Davina Bessat Daoud on Culture, Community, Vision

In a new episode of The Farah Shammas Podcast, we are happy to welcome Davina Bessat Daoud entrepreneur, co-founder of Bio-Energy, and candidate in the Election of Representatives of French Citizens Living Abroad.

Davina shares her journey living between France, Lebanon, and Cyprus, and how these multicultural experiences shaped her identity, leadership style, and vision for representation abroad. We discuss what inspired her to step into politics, the challenges French citizens face while living overseas, and why meaningful representation and community connection matter more than ever.

She also opens up about resilience, balancing family and ambition, and the lessons she carried from Lebanon that continue to influence her perspective today.

As the elections approach this Friday, May 22, Davina speaks about her mission to represent French citizens living abroad with empathy, transparency, and action.

A conversation about identity, leadership, purpose, and building bridges across cultures.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

From France to Lebanon and now Cyprus, Davina Daoud's journey has been shaped by culture, resilience, and a deep connection to community. As co-founder of Bioenergy and candidate in the election of representatives of French citizens living abroad, she shares what inspired her journey into public service and her vision for stronger representation abroad. Welcome to the episode 10 of the Farah Shamas Podcast.

SPEAKER_03 0:23

Davina Daul, I'm so happy you're here finally.

SPEAKER_01 0:26

Yeah, thank you, Ufara, for having me today.

SPEAKER_03 0:29

It's my pleasure, and thank you. And of course, we've had Cesar, your husband, talking about bioenergy and holistic health and medicine and everything else. You're both members of Farrest Club, and it's just a pleasure to go on this journey with you. And I can't believe where your journey is like unfolding now into politics.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

Yeah, yeah, unexpectedly. I didn't know it would be there today, but I'm so happy. And uh actually we share something in common. The community uh for us community is is inspiring what you have done and how you brought people together. And I have kind of did similar for the French in Cyprus, so here I am.

SPEAKER_03 1:12

I love that. Well, let's start off by saying how many French are there in Cyprus?

SPEAKER_01 1:16

Oh, so legally like registered, it's 1500, but there are many, many more, and they are not registered, so we can count them, you know. But it's surprising anyway to see how many people are there.

SPEAKER_03 1:29

Yeah, because there's a lot of and of course we have a lot of tourists as well. Oh, yeah. But only 1,500 are registered, like living here. Yeah, and it's increasing every year. And I'm sure the majority are in Nicosia with the French school.

SPEAKER_01 1:41

Well, yeah, probably, but it's a bit everywhere actually. In Nicosia, Paphos, Larnaca, Limassol as well. You know, with the we have a French school here in Lima Sol as well. So I have so new. Yeah, it's been two, three years now. Three years, maybe a little more, maybe. Yeah, so we're getting more and more French, and every year the number of families or people who want to join, it's absolutely outstanding. And we have a lot of students as well from France coming in the University of the University.

SPEAKER_03 2:12

Yeah, I know. I recently spoke at the University of Nicosia, and I was just blown away. I was so impressed with the lecture halls, the space. And then when I came out, of course it's sunshine and there's the palm trees. And I thought, well, imagine if you're coming from, I don't know, anywhere in Europe and it's cold and raining, and then you come to Cyprus to study, it's like paradise.

SPEAKER_01 2:33

And you're in your in Europe, yeah. You know, it's like much easier for parents, it's easier on all levels. As a French living in Cyprus, the way you can integrate the life, it's much easier for definitely.

SPEAKER_03 2:45

Yeah. Well, before we jump into you know the main bulk of questions that I have for you, let's talk a little bit about you. French, married to Lebanese, having lived in Lebanon, I take my hat off to you, speaking Arabic now, you're amazing. Thank you. And then moving to Cyprus. So I've summed it up, but let's say in your own words, yeah, how did that happen? What's going on?

SPEAKER_01 3:09

Oh God. It was a long time ago, actually. I was so in France studying, and I was looking at myself, not speaking a word in English, and I was like, okay, what I'm studying right now, we are like millions doing that. I need to find a way to differentiate myself from others. And I started looking for America. I'm like, okay, let's go for the American dream. But it didn't work out, obviously. And looking at the map, I'm like, okay, I need to find a way to learn English without knowing a word, and learn from commerce or business, you know. And Lebanon was there. My father used to go for work for many years, and he used to tell me stories about Lebanon, you know. I tried to go to Dubai first, but there were the economical situation, and it was really unstable back then. So here I go to Lebanon, get an opportunity for work. I moved in, it was crazy.

SPEAKER_03 4:01

And this was like over 20 years ago.

