joined the delegation from Lebanon, in a bid to fortify ties between the youth residing in Lebanon and the young emigrants, said "We lived together a great experience... They influenced us so much with their exceptional love to Lebanon... We wish peace and stability to our wonderful little country."

The delegation winded up Monday their visit to Lebanon, with all of them carrying inside their hearts startling admiration sentiments for an unforgettable beautiful homeland, in the hope that they will be visiting it once again soon.

-------------------- L.Y