By Jana Sabra | Staff Writer
We are the youth who were not just faced with the pressure of choosing a major, starting a new chapter of our lives, and, with all its complexity, growing up. We are the youth who were struck by a revolution that gave us so much, yet so little hope in change, an economic collapse that put our existence in the country at risk, a global pandemic that forced us to stick closer to our screens, losing sight of the beauty around us. We are a community who had to add the trauma of their country’s capital explosion to their summer diaries just to re-open the same pages in the middle of winter with a natural disaster, shaking not just our bodies but our souls. With all those terrors, we remain the change makers who shall create a better future for our upcoming generation.
When it comes down to defining a meaning, from a psychological point of view, logotherapy emerges as an existential therapeutic approach based on a foundation that finding meaning in life, in everything, is the primary driving and motivational force of individuals. It was developed by Viktor Frankl, a neurologist and psychiatrist, who has laid out his main foundations in his book “Man’s Search for Meaning”. According to Frankl, the last human freedom that cannot be taken away is the ability to choose one’s attitude, outlook at situations, and a way that is led by meaning. While the principle that life presents purpose and meaning but doesn’t promise fulfillment or happiness keeps the reality box checked, logotherapy’s theory focuses on finding uniqueness in each individual that makes their life’s paths different. This difference by itself, sets them free from any comparisons and on the road to finding a meaning in moments as they have the will to do so in all situations.
This meaning, combined with several coping and defense mechanisms amidst chaos, helped so many of us to make sense of the circumstances and take initiatives to be the change we want to see. Despite humor being a top mature defense mechanism in our community, taking initiatives to the betterment of the whole is yet another manifestation of our youth power in giving back.
But what did we, as Lebanese people, do to deal with all this saga? One of the leading youth initiatives in Lebanon on mental health is “Lebanon for You”. This is a non-profit organization that was co-founded by two AUB non-psychology students, Ghida Allam and Luna Baalbaki, to provide free necessary well-being therapy and nutrition services to people in need in Lebanon. This is done through matching the patients with a team of licensed psychologists, psychiatrists, and dietitians. Additionally, “Lebanon for You” spreads awareness on mental health topics to contribute to their de-stigmatization in the community. This is something Ghida stated that really highlighted the ambitions and intentions of the new generation:
“Co-founding Lebanon for You is the most rewarding thing that I have ever done in my life. It gives me purpose, something to look up to, a sense of belonging to a community brought together to give back and do better especially on a volunteer basis. This builds up the collective purpose and meaning in our community.”
While neither Ghida nor Luna came from a psychology background, their passions and drive to create change has allowed them to take initiative and find meaning in the middle of chaos. Ghida, coming from a business background, was able to explore her passions in the humanitarian field, empowered by the sense of community engagement away from any monetary gain. Despite Ghida’s participation in global programs, she found her ultimate meaning in her own country, Lebanon, which is among her reasons for staying here amidst all the difficulties.
“Lebanon for You” is one of the examples on mental health and other community engagement topics that showcase the significance of finding meaning through giving back. It is real evidence that despite it all, we are not a unique and strongly tied youthful community just due to our collective trauma. Amidst all these struggles lie a deeper ultimate meaning and power: The new generation’s responsibility to be able to take initiative and be in control of such circumstances, one step at a time…