The Civic Engagement Workshop (CEW) in Lebanon was implemented in Beirut from December 30, 2008 to January 6, 2009. The prestigious American University of Beirut hosted the program. Its participants included included seven Lebanese educators, alumni from previous UME Teacher Education Institutes, and four American educators selected from schools from diverse communities in New England. Dr. Anthony Wanis-St. John and Liz Gruenfeld provided instruction and facilitation. 

The CEW was an intensive four-day cultural, intellectual and professional exchange among a selected group of Lebanese and US high school teachers to enhance their knowledge and skills of pedagogies for effective civic engagement. The curriculum focused specifically on education for conflict resolution, community building, and cross-cultural collaboration that ultimately fosters stronger civil society in both countries.

As with all UME programs, the CEW was designed to provide a supportive forum for participating high school teachers to explore, experiment with, and inquire into the nature and workings of civic engagement. Specifically, in light of the ethnic, religious and socio-economic diversity of Lebanon and the US, this intensive workshop sought to deepen participants’ appreciation for diversity and inclusivity, and to strengthen their practical skills for applying these values professionally. As leaders in their communities, teachers can create participatory learning spaces through civic engagement projects aimed at addressing these issues.

This program was primarily funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the United States Department of State.