On 26 October, twelve women from across Lebanon will begin a five‑day journey along the Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT), a 450km path that threads through more than 80 villages, reflecting the country’s extraordinary diversity and the sectarian, political, and social fault lines that shape daily life. Walking side by side, they will take on a demanding physical and emotional challenge: to listen to one another’s stories, confront differences, and explore what coexistence can look like outside politics, polarization, and inherited narratives.

This pilot project, developed under the Rotary Peace Fellowship Program and hosted by the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association, brings together women whose lived experiences reflect Lebanon’s many realities. Through a facilitated dialogue process, they will engage with themes of memory, identity, conflict, and belonging. Their evolving conversations will be documented in a short film, The Thread, designed to spark intercommunity dialogue across Lebanon and within diaspora communities.

Lebanon’s history of war has shaped how people remember the past, interpret the present, and imagine the future. Women, in particular, navigate conflict in ways that are often unseen within families, communities, and society. Their perspectives are essential to building a more inclusive and peaceful future. This project does not aim to erase differences or force agreement; it creates space to challenge assumptions; share lived experiences and listen across divides.

This trek and film serve as a critical proof of concept - testing the facilitation model, group dynamics, filming approach, and the film’s potential as a dialogue tool. They are the first step toward an ambitious vision: a full 21‑day walk along the entire LMT in 2027/2028, documented as a feature‑length film or series that amplifies women’s voices and opens space for nationwide and global conversation.

At a time when so much pulls Lebanon apart, these women are choosing another path. Your support can help make this journey possible.

This fundraising campaign is focused specifically on the costs required to run the 5‑day pilot walk and to capture video documentation of this unique journey. These are the core elements needed to test the model, generate proof of concept, and capture content for The Thread, the short film that will support future intercommunity dialogue. 

Pilot Walk Budget & Videography: AUD 20,000 

 Breakdown 

• Food & Accommodation: AUD 7,700 

• Logistics & Equipment: AUD 4,000 

• Walk Coordination & Facilitation: AUD 3,000 

• Video Documentation Team: AUD 5,300 

NOTE: This fundraising campaign does not include the costs of project preparation, facilitation design, film post-production and dissemination or post‑walk dialogue activities in Lebanon and Australia. Cost sharing has been provided by the Rotary Peace Fellowship Program (USD 1,000/AUD 1,440) to cover campaign platform fees and social media promotion costs. Volunteer contributions from the project’s leadership team and conflict resolution specialist exceed AUD 50,000 worth of professional time.