Lebanon’s culture, nature and location has attracted people for many centuries. This country is home for countless sites, timeless history, magnificent nature, extravagant food, and unconventional adventures. And above all, it is a hub for art and culture for the Middle East and the world. Unfortunately, the war has marginalized many beautiful Lebanese villages and turned them into favelas, not to mention the hostility that has resulted among the people. Yet, nowadays everyone hears that Beirut is peaking again, but what few people have heard of is the change growing on the Ouzai shore that welcomes every tourist and every local when they land in Lebanon. A wave of change is transforming Lebanon’s entry gate into a colorful garden of hope and progress and sending a groundbreaking message for Lebanese to take responsibility and turn their country into a paradise again. What you will be seeing in Ouzai is a change we all want to see everywhere in the world.
About The Project
Ouzville is an initiative carried out by Lebanese investor Ayad Nasser, whose love for Lebanon transcends his love for his own kids. For him, Lebanon is one of his kids and he takes it upon himself to improve it and help restore its past glory. The project is about transforming the façade of Ouzai area near the international airport and representing the real face of Lebanon, a face of unfathomable beauty and progress. Nasser’s individual efforts over one year and a half enabled him to launch this mission and clean the shores and neighborhoods of this area while at the same time bring Lebanese and international artists to craft creative murals on the walls of neglected neighborhoods and spread a new positive spirit across their streets. People are already coming from all over the country to see a change they so desperately need in an area marginalized for a very long time. They chose Ouzai because it is one of the most neglected areas in Lebanon. Initiating change in this particular place will have a far-reaching effect in Lebanon and beyond. This mission of beautifying the country and unifying the people is truly bringing people together as many Lebanese and foreigners are eagerly expressing interest to join this mission and be part of this wave of change with whatever they can offer. Lebanese from all walks of life are urged to be responsible and take action for the sake of their country through Ouzville.
You might have already liked what Ouzville is, but that is not all. The colors emerging on Lebanon’s cost bear more than what meets the eye, it embeds a message for tolerance, for unconditional giving, for hope, for co-existence, for awareness, for change, for responsibility. Nasser wants to lead by example and show the four million Lebanese that change is possible and feasible by being actively engaged and sharing. He wants every Lebanese to give back to Lebanon and turn it into a paradise again. One person, one year and a half, and one hundred thousand dollars made a resonating change that reached the whole world. Imagine the change that can be achieved if every Lebanese gave back to their country, this is Nasser’s core message through Ouzville. Lebanese must join hands to bring back the real Lebanon, to revive this piece of heaven, to encourage Lebanese to start changing what they do not like in their country without waiting upon anyone to do it, to cultivate a sense of good citizenship among Lebanese, to break stereotypes and remove the fear and hostility, to lead by example. Ouzai is the place you first see when you arrive to Lebanon, so it is the right place to initiate this mission. If everyone starts giving to Lebanon, this mission will travel to different areas within and beyond Lebanon. Ayad Nasser believes that this is what change is all about, we must be the change. We cannot wait upon governments and leaders to achieve the change we dream of. This is what Ouzville stands for, every one of us is the change. We must all become givers. While Lebanese spend lavishly on food, clothes, travel, events, and so on, they must learn to give to their country first. It is more important to spend on the country and improve it every day than to spend on appearances. For Nasser, this mission is not about humanitarian work but about taking care of the country. We all have a sense of pride in being Lebanese, but to earn this pride we must start giving back to the country.
The Message Behind the Project
Beirut’s Ouzville is a message of unconditional giving addressed to Lebanese and the world. It is an invitation to give and be the change. Materialism has built massive walls between humans. They have grown to fear, hate and criticize each other based on false religious conditioning, illusive social hierarchies, insatiable desire for ownership. Through Ouzville, Nasser aims to lift the veil on the true meaning of happiness, which is nothing more than giving, sharing, caring, loving, and respecting each other. Everyone can dive into this wave of change and contribute to this mission. for those abroad, make sure you see and join the change when you are in Beirut, and those in Lebanon don’t miss the chance to be part of this change that every citizen dreams of.
