As Lebanon and its rich amalgamation of rural and urban centers continue to change with the times and evolve while the country cycles through periods of conflict and peace, certain regions experience highly publicized transformations. Beirut's southern suburbs, or Dahiyeh as they are more commonly referred to, began evolving and expanding decades ago. Long before the explosive, practically overnight makeover Dahiyeh, specifically its Haret Hreik neighborhood, received during the July 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, the area took on new identities and lost some of its original character.

Rather than tell only the story of Dahiyeh's destruction during that 2006 episode, which featured Haret Hreik's most prominent resident, Hezbollah, UMAM D&R wanted to cover the many families and individuals, companies and buildings, that have been a part of Dahiyeh's expansion from village into dense urban center. After all, UMAM D&R is based in Haret Hreik and part of this history.

Through the "Collecting « Dahiyeh »" exhibition, UMAM D&R displayed a wide ranging assortment of documents, photos, personal narratives, and more inside The Hangar focusing on the region's history up until the July 2006 war. Visitors were able to engage with an interactive map and use audio-visual material in a different section to delve into the neighborhood's many layers. In addition to the contents of the exhibition, film screenings were held and attended by mixed audiences of neighborhood residents and people from outside Dahiyeh, including individuals that might not ordinarily visit Beirut's southern suburbs.

This exhibition was made possible thanks to funding from the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development, and the institutional support from medico international.

As Lebanon and its rich amalgamation of rural and urban centers continue to change with the times and evolve while the country cycles through periods of conflict and peace, certain regions experience highly publicized transformations. Beirut's southern suburbs, or Dahiyeh as they are more commonly referred to, began evolving and expanding decades ago. Long before the explosive, practically overnight makeover Dahiyeh, specifically its Haret Hreik neighborhood, received during the July 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, the area took on new identities and lost some of its original character.

Rather than tell only the story of Dahiyeh's destruction during that 2006 episode, which featured Haret Hreik's most prominent resident, Hezbollah, UMAM D&R wanted to cover the many families and individuals, companies and buildings, that have been a part of Dahiyeh's expansion from village into dense urban center. After all, UMAM D&R is based in Haret Hreik and part of this history.

Through the "Collecting « Dahiyeh »" exhibition, UMAM D&R displayed a wide ranging assortment of documents, photos, personal narratives, and more inside The Hangar focusing on the region's history up until the July 2006 war. Visitors were able to engage with an interactive map and use audio-visual material in a different section to delve into the neighborhood's many layers. In addition to the contents of the exhibition, film screenings were held and attended by mixed audiences of neighborhood residents and people from outside Dahiyeh, including individuals that might not ordinarily visit Beirut's southern suburbs.

This exhibition was made possible thanks to funding from the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development, and the institutional support from medico international.