The AFC offers a learning journey centered on civic engagement, collective work, and reflection on the role of citizenship in Lebanon.

At the end of the AFC program, students work in teams to develop and present a civic project before a jury.

Featured AFC Projects

Projects vary from year to year and reflect the interests, concerns, and aspirations of the students. Examples include:

1- Female Precarity and  Food Security (Award-winning Project, 2024)

As part of its innovative project, Female Precarity and Food Security, a team from the AFC-USJ was awarded a prize of USD 1,200, generously sponsored by the Tamari Foundation and presented by Prof. Salim Daccache, S.J., former Rector of Saint Joseph University of Beirut, in the presence of AFC Director Prof. Roula Abi Habib Khoury.

The winning team, composed of Laurice Tabet, Myriam Finianos, Stéphanie Saad, Sirine Abou Ismail, Jean El Khawand, and Fatima Issawi, designed the project to support the empowerment of women facing financial hardship while addressing food waste. Through practical and sustainable solutions, the initiative aimed to respond to challenges faced by many women in Lebanon.

The project reflects the AFC’s broader mission of preparing young Lebanese citizens to contribute positively to society by promoting fundamental values such as freedom of expression, equality, merit, and active civic participation.

By encouraging socially responsible initiatives, AFC seeks to develop future changemakers capable of contributing to a more inclusive and equitable society.

2- Identity & Citizenship (2025)

Identity & Citizenship is a civic education initiative that invites students to reflect on their civic identity and share their ideas for a fairer and more peaceful Lebanon. Built on a participatory approach, the project gives young people a platform to express their views and contribute proposals for improving society. 

As part of this initiative, the team launched the campaign “Imagining the Lebanon of Tomorrow” across USJ campuses in Beirut. Students were invited to respond anonymously to a central question: 

Do you have a concrete civic proposal that could improve a particular aspect of Lebanese society?

The responses were collected, analyzed, and used to support ongoing research on youth citizenship and civic engagement.

Through this initiative, students were encouraged to engage in constructive dialogue, move beyond divisions, and reclaim their role in shaping an inclusive, forward-looking vision of citizenship.

3- Sawa Seniors (Award-Winning Project, 2025) 

Sawa Seniors is a civic initiative developed by AFC students to support older adults living in nursing homes and retirement residences. Inspired by the growing isolation experienced by many seniors, the project promotes intergenerational solidarity by encouraging meaningful encounters between young people and older generations.

Key Activities

The initiative has taken shape through a range of practical actions, including:

• Visits to Amour et Partage retirement home
• Social and emotional support for residents through conversation and companionship
• The creation of a therapeutic garden with the support of project partners
• The installation of benches made from recycled materials to improve outdoor spaces

Beyond material improvements, the project has created valuable moments of connection, dialogue, and mutual support between students and residents.

Impact

For the elderly:

• Reduced feelings of social isolation
• Increased opportunities for interaction
• Improved access to welcoming outdoor spaces
• A renewed sense of belonging and community

For students:

• A meaningful civic engagement experience
• Greater social awareness and empathy
• Stronger communication and active listening skills
• Opportunities to make a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals.

Through Sawa Seniors, students become agents of solidarity and social responsibility, while older adults benefit from renewed human connection, dignity, and care. The project embodies the AFC’s vision of active citizenship.

Watch the following videos :
Sawa Seniors : A Green Gesture for Our Elders 
Sawa Seniors : Sharing Care and Compassion
Sawa Seniors : A Second Visit to Amour et Partage Retirement Home

4- Too Good To Go (Award-Winning Project, 2026) 

Since 2019, Lebanon has been facing an unprecedented economic, financial, and social crisis. The resulting decline in purchasing power, rise in poverty, and increasing difficulty in accessing affordable, high-quality food have affected a large segment of the population. At the same time, thousands of perfectly edible food items are discarded every day by restaurants, bakeries, cafés, hotels, pastry shops, and supermarkets.

In response to this challenge, To Go offers an innovative solution inspired by the European Too Good To Go model and adapted to the Lebanese context. The application enables food businesses to sell unsold products in the form of surprise baskets at significantly reduced prices, typically between 50% and 70% below their original value, before closing time.

The platform creates a win-win model: consumers gain access to quality food at affordable prices, while businesses reduce financial losses and limit food waste. Beyond its practical function as a mobile application, To Go aims to foster a broader civic movement that promotes responsible consumption, combats food waste, and supports the local economy.

5- Bi Lahza (Award-Winning Project, 2026)

Bi Lahza is a non-governmental, non-profit application designed to promote civic solidarity and emergency preparedness. The initiative aims to provide essential survival knowledge while helping locate individuals in distress and connect them with the assistance they need.

The application offers three main functions. First, it provides users with first-aid tutorials, available in both text and video formats, covering essential life-saving actions to take in emergency situations. Second, it enables the identification and geolocation of individuals in danger who require immediate assistance. Third, it notifies people in the vicinity of a person in distress, helping direct responders to the location and facilitating a fast intervention.

By encouraging citizens to provide initial support while waiting for professional emergency services, Bi Lahza seeks to maintain affected individuals in the safest possible conditions during critical moments. The project highlights the importance of civic responsibility, mutual aid, and community solidarity, while contributing to the protection of health and life in times of emergency.