If you have to leave, go

But go with a mission

I read his material, watch his videos, and saw him on TV, but this was the first time I sat with him and had a one-on-one conversation. Jihad has an unpretentious wealth of knowledge and is humble yet very opinionated about who the youth are and what they should be doing.

“The youth are the cornerstone of society. They are the present.”

According to him, they are the living present. They are responsible for building their world and making the world of the older and younger a better one. The problem is that the older generation needs to give them space to grow and take charge. They are not part of the decision-making process, yet they are the untapped potential — typical dilemma.

The actual resistance is them, through them, and by them. The youth has the historical chance to go down in history as the heroes of the updated version of our Lebanese republic. The older generation is already biased and used to a certain unacceptable level of corruption. They lived to co-exist with anomalies. New blood wanted. New spirit desired.

Youth in the midst of the October 2019 revolution

Your name, your family, your country — all one

You carry your name, your family name, and your nation with you. You can try and escape from one or all of them — for a while, but not forever. All three make up your identity. In business terms, as he'd like to frame it, your brand identity.

Youth today have been dealt a weak hand. They are surrounded by opposing forces and energies. The Lebanese brand name is deteriorating. Extreme pressures are being exerted on its three historically-strong sectors: health, education, and banking. Hospitality is no better. However, since they're smart, they will dig back into the positive legacy that Lebanon is historically known for and build on it.

A healthy Lebanon would bring personal value to every Lebanese. It is to everyone's advantage to bring value to the image of Lebanon. Everyone's behavior today affects their current conditions and the status of the generations to come. We have an interest, even if we are outside, to keep building a positive image.

How do they break out of this loop? How can they inherit their fathers' and mothers' problems and still rise above?

Youth is invited to act

If you're 18–30, then you're young, according to Jihad. Then, he extends the bracket to 40 years of age. It applies to you, too, if you're young at heart :-). Youth is a state of mind.

It does not matter where you live. Each one has a role: Whether you are in Lebanon or elsewhere on earth, you have a part. The in-people can collaborate with the ex-pats for that diamond of a formula that will bring Lebanon to its newer, more productive, hopeful, and fresh state.

How can the youth in the diaspora connect and work with those in Lebanon: South America, North America, Europe, Africa, and the GCC?

So, if that applies to you, don't sit idle and hope things change themselves. "What are you doing about it?" he asks. Here are three suggested channels of action:

• The digital knowledge economy

• The future of education

• Cooperative lobbying

The digital knowledge economy

The quickest return on investment and the fastest route to recovery are through the digital knowledge economy. Heavy industry and agriculture will need longer to implement and are heavier on capital investment due to machinery, transportation, equipment, and materials. The knowledge economy is faster; talent is either available or quicker to round up, requiring more attainable investments. Investing in the knowledge economy can boost job creation, increase local transparency through e-government, reduce corruption, and raise highly needed funds.

A possible and reasonable scenario is technically serving outside markets. Another is directly supporting Lebanese or pseudo-Lebanese companies abroad through focused technical teams in Lebanon.

Jihad mentioned several other scenarios that are potentially as sustainable.

"For example, to date, Lebanon still has a surplus in the balance of payment with services."

The future of education

Build on Lebanon's excellent education system. Move it to the 21st century. Allow youth to work together in and around education. The connections and classroom blended learning can happen between youth worldwide. Let people get to know other cultures by taking virtual classes together. One day, your classmate in that virtual classroom will be in a position of power or influence. That connection will help you, Lebanon, and their country. Push for technology learning early on. Teaching coding is an excellent and effective method to build a prosperous future.

Cooperative lobbying

In Lebanon, and since October 2019, young men and women have been on the frontlines of the revolution. Their compatriots in other cities around the world carried the same flag and chanted the same hymns. This can continue on political, cultural, developmental, and economic levels. Lobbying together is fundamental to influencing decisions in world capitals.

Culturally, youth can impact and create a new code of ethics — a fresh and transparent way of doing business. The young generation abroad can help free the youth who are taken hostage in Lebanon. It is much better to have Lebanese abroad influence the new Lebanon than any other foreign power, no matter how well-intentioned they are.

I tried to get Jihad to get a little personal and tell me what drives him to do what he does. The closest he got to being personal is telling me he's been a victim of the old mindset.

"Lebanon, as it is today, is not my dream country. I don't want the generation after me to lose its dreams as well. I have and will do something."

He deals with youth, and he feels their pain. He was affected and touched. He is trying to help them and help himself in the process.

And the ones who leave?

Rethinking Lebanon youth ambassador Joelle El Hokayem

If you must leave, go, but continue the collaborative work on the other side. Continue the projects and strengthen the links. People in Lebanon rely on people abroad. Youth connected to youth is a winning formula. Each one is an ambassador to Lebanon. People will love or hate Lebanon because of how we conduct ourselves abroad. Everyone abroad has a big responsibility. Each person is the image of his or her country.

He is not against people traveling. It actually diversifies the Lebanese portfolio of people around the world. It can be used as wealth.

I'm bidding my sister goodbye. I tell her to pick up knowledge and experience and come back with it to develop Lebanon. It's good to work outside. Lobby outside. Come back with your know-how to help us develop here.

If today you are kicked out of Lebanon, don't get mad. Get even. Become more influential and find ways to support. No matter how little. Keep supporting. If you must build a family abroad, still teach your children about their homeland.

The man is a ball of fire, means well, loves Lebanon, and wants to do something about it. The man is on a mission. My talk with him was focused on that mission. Very little, he said about his personal life.

Starbucks drink: Grande skinny latte.

You can reach out to Jihad on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Rethinking Lebanon.