SPEAKER_01 4:03

Yeah, I was 22 actually, so it was crazy, and I didn't know anyone, and I didn't know Lebanon other day. Yeah, other than what I've seen about Lebanon, yeah, you know, and social media.

SPEAKER_03 4:15

Lebanon back then it was stable. Um yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:18

Well, I I reached there, it was 2007.

SPEAKER_03 4:21

It was a year after the war. Imagine when we said 22 years ago, my head immediately goes to like you know, 2000. And we're 2026.

SPEAKER_01 4:30

I didn't realize it was still like that. And I came in August. But I came in August and there were an explosion in uh or a bombing in uh in September. So welcome to Lebanon, you know. There you go. Yeah, yeah. Other than the culture, it was real tough. I I didn't understand anything, and it was really complicated for me, the way of living and so on. But Lebanon for me is a beautiful chaos, yeah. But it was also moderated for me because everybody speaks French, so it was a chance for me, and they say they are the best in business, so you know, I was driven by that purpose, and and then I met Cesar there in Lebanon a few months after, I was earlier. Where did you meet Cesar? So we used to work in uh for a company in Lebanon. He was the it was working with the CEO and I was working in the head office, so yeah, this is how we met. Yeah, but when I met him, Lebanon was clearer for me. Like it was explaining to me how does it work and how everything, everything was so different for me. The way we eat, the way we drive, the way we leave, everything. You know, it was it was really chaotic for me, but I never ever thought of let's go back to France. I was there, I don't know, it was like a calling. And when Cesar came in my life, it was obvious that this is for that purpose. I'm here.

SPEAKER_03 5:52

That's so cute. That makes it quite amazing.

SPEAKER_01 5:53

But I also fell in love with Lebanon in so many aspects, and the way they teach you how to live and not to survive and to be alive, not just to live, like like to to enjoy every moment, to be so mindful, to to be grateful for what life gives you because they enjoy every single minute, single minute, you know? So I have I have enjoyed it.

SPEAKER_03 6:17

I was talking to someone the other day um who made me laugh. She said, if there's such a thing as reincarnation and I come back again, I pray to God I'm gonna come back with the confidence of a Lebanese. Yeah. And then I was like, and I was like, Do you mean that literally, or you just mean that we're arrogant? And she's like, No, no, no, I really mean it. She goes, You guys are amazing. It's just like so like we're here, we're gonna make the most of it.

SPEAKER_01 6:42

We're you know, absolutely, actually, yes, it's so true. It's it's not easy to to get to to work with that environment, and I was feeling not confident when I came because obviously, even though they speak French, every meeting was in English, or and then they were starting Arabic very soon. Yeah, uh, so they benefit from the fact that I didn't go, I didn't understand the word and so on. But yeah, the Lebanese has a lot to teach everyone.

SPEAKER_03 7:09

And so you guys got married, had two children, and then moved to Cyprus. Is it six years ago now?

SPEAKER_01 7:14

Yeah, two weeks before the explosion, we came to Cyprus, and this is where I actually realized what was the meaning of being French. Because the years before, I never understood that. It was just a passport to me. This when the revolution started October 19, that night I met with some friends and they told me, for you it's okay, you're French. And I didn't get it. I didn't get what do you mean? What's the meaning of that? And then slowly the revolution and then COVID, and then we decided to leave everything behind because we had a health center there, uh, the very first integrative uh health center in Beirut, and so on. And that's when I really realized, like, oh god, okay, this is being French, it's being supported by government, it's being uh having ad advantages that you don't have, you know. And I learned that all the process from the moment we left until we moved to Cyprus. And here as a French citizen, literally you feel home. It's so easy for you to come, to open a bank account, to get an apartment, to start the kids in the school. You know, it's so different than being a Lebanese or a third national country. And slowly, slowly, with the time, I realized oh, okay, the French embassy is there, they are supporting you. We knock at the door, they answer you. There is something, you know. Lebanese government, unfortunately, didn't do much for us when we were either in the revolution or the COVID. And and this is where I felt like, okay, you know, that you can value whatever is happening. You need administrative document in a click online, worldwide, as a French, you get whatever you need. If I want to get something for the kids in Lebanon, you need to go back to where they were born, and you know, the process is kind of different. So when we moved to Cyprus, I was like, okay, now I know I'm lucky.

SPEAKER_03 9:04

Yeah, definitely. That's for sure. I mean, to have a European passport is is amazing. So, what was the click then, the aha moment that made you say, okay, this is my new calling. I I need to get into politics, I need to run and for this and protect my community or be that bridge.

