Lebanese Youth challenges:
Navigating Economic Hardships, Political Dysfunction, and Security Concerns
Ever since the civil wars, Lebanon has faced continuous struggles in its development and growth. These struggles intensified with the onset of the October 17 revolution, covid Pandemic, currency depreciation, as well as, the collapse of the banking sector, the political instability and gridlock, the Beirut Blast in 2020, and conflicts on the southern borders. These events have significantly impacted the county and exacerbated the challenges faced by the Lebanese youth.While youth generally face concerns about establishing their future, finding jobs, launching their careers and achieving personal goals, Lebanese youth encounter an additional layer of challenges on top of these typical age-related issues aggravated by an overall poor governmental performance at various fronts.
The sinking economy has significantly challenged youths’ lifestyle and well-being, reinforcing thoughts for emigration. As the country transitions to a cash-only economy and faces widespread unemployment, depreciated salaries, and lost savings, young people have become more financially conscious. Many are compelled to enter the job market earlier than intended to meet their basic needs and alleviate household financial burdens, even if only minimally. Additionally, the rising poverty levels and increasing safety incidents related to money have triggered feelings of guilt and uncertainty, respectively, among many youth.
The ongoing economic difficulties are hindering long-term planning and creating a blurry vision for youths’ future. Combined with uncertain employment opportunities, these factors push many young people to seriously consider seeking employment and building careers in other countries. One youth expressed the prevailing sentiment:
“What concerns me the most is the present and not the future, because there is no opportunity to think about what lies ahead. My focus is on meeting basic needs for now, as we are unsure where we are heading in this country. I want to continue my MA studies; will I be able to pursue my Masters? Many questions arise: will I be able to afford healthcare? Will I find a job with a decent salary?
As if the challenges of the sinking economy are not challenging enough, a prevailing governmental dysfunction and mismanagement of the budget worsens difficulties faced by Lebanese youth. This dysfunction manifests in the inadequate operations of governmental institutions and the scarce provision of basic needs such as access to water, electricity, education, health, public transport, and road infrastructure.
As a coping mechanism, the private sector fills the services gap, forcing residents to bear the burden of double bills – one for the public sector and another for purchasing amenities from private sector vendors. This includes electricity, water, education, healthcare, and more, further straining the already limited resources of Lebanese youth. Another youth commented on the government’s mismanagement:
“The government is not spending its budget in the right places. As a priority, funds should be directed to anything that supports the people- alleviate poverty, meet basic needs, road infrastructure and maintenance, and appropriate access to water and electricity.”
On the political front, youths face challenges due to continuous gridlocks and conflicts which led many of them to distance themselves from political engagement. Perhaps the primary challenge comes from monopolized decision-making by those in power who fail to accommodate the diverse ideologies present in the country, hardly representing youths’ views and aspirations. Lebanese youth, especially those living in Lebanon, are significantly and adversely challenged by reckless political interference and favoritism, which often impede their ambitions for education and employment within the country. One student explained the difficulties faced:
“We are experiencing significant limitations when it comes to enrolling in the Lebanese University. Students often have to resort to mediation and personal connections to secure a place at the university. Many young people aspire to attain an education but cannot afford private universities, leaving the Lebanese University as their only viable option. Unfortunately, enrollment often hinges on having the right connections to facilitate the process”
Furthermore, Lebanese youth are challenged by prevailing feelings of insecurity stemming from frequent exposure to security incidents and the constant threat of losing loved ones. This impacts their daily activities, mobility, and sense of freedom.
Amid the chaos, economic challenges currently pose the greatest obstacle for Lebanese youth. These difficulties affect their education, restrict opportunities, hinder their development and growth, blur their future prospects, and often necessitate them to leave the country.