Lebanon - Areas of Impact
Youth Organizing Program
Youth Organizing is the core program of Ruwwad, Tripoli. Scholarships are extended every year to youths from Bab El Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen; in return, the scholars commit to four hours of community service per week, while also benefiting from the cultural, business and leadership components within the Enrichment Program.
Since the Fund’s inception, 191 scholarships have been awarded to youths seeking university and post-secondary vocational educational programs: 80 scholarships were awarded in 2012, 53 in 2013, 27 in 2014, and 31 in 2016.
Youth Education and Enrichment Scholarship Fund
For youths to benefit from the Ruwwad scholarship they are invited to follow a well-designed process of three phases: In the first round, prospective scholars fill out application forms; in the second round, the shortlisted applicants submit an essay about a topic related to the community; in the third round, a semi-final list sit for interviews.
The scholarship fund is based on partnerships with well-known universities in Lebanon, among them Balamand University and Beirut Arab University. Most universities offer discounted tuitions to Ruwwad, taking into consideration the unstable and risky environment of Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen.
The Enrichment Program
The Cultural Component: The cultural “Dardashat” sessions take place through various learning mediums - literature, arts and movies. Once a month, the Center welcomes a local or regional speaker for a discussion about a topic of interest to the scholars.
The Business Component: Scholars benefit from different training workshops for the enhancement of business skills, self-confidence, environmental awareness...etc, which take place in collaboration with non-governmental organizations and certified trainers. English language instruction is conducted through the Rosetta Stone installed in Ruwwad’s computer Lab.
Child Development Program
The Program hosts 120 repeat children between the ages of six and 12. Activities commenced in late 2012, with assistance provided to children’s homework, and have since grown to cover several components:
Inquiry-based Learning
Children and youth scholars from Jabal Mohsen and Bab El-Tabbaneh were actively engaged in setting up Ruwwad’s Child Library to encourage a sense of community and shared ownership. Today the library has approximately 3500 books. As a learning incubator, the library is used for child literature, creative arts sessions and skills training. Children are always invited to use the library for research purposes, and/or leisure time reading.
Other components of the Child Program are the Sports and Gymnastics Activities organized in play courts outside the center and in Ruwwad’s fully equipped gym, under the supervision and training of a professional sports coach. Science and Robotics Sessions take place in partnership with the Little Engineer and Kids Genius, using STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) as mediums to teach robotics and industrial mechatronics.
Parental and Community Support
Academic Support sessions for children and Better Parenting sessions for mothers take place as part of the Parental and Community Support component.
School Outreach
IQRAA summer clubs use reading for pleasure to impact cognitive skills and learning while enhancing the reading and writing skills of children. 12 public school teachers from two schools (Mutawasitat Al Tabbeneh and Abi Firas Al Hamadani) have been trained on the program, which also equipped ten classes in these schools with furniture, stationary and books. At present, one month-long literacy IQRAA camps are conducted in these two public schools on a yearly basis.
Also, 300 adolescents from grades 7 and 8 from Abi Firas Al Hamadani, Takmiliyat Al Qobba and Ba'el Mohsen schools are targeted by the outreach activities through a partnership with Injaz’s “I am an entrepreneur” program.
Community Support Program
Our scholars are our primary force in community engagement and organizing. Since Ruwwad's inception in Tripoli, our youths have launched and participated in several grassroots initiatives and campaigns: the Composting and ‘Seha w Hana’ Iftar Initiatives and the “Salam w Takwa” campaign, which mobilized 1200 volunteers to help Tripoli heal its wounds after the terrorist bombings that targeted the Salam and Takwa mosques.
Because of chronic sectarian tensions in the region, Ruwwad’s scholars also receive training in problem solving and conflict resolution methods.
The Community Program includes several components:
Community Helpdesk
The Helpdesk offers services such as orientation sessions for job seekers on the job market and provides them with training that enriches their professional skills.
Women Advancement
This component includes Education and Awareness sessions for the women of both communities. It also encompasses income generation projects that offer vocational training and create job opportunities, among them ‘Atayeb Tarablos’, Ruwwad's production kitchen.
