Education Lebanon Project #13317

Skill-building for Unemployed Youth in Lebanon

by The Nawaya Network

Skill-building for Unemployed Youth in Lebanon

Project Report | Apr 28, 2026
From War and Uncertainty to Opportunity and Impact

By Celine Akkary | Marketing and Communications Director

Manar - NOMU Al Ghurair Program

In a year filled with war, uncertainty, and ongoing economic challenges in Lebanon, your support has been a steady source of stability and opportunity for Nawaya and in turn the young people we serve.

Thanks to your trust and commitment, The Nawaya Network has been able to not only maintain its work but also enhance its impact. We have strengthened our programs, invested in our teams, and consistently supported youth facing an increasingly complex reality.

Since 2012, Nawaya has helped 22,077 individuals across Lebanon. Each number represents a young person striving to build a future, often against significant odds. Your partnership has made this journey achievable.

In 2025 alone, thousands of youth gained the technical skills, professional tools, and confidence needed to take meaningful steps forward. This progress is not by chance. It results from deliberate investment in programs aimed at creating long-term, real change.

As we look toward 2026, our commitment remains clear: to keep growing and meeting the changing needs of Lebanon’s youth. With your ongoing partnership, Nawaya will continue to be a reliable platform for empowerment, strength, and opportunity in the future.

2025 Programmatic Impact Highlights

In 2025, Nawaya’s programs worked together to create clear, practical pathways for young people to learn, earn, and grow whether by starting businesses, finding jobs, or building important technical skills.

Entrepreneurship as a Path to Income and Financial Independence:
Through our Entrepreneurship program, 206 youth received training and 22 projects were incubated, leading to the launch and support of 66 businesses. These enterprises are already generating income, with total revenue of $51,826. This shows how early support can lead to real economic involvement.

In addition, our Entrepreneurship Readiness & Soft Skills program expanded access widely, reaching 903 youth through a WhatsApp-based chatbot. With a 98% skills improvement rate and an 82% completion rate, the program demonstrated that accessible digital learning tools can produce meaningful results.

Unlocking Access to Employment Opportunities:
Our Employment Hub assisted 320 youth, with 61% being women, equipping them with the tools needed to navigate the job market with clarity and confidence. The program recorded a 62% employment rate, with 95% of those employed earning salaries in USD. This is an important sign of economic stability in today’s context in Lebanon.

Likewise, the NOMU Al Ghurair program continued to strengthen employability pathways, training 781 youth in 2024 and 2025. Participants expressed high satisfaction with career guidance and skills development, emphasizing the need to combine technical training with personal and professional direction.

Building Competitive Technical Talent
Through SE Factory, 508 aspiring coders were trained in specialized areas like Full Stack Web Development and UX Design. Graduates now earn an average monthly income of $1,263, reflecting strong market alignment and a growing demand for quality tech talent.

Supporting Small Businesses and Local Economies
Through the Action for Rural Economic Development (ARED) program, 167 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) received grants to expand their operations. Currently, 92% of these businesses are generating revenue, collectively exceeding $1 million, contributing to local economic resilience and job creation.

At the same time, the SILA program is strengthening Lebanon’s construction sector by linking youth to opportunities and businesses to resources. In 2025, the program reached 305 youth and registered 693 SMEs on the Naaam platform, enhancing access and improving coordination in the sector.

Stories of Impact

Turning Adversity into Connection: Zahraa
Displaced by war, 25-year-old Zahraa turned a deeply personal experience into a source of healing for others. Through the GIL Entrepreneurship program, she created Lamsa, a card game aimed at fostering emotional expression and connection. With the right business structure and professional mental health guidance, Zahraa transformed her idea into a successful enterprise that quickly gained market traction.

Bridging the Technical Gap: Hiba
As a Computer Science graduate, Hiba realized that academic knowledge alone was insufficient to compete in today’s tech market. