“The Tripoli we want Vs the Tripoli they want,” is the title of a banner raised by the northern Lebanese city’s residents, whereby two photos that embody the city's polar realities were juxtaposed next to one another in a show of the schism that now personifies the current state of affairs in Tripoli.
Half the poster depicts the photo of 11-year-old Mohammad Nazih al-Mir who recently won the gold medal in mathematics for children under 12 years of age in Germany, next a photo of an armed child.
The banner aims to reveal the city the residents aspire to achieve and an image they are desperately trying to eliminate.
Mohammad Nazih a-Mir is an 11-year-old child, dubbed genius, who returned Monday from Germany after winning the international junior mental calculation competition, beating dozens of participants from more than 40 countries.
He scored 1455 over 1500 on the rapid mental calculation test.
Families and friends of Mohammad celebrated his victory, expressing their pride and hoping that he will be an example for the children of Tripoli who live amid war and hatred.
Its a story of hope from a city that has been embattled for years.
Photo courtesy of LBCI's Hoda Chedid
Report by LBCI's Raneem Bou Khzam