Storytelling Expedition Lebanon

STORYTELLING EXPEDITION

LEBANON

$2900 USD

December 1st - December 10th 2023

DESTINATION

Join the Storytelling Expedition to Lebanon and travel the country as a citizen storyteller. In partnership with TourLeb, we will be exploring the world of peace-building, learning from local changemakers and documenting their stories.

Lebanon’s unique position as a multicultural and multi-religious society has made it an ideal place for remarkable peacebuilding initiatives. The country’s history of diverse communities living side by side has fostered a culture of tolerance, respect, and cooperation. Lebanon has long been known as a hub for cultural exchange, and its people have a deep appreciation for the importance of dialogue and understanding between different groups.

Furthermore, Lebanon has experienced the devastating effects of conflict firsthand, which has led to a heightened awareness of the need for peacebuilding efforts. Lebanese civil society organizations and grassroots movements have been active in promoting peace and reconciliation, often working across political, religious, and social divides. These efforts have helped to build trust and foster cooperation between different communities, and have laid the groundwork for more peaceful coexistence in the future.

On this Storytelling Expedition, we travel around the country meeting with Lebanese changemakers and learning about their peacebuilding work. In solidarity, we will document their stories and the visual evidence of their efforts in order to share their wisdom and amplify their impact.

EXPERIENCE

The Storytelling Expedition is a culturally immersive documentary tour and ethical storytelling workshop. We travel to learn from Lebanese experts, leaders and changemakers and practice our documentary storytelling in solidarity with their work.

The aim of this Storytelling Expedition is to document the stories behind the grassroots peacebuilding organizations around Lebanon. Our group of travelers will become a crew of citizen storytellers and work together to create a library of digital media assets that tell the story of peacebuilding efforts in Lebanon. We will learn about the struggles and successes of Lebanese changemakers who are dedicated to sustainable conflict resolution on both the micro and macro level. The videos and photos we create together will be used by our partner organizations to effectively share their story with a wider audience. TourLeb will also use the media to promote responsible, community-based tourism experiences in their country.

Each day of the storytelling project will provide opportunities for conducting interviews, arranging photo sessions and documenting what you encounter in Lebanon. The ‘deliverables’ that our crew produces may include micro-documentaries, social media video clips, photo essays, event photos, photo portraits, video interviews, photo galleries and anything else we determine could be valuable to our partners.

An Actuality producer will be on location providing mentorship, training and support as needed. You can contribute with your existing media-making talents or use the opportunity to expand your skills. Every traveler will receive in-depth training in ethical, collaborative story sharing. Together we will learn how to become more responsible storytellers, travelers and humans.

TELL ME MORE

The best way to learn about our Storytelling Expedition to Lebanon is by signing up for the email series. You can expect more information on why we travel, how it works, and what to expect on location.

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

Day 1 - Arrival

Friday, December 1

Arrival to Beirut, Lebanon. You are met at International Airport transported to the city center to meet up with the rest of our crew. If you land earlier in the day, you can explore Beirut on foot while we await everyones’ arrival. In the late afternoon, we depart for the city of Tripoli, 1.5 hours drive away. Our crew of storytellers gathers together for the first time at a welcome dinner, hosted by your Actuality producer and your Lebanese guide.

Arrival
Private airport transfer
Group transport to Tripoli
Welcome Dinner

Day 2 - Tripoli / "Tri-Pulley"

Saturday, December 2

Tripoli is one of the most authentic cities of the country, where the blend of past civilizations is still clear. From the Phoenician/Greek name of the city, to the crusader citadel, the Mameluke souk and the Ottoman buildings, Tripoli is one of those places that has something for everyone.

A 4-hour walking visit of the old city and its crusader citadel with a lot of food tastings, and artisans, and mosques, and much more.

Our first storytelling project will be in collaboration with “Tri-Pulley.”

