As the YES alumni community grows each year, so do annual gatherings and traditions. In Lebanon, where there are over 400 YES alumni, an annual retreat helps connect the cohorts and energize their growth individually and collectively.

On September 16 and 17, 80 YES alumni attended a two-day retreat at Chtaura Park Hotel, in the Bekaa Valley region of Lebanon. The retreat focused on skills development training and interactive group activities, and it provided an opportunity for alumni to network, build ties and mentor one another. The primary goals of this retreat were personal development and active citizenship.

During the retreat, alumni attended workshops to introduce them to skills that can help them think critically about their lives, both personally and professionally. These sessions included public speaking, life coaching, and a critical thinking workshop, “The Future Backwards,” conducted by Fulbright alumnus Vrouyr Joubanian. During the retreat, alumni also participated in self-defense and Brazilian Capoeira workshops.

Alumni from all 15 YES cohorts (2003 - 2017) had the chance to exchange experiences and increase ties between alumni from across the years. Older alumni who have finished their studies and are active professionals were able to share work experiences as well as life lessons through a career guidance session. And since many YES alumni end up studying or working abroad, there were also video presentations by some alumni living outside of Lebanon so they could participate virtually as well. Doctors, managers, engineers and many other young professionals spoke about their journeys and how the YES program helped them become the successful individuals they are today.

The retreat created a space for regional break out meetings as well, where the focus was on active citizenship. The alumni engaged in discussions on how to work toward the betterment of their communities on the social and economic levels. The regional groups developed plans for local development activities and ways to better communicate with each other in each region, as well as how to motivate each other to involve as many alumni as possible in the community. This re-emphasized what they learned during their YES year about American values (leadership, democracy and community service). By the end of the regional discussions, the alumni had brainstormed challenges they might face as they plan for community service activities to benefit their regions, and discussed plans on how to overcome these challenges.

All of the alumni found the retreat to be a beneficial and engaging experience, one in which they grew as individuals and strengthened their bonds as an alumni network.