A celebration was held in the town of Wardaniyah in the Chouf region for the opening of a senior and retired persons' club named "Our Elders' House - Samia Ali Ibrahim Center," attended by the Minister of Culture in the caretaker government, Mohamed Bassam Mortada, Minister of Labor in the caretaker government, Mustafa Bayram, former Minister Ni'ma T'amma, the Public Prosecutor, Judge Ali Mesbah Ibrahim, President of the Lebanese-Gulf Businessmen's Union, Engineer Samir Khateeb, General Directorate of General Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, President of the Northern Chouf Municipal Union, Engineer Ziad Hijar, Hezbollah official in the region Bilal Dagher, village Imam Sheikh Youssef Abbas, and dignitaries.
The celebration, which took place in the center's courtyard on the Pine Hill in Wardaniyah, began with the national anthem, followed by a presentation by the literate Dr. Huda Eid Bayram, and a welcome from the center's president, Samia Ali Mesbah Ibrahim, who pointed out that the idea of establishing the club was hers and her husband Judge Ali Mesbah Ibrahim.
She elaborated on the steps that accompanied the project's accomplishment, thanking those who contributed to its completion, hoping that "this edifice will be a refuge and meeting place for seniors." The mayor, Ali Bayram, delivered a speech clarifying that "the project is the fruit of cooperation between the municipality and the town's people, led by Judge Ali Mesbah Ibrahim. It consists of a public garden covering an area of 220 square kilometers, a retirement and seniors center (Our Elders' House), a path between the pines for walking and cycling, a two-kilometer hiking trail in nature, a sports club among the trees, recreational areas, and a parking lot. The section that was inaugurated is the Our Elders' House club, while the other sections are still under construction."
For his part, the Minister of Labor emphasized that "Wardaniyah is a flower adorning its vessel, and the flowers that endure are the human flowers stemming from love, goodness, and giving."
He stressed "the importance of harnessing any site in the town for service, for when we think of our elders, we send a human message saying that there is a limitation to the biological age of a person, but the age of giving is not limited by age at all, because a person continues in their giving and their impacts. When one turns their contributions into projects, that is a continuation of their ethics, spirit, and humanitarian fingerprint. We seek to connect in a time of division and to build bridges in a time of strife, and we respect our elders to send a message to the youth: plant a culture of respect and humanity."
He concluded: "This edifice is nothing but a confirmation of unity after the town square project, as we need to unite, for we have no choice but to meet, and this edifice is in safe hands with Mrs. Samia Ibrahim."
For his part, Ibrahim stated: "I was struck by the name of the place: Our Elders' House. Here, you are not referring to our elders in age, but to our elders in value, giving, and continuity. This house should be more of a school than merely an edifice or a house so that the elderly do not feel that this station is their station at their age. It should be a school where we gather our youth with our elderly, so that the elderly can pass on heritage, morals, religion, and knowledge to our youth, so we inherit what we pride ourselves on in morals, and this is the foundation for building society."
He addressed the Lebanese situation, noting that "11% of Lebanon's current population, are elderly, which is a concerning statistic and an indication that the youth have emigrated, despite the fact that we do not give them passports; they still emigrate. The youth are emigrating, which poses a serious danger; and we all know the reasons for this emigration, namely the economic and financial conditions the country is experiencing, in addition to the repulsive political situation. As the Culture Minister said, many politicians are an obstacle to the progress of this country. The rhetoric they circulate daily is a rhetoric of division, as if we are living within a logic of divide and conquer.
What remains for us in this country is one matter: we must cling to our dignity, pride, and morals, and we must strive to defend our values and rights. What will bring the generations back to Lebanon is holding on to this right; therefore, we are facing a very big opportunity to restore Lebanon to its richness through maritime border demarcation, which I believe will be achieved in a matter of weeks at most. We are close, provided we cling to our right and remain united to achieve this goal that will bring our children back to the country. However, if we abandon our rights and dignity, our elders may emigrate."
He continued: "The issue is related to our stability, resilience, and unity behind our right. I believe that what we will arrive at in terms of border demarcation is less than our right; it is a settlement. Unfortunately, the international and regional circumstances impose on us to reach a settlement. Our right is not Line 29 or 23, but our right is all of Palestine. This is a temporary settlement. Everything we are experiencing in Lebanon is temporary, and we are confident that we will return Palestine to its rightful owners, and we will be the ones to return Palestine. These waters are Palestinian, not Israeli. On this occasion, I urge our Palestinian brethren to declare a political stance on this matter, that what Lebanon is negotiating with the Israeli enemy is not the enemy's right, but our right. I hope our Palestinian brethren listen and respond, as this will greatly support us politically."
He congratulated the responsible party for the house, saying: "Yesterday we congratulated you on the square, today on this house, and we have yet to see what awaits us from Rias Ali Mesbah Ibrahim in this town that has become exemplary thanks to your will." There was also a speech by Ali Mesbah Ibrahim, who expressed his appreciation to "all those who extended a helping hand to accomplish this edifice," expressing his hope that "the project meets the desired level."
In conclusion, a curtain was lifted to reveal a plaque at the center's entrance, followed by a tour of its sections, and then a cocktail party.
