Rita AYOUB

Enseignant Cadré - Maître de conférence - PHD - Religious Sciences - Islam Christian communication obstacles

(+961) 1 421 000 ext 5815 rita.ayoub@usj.edu.lb

Dr. Rita Ayoub is a recognized expert in interreligious dialogue, specializing in Muslim-Christian relations, with a focus on the Lebanese context. As coordinator of dialogue training at the Institute of Islamic-Christian Studies (IEIC) of Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ) since 2004, she has dedicated a stage in her career to promoting mutual understanding peaceful living together" between cultural and/or religious communities. With a PhD in Religious Sciences from USJ, Dr. Ayoub has deepened her research on the obstacles of communication between Muslims and Christians in Lebanon. In addition to her academic work, she has trained in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and is in the process of becoming a certified trainer. She has deepened her skills in NVC addressed especially to Arabic speakers by developing documents and social network pages in this context. This dual competence allows her to address interreligious and intercultural issues with both a theoretical and practical approach, promoting dialogue and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. At the same time, she has more than 15 years of experience in the field of interreligious reconciliation as well as the post-war reconstruction of societies that have experienced intercultural conflicts, particularly regions of displacement, in addition to her experience and commitment in the sectors of conflict resolution training and humanitarian and social in Lebanon. In addition to her long career in interreligious dialogue, teaching and university training, where she imparts her interpersonal skills and know-how in intercultural and interreligious dialogue, non-violent communication and conflict resolution, Dr. Ayoubs key competencies include: • Coordination of reconciliation projects: She has led projects with national and international governmental and non-governmental organizations aimed at meeting the urgent needs of populations affected by interreligious conflicts, by setting up and coordinating post-war needs study programs, and rebuilding inter-community links between communities torn apart by internal conflicts. • Intercultural dialogue and conflict resolution: She is recognized for her expertise in inter-community mediation and the facilitation of intercultural dialogues, particularly between inter- and intra-religious communities. • Arabic NVC: For more than 10 years, she has continued to develop and facilitate face-to-face and online training, in Arabic and at different levels, around NVC and conflict resolution and prevention. In this context, she accompanies individuals and groups to deepen their awareness of NVCs. She is known in this context for her ability to listen empathetically. • Community development: She has experience in the design and implementation of local development projects, particularly rural ones, actively involving communities in defining their needs and in finding sustainable solutions. • Research and evaluation: She has conducted studies and project evaluations, improving the effectiveness of interventions and measuring their impact. Recurring themes in her publications: • Muslim-Christian dialogue: She explored the obstacles to communication between Christians and Muslims. • Non-violent communication: She highlighted the Arabic translation of basic NVC referents as a tool for conflict resolution and building positive interpersonal relationships. • Living together: She has participated in several conferences and contributed to research in the context of dialogue, sharing her experience and her journey in post-war reconciliation, interreligious dialogue, intercultural communication, conflict resolution. Key skills: • Research and actions in interreligious and intercultural dialogue • Non-violent communication • Training and education • Training in conflict resolution • Project coordination • Community Development • Empathetic listening Strengths: • Recognized expertise in Muslim-Christian dialogue and NVC in the Arab world. • Strong commitment to the promotion of peace and mutual understanding. • Pedagogical and dialogue facilitation skills. • Ability to listen to the heart. • Publications and contributions to research projects in the field of dialogue. Personal interests: Dr. Ayoub is interested in spirituality in the broad sense, and in this context she has been able to make a personal journey. She has a special interest in agriculture, especially fruit trees. In another context, she has artistic talents in manual work (Polymer Clay and Resin among others). She likes to serve to the extent of her availability, especially with regard to empathetic listening. In summary: During her long career, Dr. Ayoub has gained a solid experience in the field of Muslim-Christian dialogue, in post-conflict reconciliation, in the empowerment of local communities and in the development of intercultural local development programs. Her personal journey, which allowed her to survive violence and forced displacement as a child, and subsequently to experience rejection of others and fanaticism, was the basis of the journey and the passage she made towards dialogue, communication, reconciliation and subsequently having a personal and professional commitment. in favour of interreligious dialogue and non-violent communication. A stint that led her to set up and organize and lead numerous trainings and workshops throughout Lebanon and beyond, thus contributing to raising awareness among a wide audience of the challenges of peaceful living together.