SPEAKER_01 9:23

There were there were two steps first. Politics came way, way after, and I'm really discovering this right now. The first step was when we came, actually, we knew no one in Cyprus. So we had to move on and find a way, and we needed really to get into it. So I knocked at the door at the French embassy and I told them, I'm French, I'm here. How can you help me? And they gave me options and they told me we can do this for you, we can do that. The kids were accepted directly in the French system. They were no difference between in Lebanon and there. For them, it was a very transitional, uh, smooth transition. Uh so then slowly, slowly, I started to help families coming from Lebanon to move in Cyprus. And I I went into the system and I understood the difference between the French and the Lebanese and how does it work. And then I was into helping also French who wanted to move in Cyprus and open a company for the tax-friendly things we know about Cyprus. And uh, I got a call one day telling me there is an association that is affiliated by the French government, represented worldwide, uh, and works with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and it's a link between the embassy and the French community. And I was like, I don't want to do that. You know, it's crazy. It's like, what do I need to do with that? I don't know nothing about association, and and it took me three months. That day I met someone that was an amazing French person, and he told me, You're the one, you need to help us bring back the community together. Let's do it. It was it was maybe 70 years old, and he was like, and I was calling him to tell him I'm not gonna do it. And he was like, I'm so excited and I'm so looking forward. And I was I was literally calling him to tell him I'm out, it's crazy, it will take so much time and efforts, and I cannot. But anyway, eventually I relaunched it and I decided that I need to give to my country what the country gave me when I needed to leave from Lebanon so easily. And when my kids went accepted to a French school and went into the same system they were before, it was so smooth for them, you know, and having all our documents and everything, it was. I realized I'm like, okay, I want to give that to my country. I relaunched the association, I got elected four years in a row, and we did a lot of community projects together. I launched many projects with the community, actually, just because I really wanted my kids to feel the connection with French.

SPEAKER_03 11:48

Yeah, which is having never lived there.

SPEAKER_01 11:50

Exactly. We always say we they were born in Lebanon, they feel Lebanese, but they are also French, you know. So that was my way for me to tell them this is your country as well. We don't live there, you've never been there other than for holidays, but they care and they care for you and they care for who you are, even though you are abroad. So let's do things together. So it was really much with no intention other than giving back to to my country.

SPEAKER_03 12:17

That's so beautiful. Yeah, so tell us a bit about what that means. So now you're running for the consular elections, so you'll be the go-between between the actual consulate consulates and the community. So how how does how does this work? Tell us.

SPEAKER_01 12:35

So this is where I started to decide to run for that election.

SPEAKER_03 12:39

And and and why does there need to be someone in between? Because surely the consular is there for the people. Like, yeah, explain.

SPEAKER_01 12:45

Yeah. So I didn't know that much back then that it was a political co- uh election. I really thought it was an election for uh the French in Cyprus and the French abroad. You know, now that I'm into that, I realize that I stepped in a political side of it. So actually, the the thing is exactly like the association that I relaunched a few years ago, the embassy is always affiliated to that association to organize events and um community uh gatherings and so on, you know. So this is the role of that association everywhere in the world. This elected person is literally the link between the consulate and the the community because they are actually lots of of meaning the consulate that might change, obviously every year, yeah, but it is also really like I think, and I have understood that from the association. People want to talk to you as a person who is actually really knowing what you go through every day, that you are actually community, you know. So I discovered part of that role that I'm now running for 50% of it from uh being a president of the association before. You are a voice for them. You actually gather and hear things that you would probably not say to an official. So people build trust in you and they tell you things. And and I'm gonna give you an example. One day a woman called me, she was crying, she was a member of the association. My husband died last night. I am lost, I don't know what to do. I I I don't know what needs to be done administratively talking. She called me, you know, she didn't call the embassy, and she was in touch with the embassy for official reasons that we all know. But she was lost and she needed just someone she trusts. Exactly, and that's the beauty of that position, is is being there as a human, but yet reflecting the information.

SPEAKER_03 14:44

And for the past four years, when I was as a president, uh without me asking, people were already calling me, and and I got a call one day from a woman so you were the president of this association, but now there's an official position that's that's so you'll still be the president of the association, but then someone else.

SPEAKER_01 15:06

I had to I have to resign.

SPEAKER_03 15:07

If someone else is now or will become?

SPEAKER_01 15:11

I have been working with a team for the past four years and it was already planned, then I will move out from that position because I don't belong. It's not and someone else will so I delegated to a team that are taking over, and I'm grateful to have them. Otherwise, I would not be able to.

SPEAKER_03 15:27

And then and then you yeah, and then you'll take this official position. Yes, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 15:30

And the elections are on uh May 22 and until May 30. Okay, sorry, I interrupted you.

SPEAKER_03 15:37

You said there was someone else.

