As cries of hate and calls for revenge permeate the media’s coverage of the conflict in the Holy Land, a special live SAT-7 event broadcast messages of peace, unity, and faith across the region.

As the academic year gets underway around the world, many parents in Lebanon are still uncertain if their children will go to school. Teachers’ strikes last year closed most public schools and kept half a million children out of school. 

Young presenter Christina Issa shares her story of growing up in war-torn Syria, and how watching SAT-7 KIDS brought “peace and security in the middle of fear”. “As a child growing up in the middle of war, life was full of uncertainty and fear.” Christina Issa’s upbringing – like many millions across the Middle East – was scarred by conflict.

SAT-7 is excited to announce that Lebanon, Our Story, has begun filming its original drama series, For Your Eyes Only, which will be broadcast exclusively on SAT-7. The drama series fuses the reality of life in Lebanon with fictional fantasy elements.

“In life it’s said that behind every door there is new hope and a new opportunity to love, find joy, and live life with all its ups and downs. But what happens when the door opens into a prison cell? What becomes of life then? And who do you turn into?”

Civic and religious leaders and government ministers gathered at SAT-7’s Lebanon studios on Thursday 9 February for an event to mark the publication of a very special book. It comprises moving stories told by young people in Lebanon at Storytelling Clubs that formed part of SAT-7’s Lebanon, Our Story (LOS) project.

At the beginning of the year, in my first university class, we all began to introduce ourselves. “Kamel,” I said. “Palestinian refugee.” Eyes widened around me. Then somebody said, “What are you doing here? Haven’t you people done enough to us?”

Lebanon Our Story brings together young members (aged 15-25) of various religious or belief groups within Lebanon, including displaced Syrians, along with their Lebanese and Armenian host communities. Lebanon, Our Story uses storytelling to enable youth to contribute to a shared narrative of hope that drives social cohesion and provides an impetus for meaningful civic engagement.