“women will always be true architects of our societies”

Speech by Roy, a young Lebanese participant in the 3rd session, during the round table on the role of women held in Chania on May 7. 

Untranslated text.

“While I was preparing for what I'm going to say, one of my friends on the boat asked me: Why you, a man, will speak in a conference titled Women in the Mediterranean. “Shu khassak enta” translated from Arabic to “what is your business in that”. My reply at the moment was “I don’t know, they just asked me to”

But that question remained on my mind.

To be honest. I am a man. So why am I standing here today, speaking about women?

Well, after thinking a bit, I realized that the responsibility to talk about women's influence, challenges, and achievements isn't just for women. It is for all of us, and especially for men. Because change doesn't happen when only half of society is engaged in the conversation. So to me as a man, and every men, we have a duty, not only to acknowledge women's influence and achievements, but to stand beside them, amplify their voice, and support their decisions.

Now, I won't be talking about how important it is to educate women or that they should have the same access to knowledge as men. Honestly, I think we're past that point… it's the 21st century. If we're still debating that, well, we've missed the plot. And it's truly sad to hear that there is still many cases of inequality and discrimination against woman when it comes to education and careers.

Because education isn't just the transfer of knowledge and information. Education is the force that shapes our societies. and during my time on the boat, I became aware if an extremely important reality that I wasn't that conscious of.

During one of our team times on the boat, where the topic was about education, one of the questions was: To you, who is your most important educational figure who had a true impact on your education?

What was truly interesting is that all of my team members, including me, mentioned a woman! Either their mother or a teacher or an active woman in their parish.

So let's think of this: the two main schools in life are home and school. These are the places where values are formed, minds are shaped, and futures are written… home and school. And who are the central figures in those two places?

At home, it's often the mother: the first teacher, the first storyteller, the first guide.

And in schools, especially in our region, it's mostly women who take on the role of educators and mentors. 

So when we talk about building better societies, about raising citizens and generations whi are thoughtful, responsible, creative, PEACEFUL: it starts there. It starts with the women who has the force to shape the very beginning of every journey.

I remember when I was in high school, I had a biology teacher, Mrs Nada. She was so passionate, so caring, so kind, intelligent. She was so demanding yet believed in me so much. It was in here class that I discovered my love for biology, my passion for the human body. And big part of why I chose to become a medical student is because of her.

And that's the power of women! whether they are mothers, teachers, grandmothers, sisters or friends, they have the power to influence decisions and change lives. With their simple kindness, care, love, attention to details…

Wherever they chose to be, whether in kitchens, in classrooms, in their career, their jobs, in conversations, at parties… i dont know… wherever THEY thing to be, women will always be true architects of our societies, shaping our societies quietly maybe but powerfully.

I will conclude with something that one of my friends on the boat said yesterday and really touched me. I won't say his name, we'll call him wise man.

As a wise man once said:

“I thought that I was strong, but when I came here, I realized that there are women much stronger than me, maybe not in muscles, but in their mindset and personality.”

I started my speech talking about why men should talk about women. But actually it's not just about talking anything in any way. It's about having the courage, like that wise man, to see that's true and admit it, with such honesty and transparency. »

Roy.