SPEAKER_01 15:38

No, but someday a mom called me from France and she told me my daughter was in Ayanapa and she had a jet accident. And she's in the hospital. I'm not able to talk to anyone. I need just to know that my daughter is okay, you know. And they were like, I like you know, it's like amazing to see that people who need to talk to someone that would feel what you would feel that case. There are also lots of beautiful moments, and we share a lot of beautiful, but I think this connection when you when you trust someone and they know that you have the same values, I think it's really much important. On the highest level, we also represent, if I get elected, we also represent the French abroad worldwide. So we work with the senators, with the deputy, uh, and so on and so on. So the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is is like delegating tasks so we can be more on the field, understand better what's really happening, and not just from the embassy side.

SPEAKER_03 16:34

So and and you're based in the embassy or no, no, no, no, no, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:38

I'm not based in the embassy. Actually, just it's just a way for the embassy to get all the tools to make sure that they can run projects exactly in a way that is adapted, that this the community is being heard. The French, they want to be heard, you know, and that trust link that you get with the community is this is where I said like maybe I should run for the election because I am really getting it too a lot lately, the past years, and you can help on the educational level. Yeah, I'm also elected member of the French committee uh at the French school, so I'm helping the French school as well, you know. So there are so many aspects where you can really feel like okay, I'm doing something good for my country and for the community.

SPEAKER_03 17:24

It's it's quite a big commitment, and you um you told me about it last time we met up that when you're a mother of two married, supporting your husband in running business, running his business and the and the well, your joint business and doing the marketing, and you've got your own entrepreneurial, other consultancy businesses as well. And your kids are also that you know, being a mum of any age group is difficult, but you've got two teenagers, and you said that you sat down and and you decided this as a family because it's quite a lot of work, and you're also involved some traveling, I think.

SPEAKER_04 18:01

Not really much, but at least twice a twice a year. Twice a year, twice a year. So yeah, and it needs logistic when you're away. Yes, of course.

SPEAKER_03 18:09

You know that. So and you decided as family, yes, you know, this is what we're going for. Yeah. Um, so tell us a bit about that and like balancing you know that aspect, your own personal life, your own family life, with giving back to a community, and also the shock that you've had now, because you know, politics is dirty, and I think you've already had that shocker with people writing about you online, with digging up not even truthful things, but just crazy. Yeah, and also I mean when I asked you earlier, I said, I bet you it's mainly women, and it has been.

SPEAKER_01 18:42

Yeah, so that's three things now I've just thrown at you to the I think you cannot do all of that if you're not being supported by your own family, and it starts with your husband. I mean, we are both very active, and and when he needs to be supported, I'm there, and but I also in that case need them to support me. The engagement is is yes, it takes a lot. And the four or four past years, even though I didn't have this official uh uh role, I was already doing it a lot. So they already have an idea a taste of what's gonna what's gonna be next. But it was very important for me to make sure that it's family decision that you guys agree with that, you know. I think we reach a point in our life sometimes we as a woman where we gave a lot to our kids, and then like okay, kids are going to grow up, and I work from home basically. So, what about me and what about my life as well? And this gratefulness I have for France that I understood so late, it's like it deserves. I mean, we are so individualist in the way we live lately, the community aspect has been lost, and everything is just so easier when you're surrounded by people who have wants to help and and and you know, like support each other and so on. So that was where I felt like I can really make a difference, but I need you guys to allow me to do it, and it's it's a long process, and I was really not going for that. And I said no for many, many months, saying I'm not gonna run for that election because I knew it will be a commitment, I didn't expect it to be so political, but I was not ready. I was like, it's not for me, but then I realize it's I'm not gonna be able to do the politics side.

SPEAKER_03 20:26

Yeah, what shocked you the most?

SPEAKER_01 20:28

Yeah, so I was sure that election is more for the French in Cyprus. I didn't understand the political side of it, and I have discovered two parts of that. The first one, which is where people really want to commute and work together everywhere in the world for the French abroad. They give you a hand and they tell you, let's continue together, let's bring better things for the French abroad. And there is the other side where actually we defend a candidate just because he belongs to a political party and not because uh um, I don't know, maybe I could have known those people for many years and supported them, and all of a sudden they support the candidate opposing me just because they belong to a political party. And this is where from the beginning I have made a choice that I'm not gonna be representing any political party, and that independence cost me much more work and much more um efforts and much more communication and much more on all levels. I need to do double or triple efforts. My efforts for the past four years was actually not enough, and I thought it would be. I thought what I have been doing and the timeline yourself exactly would be enough, but no, it's not enough. You still need to go, and yes, political are amazing. We do need them. I have to say that it's really now I realize that it's really hard, it's definitely complicated, and the democracy needs to have those people, but it can be also very like affecting. And I have been really touched because I'm human and I hypersensible as well and I love people, you know, I'm I just love people. And I was both was so surprised by what I've seen on social media or what people were saying about me. You know, I'm like, what where in the world? And which moment I could have given this impression of being like this or like that. But then I realized that those people, they just have black blackness and sadness inside.