Since 2020, the non-profit initiative Tri-Pulley has been helping vulnerable unemployed citizens in Tripoli and Beirut by equipping them with professional skills that will allow them to become self-reliant, and giving them monthly cash contributions in exchange for their support of other individuals or families in need.

In the evening, we review the video/photo we documented and discuss next steps with Tri-Pulley’s story.

Breakfast
Tripoli Walking Tour
“Tri-Pulley” Storytelling Project
Footage Review + Feedback

Day 3 - Tripoli / "March"

Sunday, December 3

Our second storytelling project is in collaboration with nonprofit organization “March.” March believes that arts and culture are powerful catalysts of change helped us develop a unique initiative, Theater for Reconciliation. They used the performing arts to help mend the feuding and war-torn neighborhoods of Beb El Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen. The experience proved to be cathartic and inspired a more holistic rehabilitative program, along with two cultural spaces in Beirut and Tripoli. Today, MARCH utilizes a diverse set of tools to build the capacities of local communities and consolidate social ties.

In the evening, we review the video/photo we documented and discuss next steps with March’s story.

Breakfast
“March” Storytelling Project
Footage Review + Feedback

DAY 4 - Byblos

Monday, December 4

Taking a break from our storytelling, we travel to Byblos, a popular coastal city located between Tripoli and Beiruit. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and has a rich history that dates back over 7,000 years. Byblos is known for its ancient Phoenician ruins, including the remains of a temple to the god Baalat Gebal, a Roman amphitheater, and the Crusader Castle of Byblos.

In the afternoon, we travel back to Beirut, settle into the next guesthouse, and have a free evening to explore the city.

Breakfast
Transport to Byblos
Byblos Walking Tour
Transport to Beirut
Footage Review + Feedback

DAY 5 - Baalbeck / "Safeside"

Tuesday, December 5

One of the 5 UNESCO Heritage sites of the country, Baalbeck has a history that spans 9 millennia, and is the most popular site of the country. Our third storytelling project is in collaborations with “Safeside.” They are dedicated to raising awareness and changing behaviors around the very real dangers of celebratory gunfire, a popular cultural ritual in Lebanon.

In the evening, we review the video/photo we documented and discuss next steps with Safesides’s story.

Day 6 - BEIRUT / "HERITAGE INITIATIVE"

Wednesday, December 6

Beirut is the beating heart of the country. It is the place where it all meets, unfolds, collides, mixes, blends, and stands out. This city is said to have had 7 lives.

A guided tour of Beirut’s neighborhoods: The Green Line, Martyr’s Square, Gemmayze, the port… This will be essential to understand the history of the city and the focus of our next storytelling project.

Our fourth storytelling project will be in collaboration with Beirut Heritage Initiative. Founded by Lebanese urban activists, they fight to preserve the few heritage houses of the capital, which were even further threatened after the August 4 blast and its aftermath.

In the evening, we review the video/photo we documented and discuss next steps with the Heritage Initative’s story.

Breakfast
Beirut Walking Tour
“Beirut Heritage Initiative” Storytelling Project
Footage Review + Feedback

Day 7 - BEIRUT / EDITING

Thursday, December 7

Working together, with the support and guidance from the Actuality producer, we will edit and deliver the storytelling projects we documenting during the Storytelling Expedition.

We spend half the day editing, and half the day enjoying Beirut on our own.

Breakfast
Editing Workshop
Free Exploration

Day 8 - BEIRUT / EDITING

Friday, December 8

Working together, with the support and guidance from the Actuality producer, we will edit and deliver the storytelling projects we documenting during the Storytelling Expedition.

We spend half the day editing, and half the day enjoying Beirut on our own.

Breakfast
Editing Workshop
Free Exploration

Day 9 - BEIRUT / EDITING

Saturday, December 9

Working together, with the support and guidance from the Actuality producer, we will edit and deliver the storytelling projects we documenting during the Storytelling Expedition.

We spend half the day editing, and in the evening we share the video and photo stories at a venue in Beirut.

