On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA-Beirut) held its Monthly Membership Meeting at the Y Cultural Center, featuring a captivating lecture by Mr. Charles Al-Hayek titled “تاريخ بيروت في ١٠ محطات” (“The History of Beirut in 10 Milestones”).
In his lecture, Mr. Hayek traced the layered and enduring history of Beirut, from its earliest known reference in the 14th century BCE as “Biruta” under Egyptian influence, through its evolution under Greek, Roman, Crusader, Mamluk, and Ottoman rule. Each historical milestone revealed how Beirut was shaped by, and contributed to, broader regional developments—from the Roman law school that once thrived in the city to its pioneering role in Arab cultural and political thought in the 19th and 20th centuries.
He emphasized Beirut’s long-standing identity as a hub of knowledge, diversity, and resilience. From ancient wells to modern universities, and from Ottoman urban reforms to the city’s golden cultural decades in the 1950s and 60s, Beirut has always balanced continuity and transformation. The lecture also reflected on more recent challenges such as the garbage crisis and port explosion, underlining the city’s enduring role in Arab intellectual and cultural life.
Attendees were particularly moved by Mr. Hayek’s hopeful closing message, which honored the endurance of Beirut’s people and their capacity to reclaim the city’s historical role as a beacon of pluralism, cultural production, and regional leadership.
Held on the first Wednesday of every month, YWCA-Beirut’s Monthly Membership Meetings provide a distinctive platform for the discussion of women’s issues and serve as a vibrant meeting place for members and friends to debate matters of interest. These gatherings are among the many opportunities through which members enhance their knowledge, acquire new interests, and develop lasting friendships.
The Y Cultural Center once again proved to be a welcoming space for dialogue, reflection, and connection—continuing the YWCA’s mission of empowering women and enriching the community.