“I just hope that more people will ignore the fatalism of the argument that we are beyond repair. We are not beyond repair. We are never beyond repair.”
-Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
As a young adult, I decided to pursue an academic journey lying at the intersections of policy, cybersecurity and strategy. As I completed my B.E. in Computer and Communications Engineering at the American University of Beirut, I developed an interest in political engagement, social justice, and how they relate to technology and multi-media security. Naturally, with these interests, I was curious about Siren Associates’ work with the Lebanese public sector. The organization stands out in its originality in strengthening the principles of social justice and anti-corruption through e-governance.
After following Siren’s work, I understood better how important effective oversight of state institutions is in encouraging political engagement, and how it can foster citizen advocacy, inclusive dialogue and social justice in Lebanon. With the MENA region going through a digital transformation, and with technology playing as key role in driving civic engagement, I decided to apply to the Youth4Governance internship program, where I plan to hone my leadership, communication and problem-solving skills.
From my first week at Siren, I could already see the impact of my work, I could tell that our work was going to be rewarding, worthwhile, and a major contributing factor to driving positive change – something we, the Lebanese youth, need more than anything.