Dr. Ziad Fahed, who holds a PHD in Theology has been teaching courses in religion, especially on the three monotheistic religions since 2001 at Notre Dame University Louaize – NDU  and being the Dean of Student at NDU,, he was confronted with various issues related to young students, especially in the classrooms, he was awakened to the need for initiatives to build bridges across the different religious communities in Lebanon.. This awareness does not neglect the fact that the political instability and tenuous situation were inhibiting interreligious dialogue. This close interaction developed a better understanding of the students’ needs, identifying gaps in the knowledge of “the other”.

In 2006, Dr. Fahed participated in a Fulbright program on religious pluralism in the United States. As result, a network has been established to start preparing for the launching of the new association “Dialogue for Life and Reconciliation”. Back at NDU, a series of counseling meetings took place with local NGOs working in the field of religious diversity over the course of one year. Among the studies, a survey was conducted on religious conversion on Lebanon. Based on the above, a coherent yet very diverse group of motivated people came together tforming the pillars of the Organization to be launched. In parallel, Dr. Fahed prepared and hosted a TV program to present Christian faith in relation to both faith morals through daily life and their impacts on the Lebanese religious pluralism.

In 2008, the first workshop and preparatory meetings with members were held. In addition, ten competent students were sent to training sessions organized by the Lebanese Ministry of Education on conflict transformation and reconciliation. In September 2008, Dr. Fahed again participated in a Fulbright program to build on his efforts and launch the Interreligious Academy in Lebanon. Members of the Dialogue for Life and Reconciliation founding committee got together to write the status, administer the mission statement, and put down a media strategy through a series of TV and Radio interviews.

Since 2009, activist young Lebanese join a yearly intensive training program on Interreligious Dialogue at Temple University- Philadelpia.  This group built the pillars of DLR and diligently works to spread the DLR message among their circles of young friends and new DLR members. To name a few, the list includes members like Nadine Mazraani, Ramzi Merhej, Jessica Moufawad, Patricia Nseir, Hassan Koussa, Elie Azzi, Myriam Hajjar, Weam Khattar, Mary Joe Alvalas, Melissa Merheby, Muhamad Assaad, Talal Zeidan, etc.

Finally, in 2010, the Interreligious Academy opened its doors to receive young students. Meanwhile,  two DLR member’s were participating in an exchange program on Religious Pluralism in the U.S.

The official launching Ceremony of the Dialogue for Life and Reconciliation Organization was held on March 18^th ,2011 under the patronage of Professor Leonard Swidler co-founder of the Dialogue Institute at Temple University – Philadelphia, in collaboration with the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences – faculty of humanity at NDU.