Global Initiatives Program Hosts Syrian Documentarian Elias Matar
This article originally appeared in the November issue of The Paw Print.
By Aleena B. ’22
This year, the theme of Poly’s Global Initiatives Program (GIP) is “The Ripple Effect,” which centers around the idea that individuals’ efforts can have widespread effects.
The work of Syrian-American film director and entrepreneur, Elias Matar exemplifies “The Ripple Effect.” He provides children, young adults and adolescents in Lebanon the opportunity to share their stories beyond their communities through film and other mediums of creative expression through the Manara Center.
Elias Matar founded the Manara Center in the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon, where there are a large number of displaced people from Syria. The center offers several opportunities in subject areas such as theatre, music, film and more.
When referring to the purpose of the Manara Center, Matar said, “The Manara Center creates a safe space for youth and young adults to express themselves in every way possible.”
Before establishing the Manara Center, Matar worked with a local non-governmental organization in the Beqaa Valley to provide the displaced people there with various resources.
Matar spoke to the Poly community on Thursday, Nov. 19. During the GIP event hosted by senior Global Scholars Gabriel Hackel and Rafael Kaye-Lew, Matar showcased part of a film titled “From the Front Line” that he and several Syrian filmmakers from the Manara Center worked on.
Furthermore, students from the Manara Center joined the event live from Lebanon to participate in the screening and answer questions from the attendees at the end. Ann Diederich, co-coordinator of Poly’s Global Initiatives Program, shared that several Poly students engaged in dialogue with the students from the Manara Center. The GIP department hopes to facilitate more conversations with the students from the Manara Center in the future.
In reflecting on the event, Hackel said, “When you give a voice to the voiceless, it really has the ability to inspire others.”
Matar has given a voice to his students at the Manara Center, who, in turn, have used it to passionately share their stories and reveal the humanity of displaced people.
Read the full issue of The Paw Print here.
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By Aleena B. ’22
This year, the theme of Poly’s Global Initiatives Program (GIP) is “The Ripple Effect,” which centers around the idea that individuals’ efforts can have widespread effects.
The work of Syrian-American film director and entrepreneur, Elias Matar exemplifies “The Ripple Effect.” He provides children, young adults and adolescents in Lebanon the opportunity to share their stories beyond their communities through film and other mediums of creative expression through the Manara Center.
Elias Matar founded the Manara Center in the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon, where there are a large number of displaced people from Syria. The center offers several opportunities in subject areas such as theatre, music, film and more.
When referring to the purpose of the Manara Center, Matar said, “The Manara Center creates a safe space for youth and young adults to express themselves in every way possible.”
Before establishing the Manara Center, Matar worked with a local non-governmental organization in the Beqaa Valley to provide the displaced people there with various resources.
Matar spoke to the Poly community on Thursday, Nov. 19. During the GIP event hosted by senior Global Scholars Gabriel Hackel and Rafael Kaye-Lew, Matar showcased part of a film titled “From the Front Line” that he and several Syrian filmmakers from the Manara Center worked on.
Furthermore, students from the Manara Center joined the event live from Lebanon to participate in the screening and answer questions from the attendees at the end. Ann Diederich, co-coordinator of Poly’s Global Initiatives Program, shared that several Poly students engaged in dialogue with the students from the Manara Center. The GIP department hopes to facilitate more conversations with the students from the Manara Center in the future.
In reflecting on the event, Hackel said, “When you give a voice to the voiceless, it really has the ability to inspire others.”
Matar has given a voice to his students at the Manara Center, who, in turn, have used it to passionately share their stories and reveal the humanity of displaced people.
Read the full issue of The Paw Print here.
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