Antonine University (UA) places social responsibility at the heart of its initiatives, alongside its deep-rooted commitment to providing quality education. This focus aims to enhance students’ engagement with society.

As part of the course “Citizenship and Society,” currently taught by Dr. Rita Nabhane, the students are expected to undertake a social project at the end of each term. The goal is to enable them to practice solidarity and teamwork skills and demonstrate their willingness to volunteer and participate in activities that benefit society. This term’s project involved inviting students from the Learning Center for the Deaf (LCD) to UA’s Hadat–Baabda Campus to explore the diverse disciplines offered by UA faculties.

The LCD is a non-profit, non-sectarian, and non-governmental association established to empower deaf men and women through quality education across Lebanon. Its mission is to facilitate learning, promote well-being, and help break the wall of social isolation by assisting students in passing the official Baccalaureate exams and transitioning to university.

This visit was well-organized by our students with valuable and insightful input from the Vice Rector for Integral Human Development (VRIHD), Fr. Jean Al Alam, his Executive Assistant, Ms. Jocelyn Saab, and the Director of the Office of Orientation and Admissions (OOA), Mr. Ryan Abboudy.

After the initial conversation with the Director of the LCD, Dr. Hussein Ismail, he agreed to allow a number of his high school learners who were interested in this project to spend a few hours at UA. The students attend business, dental laboratory technology, and sports courses based on their interests. The UA team quickly scheduled a date for the visit, and UA students immediately started to work on different kinds of academic activities combining useful information with enjoyable experiences, depending on the faculty they are enrolled in.

On December 7, 2021, LCD students arrived on the UA Campus at 8:00 AM and were joyfully greeted by UA students who made sure that every visitor enjoyed the activities while learning more about the different programs. For instance, in the Faculty of Business Administration (FBA), they prepared quizzes to motivate LCD students and help them gain basic knowledge in the field. In the Department of Dental Laboratory Technology (DDLT), visitors were introduced to various tools and were deeply impressed by what they saw, even inquiring about enrollment dates. Lastly, at the UA track and field stadium, some students participated in a race and were informed about career opportunities in the sports field.

At the end of these activities, snacks and refreshments were served, and a group picture was taken to cherish the memory of this visit.