Write and draw the Lebanon you dream of

In anticipation of Lebanon’s Independence Day, a new initiative invites the country’s youngest citizens to imagine a future beyond the limitations of the present. Under the title “Write and Draw the Lebanon You Dream Of,” children aged 5 to 15 are encouraged to submit a drawing or a short written text that answers a simple, powerful question: What should Lebanon look like?
The call for submissions is open until November 18 and the most notable works will be showcased during a special event on November 21, 2025, at the National Library in Sanayeh, an institution that has long symbolized Lebanon’s commitment to culture, knowledge, and collective memory.

Why children’s visions matter

Independence Day often centers around historical narratives, political speeches, and national symbols. But this year, the focus shifts to the nation’s children, those who have inherited its complexities, experienced its instability, and yet continue to imagine its possibilities.
Children are often seen as observers in the national story, yet they carry some of the clearest moral perspectives. They describe the world not in political terms, but in emotional ones. They do not speak of economic policies, demographic divides, or geopolitical struggles. Instead, they speak of how a country should feel: safe, welcoming, playful, vibrant, and kind. When children imagine Lebanon, they imagine it without cynicism. They imagine it as it could be, not as it has been.
Their visions become mirrors, showing adults what has been lost along the way: simplicity, fairness, community, and joy. In a country where the public narrative often centers on crises, children remind us that national identity is not defined only by struggle, but also by aspiration.

A Lebanon seen through its most honest eyes

On November 21, their submissions will fill the halls of the National Library, a symbolic placement for a generation whose voices are often overshadowed by political noise. The exhibition will not only display their work; it will reaffirm that their dreams are worthy of public attention.
“Write and Draw the Lebanon You Dream Of” emphasizes that the story of this country does not belong only to the generations who lived its history, but also to those who will shape its future. It is a reminder that the measure of a nation is found not only in its institutions or borders, but in the imagination of its children.
And perhaps, in their colorful visions and simple words, we may find the blueprint for a Lebanon that feels worthy of celebration, not just on Independence Day, but every day.