Beirut: Banque BEMO celebrated the release of the third edition of its national writing contest 'Dreaming Lebanon', under the title 'Lebanon 2050: Letter to My Family Abroad'. The ceremony was held at ESA Business School, as part of the "Beyrouth Livres" festival organized by the "Institut Fran§ais du Liban" (IFL). It was attended by Dr. Riad Obegi, Chairman and General Manager of Banque BEMO and founder of the initiative; Mr. Maxence Duault, Director General of ESA; members of Banque BEMO's team; and the initiative's partners: the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Institut Fran§ais du Liban, Librairie Antoine, and the Assabil Association.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the initiative was launched in 2022, inspired by Banque BEMO's vision to progress toward the future. Over the years, it has evolved into a national forum of expression, through which Lebanese youth-at home and abroad-share their vision of Lebanon's future through the art of writing. This educational project invites young people to rediscover Lebanon through words, reconnect with their roots, and transform writing into a living expression of hope, belonging, and identity.
The ceremony began with a welcoming speech by Ms. Myrna Panayot, who thanked the initiative's partners for their support and announced the addition of two new partners for the 2026 edition: L'Orient-Le Jour and the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO. She also thanked the students, pupils, and teachers for their creativity and expression, emphasizing that the competition's central philosophy is built on a love for words and the art of writing, forming a bridge between knowledge and emotion, generations and homeland.
Dr. Riad Obegi reflected on the meaning and transformative power of dreams, expressing the goal of uniting Lebanon's youth in a common effort to dream of a better country. He highlighted the competition's growth, with students from all regions of Lebanon contributing their dreams for the nation in Arabic, French, and English. He expressed a hope that the competition may one day open to all languages spoken by the Lebanese diaspora.
The poet Mr. Antoine Boulad, a member of the French-language jury, spoke on behalf of the Assabil Association, noting the importance of reading as the first bridge to creativity. Mr. ‰mile Tyan, Chairman and General Manager of Librairie Antoine, described the initiative as an ambitious endeavor carried by the dream of a banker, emphasizing that dreaming is the origin of everything.
Representing the Directorate of Cultural Affairs and Fine Arts at the Ministry of Education, Ms. Mona Al-Mawla praised the book as more than a collection of texts, but as Lebanon's heartbeat seen by a generation that believes words can build bridges between pain and hope. Ms. Sabine Sciortino, Cultural Counselor and Director of the Institut Fran§ais du Liban, highlighted the contest's themes, which contribute to strengthening national identity.
Former Bar President Me Amal Fayez Haddad emphasized the cultural project's role in restoring the written word to its founding role in nation-building, describing writing as an act of belonging and responsibility toward Lebanon. She noted that the collective effort reflects the true Lebanon - one of dialogue and coexistence.
Following the partners' speeches, Ms. Myrna Panayot presented the newly published book and introduced the three juries-French, Arabic, and English-before calling on the winning authors in each language to receive their copies and gather for a commemorative group photo.
The ceremony concluded with a speech by Ms. Nevine Toutounji Hage Chahine, President of the competition, who revisited the journey of the initiative and its growing impact. She reminded the audience that the project aims to restore the written word to its rightful place in shaping the nation, offering Lebanese youth a shared space to imagine and build a better future together. The initiative reaffirms Banque BEMO's cultural and humanist mission, linking education with creativity, culture with citizenship, and dream with action.