My start of the year message said: “if you want 2025 to be your year, then you have to invest in yourself, and your country”. It has been a true honour to serve JCI and JCI Lebanon, especially as Lebanon was going through some of its darkest times. No training prepares you for leading in times of war. And yet, we pulled through by investing in ourselves and our nation.
As we wrap this year up, I can confidently say that this has been the most beautiful and fulfilling year of my life.
While it might have sounded idealistic this time last year, our JCI Lebanon direction for 2025 was: "we are Rising Up for a better Lebanon. We are rebuilding and healing—ourselves, our country, and our people". It is with pride that I can say that we made it happen - on our scale and within our means. It is thanks to our members, who have shown the ability and courage to lead with humanity, passion, dedication, spirit and heart, whatever the challenges they were facing.
JCI is a school of life, a gym membership for your brain, a crafter of leaders, a world of opportunities. I am blessed to always feel like the truest and most fulfilled version of myself within the JCI circle, and whatever my role in the organization, I want to ensure that we offer these opportunities for generations to come. JCI has pulled me out of dark times, and I hope that everyone that might be going through hardship knows that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
To our members, thank you for your trust and dedication - you are the roots of all of our impact. To my mentors, thank you for your patience and support - you have pushed me to aim higher every day. To my JCI friends from around the world, thank you for your love and welcoming - you have made this year truly unforgettable. And, to my friends and family, thank you for standing by me - no matter how delayed my texts back were. Merci very beaucoup.
JCI Lebanon, I now leave you under the leadership of a smart, beautiful and bubbly leader who has taken on this new challenge with grace and purpose. It was my honor to welcome Cynthia Zgheib into JCI Beirut in 2022, when I was Local President, and it is now my true pride to see her shine in all aspects of her life, and to step into the role of 2026 JCI Lebanon National President.
See you very soon, Marie Khalife. - view the message