Beirut: The third annual "Ambassador For A Day" competition is recognizing the potential of Lebanon's youth by offering young girls the chance to shadow heads of diplomatic missions for one day. This event highlights the opportunity for 30 girls from various regions and backgrounds in Lebanon to engage with ambassadors and senior officials, helping them to develop skills in confidence, leadership, and diplomacy.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the British, Canadian, and Jordanian embassies jointly hosted a reception on Tuesday, 27 May, to honor the winners of this year's competition. The initiative was launched on International Women's Day (IWD) on 8 March, with over 300 girls aged 15-18 submitting entries centered around the IWD 2025 theme, "For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment." Participants were asked to propose actions they would take to accelerate gender equality, emphasizing equal rights, power, and opportunities.
The competition was supported by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the British Council, Arab and Foreign Ambassadors, Lebanese Diplomats, and UN Heads of Mission. British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hamish Cowell, praised the winners for their creativity and insight, emphasizing the importance of their voices and their role as future leaders. Similarly, Canadian Ambassador Stefanie McCollum highlighted the broader concept of inclusion, stressing the importance of considering diverse experiences in shaping policies and actions.
Jordanian Ambassador to Lebanon, Walid Al Hadid, underscored the role of empowering women as essential for the prosperity of societies. He commended the creativity and determination of the participants, aligning these traits with Jordan's efforts to promote rights, inclusion, and equal opportunity. The ambassadors expressed confidence that these young leaders would contribute to a more just and inclusive future.