Our Publications & Resources
The National Report on Freedom of Religion & Belief was launched by the National Working Group on FoRB in Lebanon, which Peace of Art is part of. This report is the proud work of the National Working Group on Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB) in Lebanon. It compiles different contributions from diverse organizations and experts from various regions in Lebanon. The report addresses a wide range of subjects that directly or indirectly intersect with FoRB. These topics span from religious dialogue to peacebuilding and human rights, highlighting the multifaceted nature of FoRB in Lebanon and offering recommendations on how to advance it for the good of all. The report addresses a wide range of subjects that directly or indirectly intersect with FoRB. These topics span from religious dialogue to peacebuilding and human rights, highlighting the multifaceted nature of FoRB in Lebanon and offering recommendations on how to advance it for the good of all.
We Play for Peace Toolkit is a booklet that includes activities for trainers that was produced under the project with the same name. We Play for Peace! Is a project funded by United Nations Alliance for Civilizations (UNAOC) within the Youth Solidarity Fund program (YSF) in its 2019 version and implemented by Peace of Art organization in Lebanon. Through ‘We Play for Peace!’ project and with the support of UNOAC, Peace of Art uses sports, specifically through training community coaches, to build a culture of peace among young people from diverse religious backgrounds and nationalities in Northern Bekaa. These community coaches encouraged peer-group peace building by engaging youth in activities such as volleyball and yoga. The creation of this handbook has been made possible by the support of UNAOC through the Youth Solidarity Fund Program (YSF) 2019.
Hear Us Now! is a research paper that aims to bring statistical transparency to youth’s opinions, attitudes, feelings, and perceptions about social, cultural, political, and familial freedom of speech barriers within our society, and find what activities facilitate youth’s freedom of speech; to create discussion and widespread accountability by engaging the online and offline community, institutional stakeholders, and youth though an advocacy Call to Action based on our research findings; and to provide evidence that creative civic spaces are an integral part of our community and change negative attitudes, perceptions, and opinions by facilitating free speech, dialogue, and releasing enmity and tensions that have been built between our communities over decades. This research adopted a mixed methods approach, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. The data collection phase of the project included detailed document and literature review; surveys to understand the characteristics and opinions of the research group; Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs).
We Rise Through Art handbook is a trainer’s guide designed under the project with the same name, and it covers art, music, sports, and acting, infused with psychosocial support, and activities that combined verbal and physical expression. In many ways, the Beirut blasts of the 4th of August have had a severe traumatic impact on the children of the Lebanese capital. Strongly believing in the power of art to overcome sorrows, Peace of Art responded to the emergency through a youth-led project supported by UNESCO Beirut as part of its flagship initiative Li Beirut. Launched in September 2021, the project has brought together young volunteers who organized a series of psychosocial-art infused workshops, targeting children in the area of Karantina, near the devastated Beirut port. The project was further supported by the financial contribution of the “Prayer for Beirut”, a group of Japanese artists who collected donations in Japan for the people of Beirut, in coordination with the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan (NFUAJ).
A Message from our Founder
“ At Peace of Art, we believe in the transformative power of creativity and expression to inspire change and foster understanding. Our publications and resources are a testament to our commitment to promoting peace, empathy, and unity through the arts.
Each publication and resource we share is a step towards a more harmonious world. Whether it's a thought-provoking handbook, a research, or a report, a trainer’s guide… these creations have the potential to bridge divides and connect us all.
But our mission doesn't end with creation; it begins with sharing. It's through sharing these works that we can touch hearts, challenge minds, and spark conversations that lead to meaningful change. So, let's remember the importance of spreading the message of peace through art, sport and dialogue far and wide.
Join us on this journey, as we continue to publish and share resources that inspire, educate, and heal. Together, we can make the world a more peaceful and compassionate place.”
~ Mr. Mahdi Yahya