Presenting the LDC Initiative to the President of Lebanon (June 2013)
The Steering Committee composed of Mr. Joseph Hourani, Mr. Ameen Nehme, Dr. Youssef Rahme, Mr. William Zard Abou Jaoude (Chairman of the Supervisory Committee), Dr. Edward Alam (Executing Officer of LDC Initiative), Dr. Guita Hourani (Campaign Director of the LDC Initiative), and Dr. Nick Kahwaji( BC, Canada) met with H.E. former President Michel Sleiman to present the “Lebanon: Land of Dialogue among Civilizations and Cultures” (LDC) Initiative to the presidential palace and to ask him to become the honorary chairperson of this Initiative. President Sleiman expressed genuine interest by saying: “Thank you for the confidence in me. I am proud to be the Honorary Chairperson of this Initiative. I only need some time to give an official answer. In principle, I endorse, agree, encourage and support this idea especially that we have become in need of this sort of activities given what is ensuing in the region and its impact on us.” 
from left to right: Mr. J. Hourani, Mr. A. Nehme, Dr. J. Rahme, Honorable W. Z. Abou Jaoude, H. E. President of Lebanon Michel Sleiman, Dr. E. Alam, Dr. G. Hourani, Dr. N. Kahwaji (Presidential Palace, Lebanon June 2013)
ACHIEVEMENTS (June 2013-June 2014)
– Assembled the Supervisory Committee: Mr. William Zard Abou Jaoude, Mr. Salim Sfeir, Mr. Moise Khayrallah, and Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) – June 2013
– Established the Steering Committee: Dr. Guita Hourani, Mr. Joseph Hourani, Dr. Nick Kahwaji, Mr. Ameen Nehme, Dr. Youssef Rahme – July 2013
– Launched the International Campaign for the LDC Initiative in Latin America, beginning with Brazil – July 2013
– Promoted the LDC Initiative among educational, political and entrepreneurial elites in São Paulo, Brazil – July 2013
– Assigned a Liaison Officer for São Paulo, Brazil: Mrs. Denise Milan – August 2013
– Sponsored an International Conference at NDU, Lebanon titled “Interreligious/Intercultural Dialogue: Reflections on the Nature of Love and Forgiveness”. (supported by the Fetzer Institute and the Cedars Institute (CI) – October 2013, publication imminent)
– Offered a course at NDU, Lebanon, on Relational Needs, with an emphasis on the philosophical and psychological meaning of dialogue – November 2013 through February 2014
– Signed an agreement with the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) to implement the Study Abroad In Lebanon (SAIL) program, a key component of the LDC Initiative – December 2013
– Co-sponsored an International Conference in São Paulo, Brazil titled “The Dialogue of Civilizations with an Emphasis on Lebanon” and supported by the Secretary of Culture, the Mayor of São Paulo, the University of São Paulo and the Federal University of São Paulo – December 2013, publication imminent
– Offered a second course at NDU, Lebanon, on Relational Needs, with an emphasis on the philosophical and psychological meaning of dialogue – March 2014 through May 2014
– Organized and co-sponsored an International Conference at NDU, Lebanon titled “The Legacy of Chinua Achebe: Dialogical Explorations in Philosophy, Literature, and Politics”, attended by the Nobel Prize Winner in Literature, Wole Soyinka, and supported by the Nigerian Embassy in Lebanon, the Lebanese-Nigerian communities, NDU, and CI – March 2014
– Launched the electronic petition for the campaign: http://chn.ge/SVwBrc – April, May 2014
– Completed the assembly of the Advisory committee (Present members: M.P. Ali Beik Osseiran, H.E. former minister Bahige Tabbarah, Ambassador William Habib, Princess Hayat Arslan, H.E. former minister Edmond Rizk) – June 2014
– Introduced the LDC Initiative to Latin-American and Caribbean Ambassadors at NDU – June 2014
CURRENT AND PLANNED ACTIONS (2014)
– To promote the International Campaign for the Initiative in the US and Canada particularly at the UN in New York and in Washington, D.C. – July 2014
– To promote the International Campaign for the Initiative in Central and Latin America – July, August 2014
– To organize a cultural study tour for young professionals from Brazil – September 2014
– To co-sponsor a group of Brazilian students and teachers from UNIFESP through the SAIL program of the LDC Initiative – September 2014
– To begin a student “Dialogue Club” to mutually energize the dialogue and NDU students – October 2014
– To co-sponsor an International Conference in São Paulo, Brazil titled “The Dialogue of Civilizations with an Emphasis on Lebanon, PART II” – supported by the Secretary of Culture, the Mayor of São Paulo, the University of São Paulo and the Federal University of São Paulo – November 2014
– To appoint additional Liaison Officers in Lebanese diasporic (intishar) communities – December 2014