by Eliane Sawma

Lezhë, Albania (04.04.2025- 10.04.25)

I’ve just returned from Lezhë, Albania, carrying with me a heart full of warmth, reflection, and friendship. What I thought would be just a couple of sessions in a Youth Exchange turned out to be a turning point, one where I met not only others but also my younger self.

One of the most emotional moments was when I wrote a letter to little Elly, that curious, gentle girl who didn’t yet know how deeply gender roles would shape her world. In that moment, I held space for every version of myself that had once felt not enough, and told her: “You walked a long road. And you’ve bloomed.”

Coming from Lebanon, where gender roles can be deeply embedded in our stories, traditions, and even silences, I found myself surrounded by people from different corners of the world, all ready to challenge stereotypes with empathy and action. We laughed, we debated & we cried a little too. We danced under the stars in hidden gems and made space for each other’s truths.

In this journey, I realized that gender stereotypes isn’t a theory, it’s a lived experience. It’s that quiet moment when a girl from Albania shares how she stood up for herself for the first time. It’s when boys from Greece reflect on the weight of societal expectations. It’s in the shared softness of realizing we’re all unlearning and relearning together.

What stayed with me the most was how safe it felt to be vulnerable. To say, “I was once afraid of being too loud, too ambitious, too much,” and hear someone else say, “Me too.” The strength in our differences and the beauty in our shared stories made me feel more human, more whole.

I am leaving with hope, renewed courage, and a deep sense of pride in the woman I am, and the little girl I continue to carry with me.

From Elly, to Eliane.

With love.