SPEAKER_03 22:24

The reflection on them, not on you.

SPEAKER_01 22:26

Exactly. But it took me a while to understand this is not personal. They are not targeting you. They are targeting their own self. And it's okay if they want to be against you. Just keep going despite it all. But I was not ready. I didn't know. I didn't expect that it will be like that. I'm learning and I'm getting stronger. And I will stay and keep uh having in mind that the independence to that election is for me the best way. And I will not just surround there saying okay let's get into a political party so it would make it easier for me. I'm not gonna do it. I am here to represent the French in Cyprus and I'm here to represent their needs. I am not here yet to represent the political party. I don't know where it will take me in the years. But unfortunately for the moment is about the people not about a political agenda. Yeah but but I I mean let's go back what's the purpose of that position what is the purpose of that position it's to be there for the French citizen abroad and to make sure they hear your voices and that they that people hear their voices and Europe regardless absolutely what will it change now currently if I represent a political party or no you know so some of them they told me bravo and keep going and we will support you and be on your side whatsoever. But they are also always a minority let's say it that is a bit vocal and we can hear them louder than the others but the biggest part is being done where no one sees it. It's being uh calls it's being meetings it's receiving tons of messages supporting me and when they try to reach me actually in a negative way you know what I get back it's more love and and support and I'm like stop focusing on that negative part of it remember that you get a lot of support because of what they are doing without even creating it you know and I keep going but yeah and many people many people they are jealous or when they see someone succeed that makes them feel uneasy because it reflects and and especially women many times I it's awful to say but I think um women and you know we've been fighting for you know centuries and decades and years you know for women's rights and to move forward and have the same safe space in the world as men do. But a lot of the time it's not the men against us it's you know sometimes women um absolutely but you know that there is a problem this stereotype saying as a mom you cannot do it you won't have time you cannot you need to be with your kids well I can be with my kids and lead by example I want my daughter every day to wake up tomorrow and saying I want to be a better world I want to live in a better world I want to be a better person I can be a mom and I can still go for work I can still do things that I'm I'm really happy about.

SPEAKER_03 25:25

Yeah I mean I'm I can still contribute yes exactly I can still be myself my independent self absolutely regardless of my job title or whether I'm a mother or not or whether and the day the case goes then what would you become because you you know so so many women they they fall into depression and they oh my goodness and and I and I have full respect for women who choose yes choose not a force to but choose to be full time stay-at-home mothers housewives whatever have a they want to term it absolutely full respect absolutely bringing up the next generation is not a joke supporting your spouse creating a beautiful home all of these things are wonderful but it's not for everyone and it's not then for however you choose to be in your life to judge negatively other people whether it's support.

SPEAKER_01 26:17

But also I think the political situation in France for the past years is showing a negative aspect of what's happening and I know that it's not perfect. I know we can always make it better but people they don't realize how lucky we are as a French. And when we are abroad we do realize better than the French in France. I do realize that even though the political situation currently is not amazing but it's still we have a president who cares for his people still he's trying to protect us and he was the first one sending us some boats military boats when the situation currently abroad was not good. Politically or no we like him or no whatever the the role of a president is to take care of his citizens. When we were in Lebanon the past years before the the explosion and the revolution I didn't see a government taking care of us. Lebanon is an amazing country I love Lebanon and I love Lebanese but the government is not there. The system is not working us as a French we have a huge advantage everything administration process everything online and being a European tomorrow my daughter she wants to study she can go anywhere in the world and I want my kids to always remember that but you got lucky why did I born in France? Why not someone else and when we left Lebanon and left so many people behind us because they could not leave then you say okay it's not perfect there are tons of things that need to be improved the governments yes whatever what's happening the past years but at least I have that this is gold. The glass is definitely half full yeah this is gold I mean you start your life with having a huge advantage compared to others you don't need a visa to go anywhere my daughter was sent for a competition to represent the school in a European competition in Roma. She was she was okay she was selected because she's good obviously but she could but she has a French passport the trip was two weeks the the you know the deadline was very short she had a French passport without it she would have stayed in in Cyprus you know so for me this is where I am I'm here saying that nothing is perfect we always need to improve there is positive but yeah and look on the bright side yeah exactly actually I have that as one of my first questions I mean having lived in France Lebanon and Cyprus you know you've had this amazing and beautiful opportunity to see three quite different cultures and landscapes and people and how has that shaped your identity and seeing the world many ways. Yeah actually Lebanon was the biggest lesson of my life on all levels the family aspect how they engage the to be always together and support each other but also this instability like in the in the second you don't know what's gonna happen. We've lost almost everything in in a few days 14 years of work just erased like that as if I'm cleaning a board you know and then here again I realized then during COVID my family were not really in in trouble like the government was taking care of them. During COVID there were no one in Lebanon taking care of the citizens everybody was trying to help each other and then France has a lot of advantages but as an entrepreneur also it's not easy you know you it's a different way of of working so you have from each country a bit of everything and Cyprus is for me the mini Lebanon it's the chaos of Lebanon but yet the stability of Europe you know it's a good midway other than the quality of life and and how we feel here we can do more because in Lebanon I don't think I could have done so much. I think time was uh different in many ways you know so here we have that chance to do it and every country has something to get and I am learning from all of them and I'm trying to to focus on those three amazing and when there's something that is not really it could be improved like in the health for example I know that Caesar can do many many more because we are a bit far away from what it should be in Europe then it's an opportunity let's build on let's do something about that you know so those three countries literally got me got me to be who I am in so many ways.

