A Day in Their Shoes: Young Lebanese Man Spends the Day with Displaced Families
Anthony, a young Lebanese man from Harajel, decided to step out of his own life for a day and live with displaced families in Beirut. Apart from experiencing their reality, he wanted to understand what it means to flee one’s own home because of war.
In his video, he says, “I am Anthony… you definitely guessed from my Christian name that I’m not displaced.”
Though he could have stayed home, he chose to immerse himself in their lives. He adds, “I could have crossed Nahr El Kalb and turned off the news, but I decided to live a displaced person’s life for a few days and document it.” His goal was to connect with people experiencing displacement and loss, to hear their stories firsthand, and to see life through their eyes rather than through headlines.
During that day, he met a displaced family from Kfarkela. He recalls: “This is Mukhtar. He used to own a shop in Dahye, and this was my family for the day. I became their son, my name was Mahdi, and I shared a meal with them.” Despite losing their homes, and in some cases their jobs and stability, the family happily welcomed him.
Reflecting on the experience, he says, “I realized one thing: despite our differences, many people in Lebanon need to feed their sense of national belonging through the dignity of others.”
This is a reminder that in times of crisis, the simplest acts of kindness and understanding can make a huge difference. Want to support the displaced in times of need? Check out this compilation of 25+ initiatives you can donate to.
