Taking a longstanding collaboration to a new level, Makhzoumi Foundation President Mrs. May Makhzoumi and UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova signed a partnership agreement on July 19, 2017, that will encompass projects on civic engagement, cultural sustainability, climate change education and the prevention of violent extremism.
Affirming that “partnership is the new leadership” required to face the complexity of present-day challenges, Mrs. Bokova praised the Makhzoumi Foundation, founded 20 years ago in the aftermath of Lebanon’s civil war, for its work to overcome divides, provide youth with opportunities and promote tolerance
Mrs. Makhzoumi expressed appreciation for UNESCO’s global role in tackling wide-ranging issues, in particular to protect cultural heritage under attack. She drew attention to initiatives in Lebanon to integrate environmental education and knowledge about alternative energies into curricula, carried out in collaboration with the UNESCO Regional Bureau in Beirut.
UNESCO and Makhzoumi Foundation will now take forward the partnership agreement through the development of specific projects.