BEIRUT – Beirut is preparing to hold the largest scout rally in Lebanon’s history to mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of Hezbollah’s Imam Mahdi Scout Association, in the midst of the martyrdom anniversary of Hezbollah General Secretary Said Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Saffieddin.
In this context, a clear contrast emerges between the vitality of resistant civil society and the political inability of the state to fulfill its most basic obligations.
At Beirut’s Sports City, where preparations began several weeks ago, the association has undertaken significant logistical and organizational efforts, including comprehensive cleaning of the stands, halls and courtyards, maintenance and lighting of the facility, and the installation of electrical wiring to provide lighting from special generators, with a commitment to leave these permanent facilities for later use by the facility.
The cost of this voluntary initiative amounted to approximately $20,000 and is a measure that reflects the spirit of spontaneity within the resistance community and reinvigorates one of the capital’s most important landmarks, which has been systematically neglected by Nawaf Salam’s regime.
This is not the first time Hezbollah has contributed to such a project. It was a pioneer in restoring the playground of martyrs Saeed Nasrallah and Safi al-Din before their funerals at a cost of approximately $28,000.
This volunteer work embodies the philosophy of the Society since its founding in 1985, when it transformed from a fledgling Scouting experiment to a major educational and social institution with more than 76,000 members.
Imam Mahdi Scout built his project with an emphasis on personal preparation above all else. For them, resistance begins with educating the soul, raising consciousness and instilling the values of public service and sincere belonging to the motherland.
The association has developed a curriculum that includes programs in religion, culture, politics, and sports, as well as contemporary fields such as “negotiation skills” and “artificial intelligence,” emphasizing that its members are also a generation of knowledge, reason, and openness.
Since taking office, Martyr Saeed Hashim Safi al-Din (right) has paid special attention to the Imam Mahdi Scout Association, viewing it as a school of education to cultivate a loyal and resistant generation who will carry the banner of Vilayat El Faqih (Supreme Rule of Jurisprudence).
His support was not superficial, but a detailed and systematic follow-up that left a lasting mark.
Despite this constructive role, the association has not been immune over the years from media smear campaigns that seek to portray it as a closed military organization simply because it graduates young people who embody the spirit of resistance and dedication.
These campaigns, led by anti-resistance teams, fear a Scout model that redefines citizenship based on consciousness and responsibility rather than on dependence and moral vacuum.
Meanwhile, the political situation in Lebanon has further deteriorated, as reflected in the heated debate between Speaker Nabi Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
Berri accused the government of failing to support the people of the south and Bekaa affected by the Israeli invasion, and suggested the budget would not be approved unless it included provisions for reconstruction.
Berri condemned the government’s disregard for the destroyed villages, asking: “Is it conceivable that the government would not say ‘welcome’ to the people of Aita al-Shaab, Kfar Qila, Hura, Yarin, Maruhin, Dara, Maes al-Jabal, Burida, Qiyam, Yaroun and Maroun al-Ras?”
Meanwhile, Ali Fayyad, a lawmaker allied with the Resistance Bloc in parliament, said the state was not making sufficient diplomatic and political efforts to confront Israeli aggression and was not mobilizing the necessary resources to protect Lebanon’s sovereignty.
There is a big contradiction here. While the government’s absence in the south has stalled reconstruction, Imam Mahdi Scout is busy restoring Sports City and preparing a promising generation.
Today’s Imam Mahdi Scout Association is more than just a scouting movement. It is an outstanding model of construction when corrupt politicians fail and represents a voice of educational resistance that creates elites in various fields.