Beirut: Students in Lebanon aged 16 to 21 are invited to apply for the Rebecca Dykes Changemaker Challenge (RDCC) 2026, a youth-led initiative encouraging young people to identify harmful digital patterns, examine who is most affected and why, and propose practical ways to challenge them.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the challenge is organized by Becky's Button, a UK-registered charity, with support from the British Embassy in Beirut and the British Council in Beirut. It invites students to engage critically with the online behaviors and narratives that shape digital spaces. This year's theme is "Spot Harm Early. Break the Pattern: Interrupting Misogyny in Digital Spaces." Through a poster-led submission, participants will explore how harmful online patterns can be recognized early and challenged before they become normalized.
The challenge is open to students aged 16 to 21 who are currently studying in Lebanon, regardless of nationality. Entries may be submitted individually or by teams of up to three. Group A is for ages 16 to 18, and Group B is for ages 19 to 21. Applicants are asked to submit a poster highlighting a harmful digital pattern they want others to notice, alongside a QR code linking to a short extension in video, audio, or written form, and a brief explainer in the form of either a 45-second video or a presentation of up to 10 slides. No design experience is required, as assessment will focus on the strength of the idea and the quality of the analysis.
Registration opens on 15 June 2026 and closes on 14 July 2026. In each age group, the winner will receive USD 300 and the runner-up will receive USD 150. Ten finalists in total will be recognized at an awards ceremony at the British Embassy in Beirut later this year.
The Rebecca Dykes Changemaker Challenge builds on the momentum of its previous cycle, which brought together students from schools and universities across Lebanon to propose solutions to gender-based violence and challenge harmful norms affecting girls and young women. Students can register using the existing registration form and can follow updates through the existing Instagram account listed below. For questions, students can contact the organizers using the email address below. Young people in Lebanon are encouraged to take part and use their ideas to help create safer, more respectful digital spaces.