SPEAKER_03 30:45

Yeah yeah yeah I have a similar story and we've got the English side the British side Lebanese Cyprus and I've always been so grateful to Cyprus because it's kind of summed up who I am it's meeting halfway and it's you know the Mediterranean Middle Eastern just beautiful chaos but then a bit more structure like the European it's the stability and I'm there's so much yeah to learn and and it's to take the best from all three.

SPEAKER_01 31:12

Exactly you know Cyprus it's a country where people like people like they care for each other. When we live in the north of Europe the aspect is different yeah I cannot I think live in the country where there is this kind of distance between I love people I love to meet people I love to hear their story and here you have that chance because it's still Cyprus is small but you have international exposure you're at the door of the Middle East and yet in Europe you know so I found it very rich in many ways and you or many others knows better than anyone that there are so many opportunities here to hear stories of people from everywhere in the amazing stories yeah yeah absolutely I can agree more um oh so many questions here let me see Mary have to cut this bit out as I read one minute because normally I cross out wait okay I lost those two now okay so um I have another question here for you just have to read through my notes so have you ever faced out which I think we all have because of the resistance on this journey or disappointment from seeing how other people have acted and in general in life I mean moving to Lebanon from France you know when you've had to doubt yourself and how have you pushed through that in your personal journey? Oh well when we left Lebanon I have to say I was numb for six months and the guilt feeling was horrible. Like the survivor syndrome yeah I was like okay I left I saved myself and my kids and my husband obviously what about the others behind you like you know and you know what not so long ago when everything happened in Lebanon a few weeks ago I realized and when I married my husband I didn't just marry him and his family I also married the history of Lebanon and forever I will always be touched and I will always feel like a part of me is falling when they are bombing or when something is happening. You know you get you get so much into it and you like this is unfair but since I'm out and since I got that chance then let's make a better chance and and enjoy it double on all the way now I'm definitely another person from the day we left until today I definitely believe in me much more that's for sure and I think if all of us we try to change a little bit even a step at a time I I mean I never never built this community thinking one day I will run for the election. You don't know what small things will take you to and we don't know the future.

SPEAKER_03 34:10

Exactly you so you get to how boring would it be if we knew yeah that's the whole beauty of life that we get to grow that we get to do little things and we get to change our minds.

SPEAKER_01 34:19

Yeah but even if it's we think like it's nothing actually it's it can be after normal effects. Exactly and and I was thinking that I was not doing so much and when I realized that the political side and the candidate facing me is supported by a political party I decided let's fight okay I want to win I want to win because I deserve it because I know a lot of what's coming and I know I can make it happen. And I was looking at my past and I was checking oh god I've done this and I've oh wow I have and then I was suddenly realizing you did a lot of small little things that was maybe at the end made a difference yeah but maybe it was not being seen but all of it together became something you know and and I'm sure that the experience of Lebanon and the fact that I was born and raised in France and surrounded by an amazing family that that also appreciate the fact that I didn't come back to France when we left Lebanon they were okay for me to go and move to Cyprus where they were like you should go to another country. Yes exactly so when you you're feeling loved and you have this community your own community and then you want to give something little as it is one day one event one gathering one message one I don't know whatever then you feel like okay then I'm doing something good and this is what I'm I want to be I want to be someone who says we can do everything as a mom we can work we can be good moms we can take care of the kids feed them with the proper food and and not junk food and whatever but we also give time to others because they give you a lot you know what's the best reward of being a community leader is really their smile and their love and their messages I have never received so much love other than my my husband and kids but so much love than when I started that community when you work and you're getting paid for it I don't I don't think you get this human link and you know when people thank you so much for what you have done you feel like okay I can do something I made a difference I made a difference to them today absolutely and and we need that specifically nowadays with all the instability everywhere where everybody is leaving individualist no we have to live together we have to support each other and help each other same for the kids at school I want them to support them each other I mean within when someone new is coming living Lebanon I want them to tell them hey my friend let's do it together or if they have tests and they're not really like feeling comfortable I want them to help each other I don't know anything. This is how we should be and live all together and the community for example Faraz Club was amazing for us to meet people like we would have probably never met otherwise than in that moment where we okay you are the reason why we gather obviously and then but it's about the community it's not about me and when you say okay I'm a Faraz Club honestly whenever I meet someone and like I'm at Faraz Club and like oh wow so we're already friends and the same for the association if you tell them that they belong to that association there is something that keeps you you know so for me the three countries has definitely something to to teach me and and to let me be the person I I want to be or I am if there was one thing that you could change maybe in the political system or maybe just in how things are run here for the expats what would it be?

