One-Day Ambassadors: Lebanon’s Promising Future

Ambassador for a Day: Twelve winners showcase the immense potential of young girls in Lebanon

The British Embassy Beirut launched the Ambassador for a Day Lebanon competition in January 2023. This initiative was open to girls aged 15-18 across Lebanon, with over 500 participants submitting entries centered around the International Women’s Day 2023 theme “Embrace Equity.” The creativity, enthusiasm, and promise reflected in their applications were truly inspiring.

Twelve winners were chosen. Each winner will be paired with an Ambassador and will spend a day shadowing them, experiencing a unique opportunity designed to enhance their confidence, leadership, and diplomatic skills.

British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hamish Cowell, hosted a reception at his residence yesterday to honor the winners and the supporting diplomatic missions.

In his opening remarks at the event, Ambassador Cowell stated:

You should feel proud to have won the Ambassador for a Day competition. All 12 of you exhibited remarkable passion, potential, and creativity.

We organized this competition to highlight the significant potential young girls in Lebanon, like you, possess as future leaders and advocates for change. You have proven us right. Lebanon’s future will undoubtedly be brighter thanks to young individuals like you.

A heartfelt thank you to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the British Council, and my fellow Ambassadors and Heads of Mission for their support of this initiative.

This competition is part of the UK’s ongoing commitment to the rights of women and girls. Today, the UK’s Foreign Secretary launched a new Women and Girls Strategy in celebration of International Women’s Day. This strategy initiates a global campaign dedicated to championing the rights, freedoms, and potential of women and girls, placing them at the forefront of the UK’s international efforts to combat gender inequality worldwide.

Ambassador for a Day Lebanon 2023 Winners:

*Selena Daibis – Sovereign Order of Malta

*Joy el Esta – Embassy of Canada

*Charlize Farah – Embassy of Spain

*Elina Haber – Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL)

*Liliane Hajj – Embassy of Australia

*Tala al Halmoushi – Embassy of Germany

*May Hamzeh – International Monetary Fund (IMF)

*Maurina Mehri – US Embassy

*Carole Sahyoun – Embassy of Jordan

*Sasha Sfeily – Embassy of Mexico

*Jennifer Reaidy – British Embassy

*Amazy Zaidan – UN Women