TotalEnergies in Lebanon Announces Winners for the 2023 VIA Contest

–TotalEnergies in Lebanon has announced the three winning entries for the 2023 VIA contest in Lebanon at a ceremony held at Sursock Museum. Themed ‘Pedestrian Safe Mobility’, the second edition of the VIA contest saw an overwhelming participation of over 4,200 students aged 8 to 13 years from 30 schools across Lebanon. More than 400 posters were submitted during the contest period, which ran from 19 February to 31 May 2023.

As part of the VIA contest, trainers from the Lebanese International Road Safety Academy (LIRSA) were mobilized to conduct awareness sessions for students. Dedicated schoolteachers were also trained to equip them with the tools and information to continue conducting their own sessions for students. Participating students were required to work in groups of 3 – 5 each to create posters expressing their creative ideas and showcase their understanding of pedestrian safe mobility. All entries underwent a stringent judging process where they were assessed based on key criteria – creativity and originality, clarity in messaging, and relevance of the poster as a prevention tool.

Seven representatives from the Lebanese International Road Safety Academy (LIRSA), TotalEnergies in Lebanon and organizations such as UNESCO, Montessori World, The Sparks Factory, and the Saint Joseph University of Beirut were part of this year’s judging panel. They include:

– Ms. Eliane Charabaty, Co-Founder of Transpetrol, Founder and CEO of Montessori World

– Mr. Kamel Ibrahim, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Lebanese International Road Safety Academy – LIRSA

– Ms. Marina Ader, Junior Professional Officer – Education sector at UNESCO

– Mr. Roland Baz, HSE & Sustainable Development Manager, TotalEnergies Marketing Lebanon

– Mr. Romain de La Martinière, General Manager, TotalEnergies EP Lebanon

– Professor Wassim Raphael, Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Director of the Master in Management of Road Safety, Saint Joseph University of Beirut

– Ms. Yasmina Audi, Entrepreneur, Founder of Super Mama Arabia and The Sparks Factory

Adrien BÉCHONNET, Managing Director, TotalEnergies Marketing Lebanon & Country Chair, said: “The significant increase in this year’s participation, being four times more compared to 2022, highlighted the growing emphasis amongst schools on the importance of pedestrian road safety. Though the contest is only in its second year, the impact and influence has been far and wide. There’s still much that we need to do on the ground as we continue to equip our children with the knowledge, awareness, and practical skills to navigate their surroundings safely and be responsible pedestrians. We also hope to continue fostering a culture where our children can confidently enjoy the freedom of walking, cycling, and exploring

their communities while staying safe. Heartiest congratulations to all the participants. To our top winning team, may you shine as you advance to the regional semi-finals.”

Kamel IBRAHIM, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Lebanese International Road Safety Academy (LIRSA) also said: “We are proud to work with TotalEnergies in Lebanon on VIA contest to promote pedestrian safe mobility in schools. It is heartening to witness organizations stepping up to prioritize the safety of our children on the roads. By collaborating with schools, we are playing a crucial role in educating and empowering young minds to be more responsible on the roads. We fully support TotalEnergies mission and believe that together, we can inspire and empower the next generation to embrace safe and mindful mobility, ensuring their well-being as they journey through life.”

Three winning entries

1st prize: Created by Joe Tabet, Karim Sahili, Katy Zogheib and Lucas Rizk Supervised by Ms. Myriam Khairallah from the school Collège Notre Dame des Anges, Badaro.

2nd prize: Created by Christa Dib, Lynn Saleh, Rebecca Hobeika, Wendy Zankoul and Yasmeen Chamaa Supervised by Ms. Fabiola Sayegh from the school Collège de la Sainte Famille Française, Fanar.

3rd prize: Created by Alisar Sharamek, Amar Moussa, Meera Abo Shami and Thuraya Janbain Supervised by Mr. Abed Al Azeez Thoraya from the school Salah Eddine Educational Center, West Beqaa.

VIA a road safety education program launched globally by TotalEnergies Foundation and the Michelin Foundation. It adopts a participatory approach to learning and aims at improving the safety of young people in the city and on the road. The VIA contest in Lebanon is launched by TotalEnergies in Lebanon in collaboration with the Lebanese International Road Safety Academy (LIRSA) to raise awareness on pedestrian safety among local school students.