SPEAKER_03 38:07

What would be better?

SPEAKER_01 38:08

Well I don't think I'm yet too much into politics to be able to change anything in the political aspect but I think when you are expat and you come from a different world where everything works differently and then you reach here where it has its own rules and way of of doing I would really find a way to gather any kind of platform or information somewhere it would be just easier like okay I want an insurance I want to I mean like frequently asked questions or like is there a website or no no yeah no well the French embassy website is really well done but guess what people they don't read there are lots of information in there yeah but I think we have to even though if I will be elected I'll be the person we have to work all together. I mean the students need to have a representative the retired people the families and so on I think we really need to work on together and try to gather the information we I I very often hear there is nothing to do in Cyprus.

SPEAKER_03 39:17

That's pissed me off so much yes that that's crazy because crazy because we actually have double events every day we need to pick them it used to be the case I have to say I mean I I always found things to do but you know if you're a busy acts person but but I'm talking like 20 30 years ago yeah you know now you you literally are here and you're like okay calm down everyone things like not just every day like five things a day I mean May oh my goodness so many conferences seminars things absolutely famous people coming from abroad places to visit historical places to visit performances ballets um you know shows school events I mean it it just is crazy museums it the the list gets for me this is very important too yes to remind people that there are many things but we don't get the information maybe the nice test from a survey I have sent to the community the two biggest problems they face is being alone and the community is the answer.

SPEAKER_01 40:20

Yeah the community is the answer we need to be more together we need to support those people who I love people it's easy for me to go to people but for the others we need to support each other. Two days ago an old lady that I love she's being so loyal to me from the day I I relaunched the association and we were talking together and she's like my TV is not working. I don't get it I told her don't worry about it we'll find a plan I caught someone from the community and I was like okay we need to find someone who knows how to fix TV and all together we managed in two days to send someone and fix it. You know and this is how it should be you know that's how it should be and then everybody feels like they've given back and they've done something good and they feel exactly so the cultural aspect and what to do in Cyprus is important for me. I really want people to see that there are a lot of things you you should choose actually yeah and and the fact that we're not alone we're not alone even the French government even the French embassy they tell you we cannot reach you need an appointment if you knock at the door they won't let you in yes obviously the current situation is complicated but there are many other actors that works in silence from the association I'm talking the the the volunteer I started alone we we were 25 when I resigned you know to to whoever people are local institute and so on everybody is trying to make a difference but you just need to find a way to see it first and appreciate it not being there always to criticize also but yeah Cyprus has a lot to offer as a French on all levels and we need to put this and highlight it and you're not alone we're all there for each one and others you know absolutely okay final question before I go to the Instagram questions so for women listening who might want to step into either leadership positions or start their own business or get into politics what would you say to them I would say a lot but the the first thing is don't tell don't believe what people tells about you believe what you think and if you're sure that deep inside what you're doing is right and you can sleep well at night feeling like I am true to myself just do it. Yeah you know I met the Minister of Education a few days ago she's a a lady and she has kids and every time we see each other I talk to her and we talk about how it is hard to be a woman whatever if you're an entrepreneur or in politics or whatever. And they will try always to take you down even though I don't get it why I'm not understanding why they should you know but whoever just believe in yourself listen to the reason why do you want to do it what's the story behind that if you have a real reason and you've driven really by a purpose don't don't don't look at what's happening around don't try to okay it's easy said I was affected by whatever was happening but now I'm back on track but just just do it and and a step a step at a time like launching a business I have been coaching um people worthwhile who follows uh they follow their spouse everywhere in the world so diplomats and so on every three to four years and their work never followed them and I found that absolutely not okay I mean you should not follow and not being able to continue what you were doing. And I have developed a program back then where it's still running but now I'm into the election where I'm encouraging women and Man who wants to really start, even though it's with the minimum, start a business that will come travel with them, that will follow them, and that is aligned with their way of living and not the other way around. There is always a way. You don't need a big capital, you don't need people, you don't need you don't need anything. You can do it on your own if you think you can really make a difference.

