Mohamad Barakat Lectures at BAU Civil Society Organizations Lessons Learnt from their Merits and Demerits

Beirut Arab University hosted Mr. Mohamad Barakat, Secretary General of Arab Charity Society and Honorary President of the National Council of Social Services in Lebanon in a lecture whereby he narrated how he built his Social Life  as a career. He opened his lecture  by saying “Lebanon today has become a polarized and divided country, where there seem to be societies for each sect and each political party. Thus these societies lack autonomy as they are controlled by political or partisan orders. Societies that work in dissociation from politics and truly serve the society, remain successful and supported by the community”. The Lecture was part of the Cultural Season at BAU and was entitled “Civil Society Organizations: Lessons Learnt from their Merits and Demerits”.

The lecture was attended by Beirut Arab University President, Prof. Dr. Amr Galal El Adawi, Ex-Minister Dr. Adel Cortass, Head  of the Journalists’ Syndicate, Mr. Mohamad Baalbaki, the Head of Dar Al Aitam El Islamiah, Mr. Farouk Jabr, the Head of El Makassed Islamic Charity, Mr. Amin Daouk, Board Members of the Bir and Ihsan Endowment, BAU Vice-presidents, deans of faculties, Secretary General Mr. Issam Houri, Director of Public Relations Administration Mrs. Zina Ariss, BAU Directors and a crowd of civil society representatives and Interested Audience. 

After the National and BAU Anthems were played, Prof. Dr. Hassan Hallak presented Mr. Barakat, highlighting his contributions to the development of Social Care Institutions in Lebanon and the Arab World. Prof. Hallak continued by saying that by preferring working in the social field more than the politic field, this made him a Pioneer Independent Social School both in Lebanon and the Arab World.

In his turn, Barakat stated that the power of a society is gauged in accordance with the power of his civil societies that have been established by his people. However, they are considered a source of power for as long as they depend on funding provided by their embracing environments, this will enable them to make their own decisions.

Barakat further pointed out the serious dangers of relying upon governmental funding .It is also dangerous  to receive funding from external sources and states, which is in itself an indicator of weakness and of the recession of the these Institutions and their roles. 

Barakat added that most civil society organizations should be independent of any political authority and any religious, partisan or union reference. He further suggested that these organizations need to find a meeting point through which they can fulfill the changing needs of the community and establish a strategy that addresses the evolution of philosophy behind charity and volunteer work. The aim is to enhance the respect for basic human needs, to commit to democracy and to encourage the participation of the youth, as they are the driving force towards change and development. Organizations should also find common ground to address the changes occurring in politics, governance, economics, sociology, culture and the arts, to establish a vision that informs the role played by the civil society.

At the end of the event, Prof. Dr. Amr Galal El Adawi presented the BAU Shield of Honor to Mr. Mohamad Barakat as an appreciation to his contributions to the social work.