17 weeks after October 17, 2019,
110 days after the 1st Diaspora protest,
a group of Lebanese expatriates connected through social media platforms, created a WhatsApp group that organically grew by inviting like-minded people to join. What had started as a chatroom, quickly developed into some sort of a discussions and debates forum. The energy we wanted to express in the street and our yearning for change were transformed into a process of reimagining Lebanon, our nation. In the process, many questions were answered, and facts were built through knowledge sharing and informative webinars organized with experts. A network of Lebanese expatriates was born and started expanding worldwide. Relations were being established with the change movement forces from political parties to grassroots, activists and experts in Lebanon and across the globe.
Undoubtedly, October 17, 2019, was a turning point in the social and political history of Lebanon. Undeniably, it was a starting point for the diaspora to unite around a Lebanese national narrative and identity.
This passion for making a difference in our country had to be translated into actions. Something had to be done! The Lebanese diasporic society had to be engaged and get involved! However, self-designation is very important to be able to move forward. So, a dozen of us decided to take the first step by drafting a social contract, and explicitly writing our ambition, the role we want to play, the responsibilities we are ready to take on our shoulders. The social contract was and still is essential; it is a pact between the signatories to serve our country from a civic stand based on diplomatic guidelines and democratic practice.
Today, we are a diverse team from across the globe bringing a unique perspective to everything we do for our country. We are policymakers, electoral experts, architects, bankers, consultants, tech enthusiasts, communication strategists, doctors, media entrepreneurs, lawyers, marketers, engineers, … gathered from the 4 corners of the globe on 1 platform: The Lebanese Diaspora Network.
We, the Lebanese patriots, aspire to attain a collective vision for a Lebanon in which ineptitude, injustice, inequality, impunity are no longer the norm.
We, members of The Lebanese Diaspora Network are committed to achieving our mission by advocating for change.
We believe democracy starts with dialogue and invite you to take part in it.