Breakfast
Editing Workshop
Beirut Showcase

Day 10 - Departure

Sunday, December 10

Time to part ways. You will be transported from the guesthouse in Beirut to the International Airport in time for your flight home.

Breakfast
Transport to Airport
Departure

COST

$ 2900 USD 10 days / 9 nights

9 nights semi-private lodging in boutique hotels
9 breakfasts + 3 lunches + 2 dinners
local expert guide + translator
Actuality leader + producer
Tour of "Tri-Pulley" peacebuilding organization
Tour of "March" peacebuilding organization
Tour of "Safeside" peacebuilding organization
Tour of "Beirut Heritage Initiative" peacebuilding organization
5 days of documentary video/photo production
3 days of editing workshops
Beirut Community Showcase
private minibus for group transport to all locations
airport transfers on arrival and departure

WE ARE A BAND OF CITIZEN STORYTELLERS
OUT TO REVEAL THE GOOD IN OUR WORLD

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join a Storytelling Expedition?

The Storytelling Expedition is designed for aspiring or experienced media-makers who seek a purposeful travel experience. If you have an interest in photography, videography, blogging, podcasting, or any other kind of digital storytelling, you’d be a great fit. Professional storytellers are welcome, but you do not have to be a professional to be able to contribute.

Do I need to speak the local language(s)?

No. Our expert guide will also provide translation into English whenever needed.

What equipment do we need to bring?

Each storyteller should bring a digital camera they are comfortable using, for photography, videography or both. Any kind of digital camera can be suitable, even most smart phone cameras. The most important thing is that you already know how it use it. If you have additional gear you would like to bring and use, you are welcome to.

Actuality Abroad will provide a variety of accessories, including sound recording equipment, to elevate the quality of your own equipment.

You can also bring a laptop computer if you want to be involved in editing content on location, but Actuality Abroad will have laptops for downloading, duplicating and processing on site.

We highly recommend purchasing personal property travel insurance to cover loss or damage.

Who owns the rights to the media we produce?

All the content produced on the Expedition that features the work of TourLeb or the various social impact organizations that we collaborate with will be licensed under Creative Commons (with attribution) so that every stakeholder can benefit from sharing it. Additionally, this content will need to be approved by all stakeholders (especially the individuals depicted in imagery) prior to any kind of distribution, including sharing on social media. We practice radical informed consent.

Actuality Abroad retains the official copyright in order to ensure that the above standards are implemented and and maintained. Additionally, our program participants often come from around the world but with Actuality Abroad holding the rights, we can assure that our media makers are protected by the Fair Use doctrine of the United States.

For every approved piece of content, each storyteller is encouraged to share/submit freely. Using the content for any value-aligned commercial or money-making purpose could be considered, but will have to be discussed and approved by all stakeholders in advance.

If you create any media outside of the Storytelling Expedition’s scope of work, you retain all rights to that content.

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes. Each traveler is required to purchase a travel insurance policy for the duration of the Expedition that includes medical coverage. We highly recommend that you also purchase trip cancellation and personal property protection as well. We recommend World Nomads, Safety Wing or Genki.

Can I extend my trip?

Yes. You are welcome to arrive early or stay on in Morocco after the Storytelling Expedition. We will make special arrangements for your arrival/departure and can offer recommendations on accommodations and activities.

For experienced or aspiring video editors – you stay on in Marrakesh after the end of the Storytelling Expedition for an Editing Extension. Work one-on-one with your Actuality producer in a co-working space in Marrakesh to edit and deliver a series of micro documentaries using the footage your crew created.

Can I use my corporate 'volunteer time off'?

Yes. If your company offers volunteer time off (VTO), your experience on a storytelling expedition can count towards those hours.

TELL ME MORE

The best way to learn about our Storytelling Expedition to Morocco, is by signing up for the email series. You can expect more information on why we travel, how it works, and what to expect on location.