SPEAKER_03 44:22

Also, if you're not fulfilled as an individual, you're never gonna be in a relationship fulfilled. Yeah. You know, because you have to fill your own cup. Absolutely. And then and then you can balance and give back to that family, that community.

SPEAKER_01 44:36

I mean, you you're gonna learn the woman you are, the man you are throughout the experience. Yeah, you know, because again, like for example, there's election. I I didn't know what I was going through. I thought I know, but it's okay. I mean, okay, you get it, and then move on, and you will fail again with entrepreneurship. It's not easy. Entrepreneur is really hard. You feel lonely, it has a lot of you know, aspect, and you have to keep going. You cannot, you cannot give up. But it's the same if I say, okay, being a mother, a mother is not easy, it's not easy, but you can't give up. But you can't give up, you have to keep going, and you have to believe in yourself a step one step at a time. So, whatever is the challenge facing you, and whatever if you don't know where you're going, it's not clear, the path is not really clear. Just do it if you feel like you have to go, just do it.

SPEAKER_03 45:26

Yeah, right. So I'll go on to Insta now. We always ask a question to our followers at the beginning. Let me see.

SPEAKER_02 45:37

Let's go here. Okay, so I asked anyone can ask anything to um to Davina.

SPEAKER_03 45:49

Okay, so we have one from a Christiana. Um so Lebanon has a way of transforming people, um, especially those who weren't born there, um, but choose to love it anyway. What did living in Lebanon give you that France never could? Well, we kind of touched on that, but yeah.

SPEAKER_01 46:14

Dream. Dream. I was not allowing myself to dream when I was in France. I thought that you have to kind of go within the system. You know, you got you have to study and then you get a job, and then you get promoted, and then and so on. I'm not criticizing that aspect in France, but I thought that was it. When I went to Lebanon, I dreamed, and I was like, everything is possible. Everything is possible. Okay, at some points being a mom and dreaming is kind of challenging. It's very hard to do both in Lebanon, but still, you dream of being with the person you want to be, despite everything. Well, I'm French, he's Lebanese, you know. Uh, you dream of building a business, you dream of you can do everything. Lebanon has no limit, you know. So definitely.

SPEAKER_03 47:04

I love that. Lebanon has no limit. It's so true. So true. Okay, a final one from someone called Omar. Um, if it works out and you win and serve, what's the one thing that you want to have changed or said that you've changed to be proud of?

SPEAKER_01 47:26

I would definitely rebuild connection between the community and the and that role, that person, and I will rebuild trust.

SPEAKER_04 47:35

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 47:36

Because I'm very grateful for the work that has been done the past uh years from the person who was elected, but I think the connection with persons and and the link we should have with them and the trust, and this is the priority for me. It will start from there. There are so many other aspects that need to be improved. I will definitely continue my mission with the French school. That school needs to be sustainable, that school needs to keep on going. My kids are the happiest because of that school, and I'm so grateful because otherwise I think I would be crying with them instead of doing what I do today. So I will continue my mission, but the community needs to be all together. We need to continue and we need to keep having trust between uh each other. I wanted I want them to call me when they need it. I want them to be able to tell me I'm into this situation. What are the options? You know? I will continue exactly like I did for the association. Um, there are other much bigger aspects, and that is in involving worldwide because we do represent the French abroad. Uh, but that's the priority, definitely. Giving back. Yeah, I love that.

SPEAKER_03 48:50

Davina, thank you so much. It's been a pleasure.

SPEAKER_01 48:52

Thanks, my dear. Thank you for um, you know, I'm I'm happy I'm here today because we often see each other for so many reasons.

SPEAKER_03 48:59

I know, and conversational events, yes, but very, but never one-on-one.

SPEAKER_01 49:03

Yeah, and you know, I think it's very important to give a voice to everyone, and and that is a good opportunity for me to remind why I'm running for that election and why I give so much time and energy because it's real investment, and and why I'm convinced that I should win, because I mean we forget all the way, you know, it's a long process, and sometimes we have to remember every time that it's all worth it, everything will be fine, and yeah, we should uh keep on going, even the ups and the downs. I wish you all the best of luck. Thank you so much for the time. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_03 49:44

Keep signing.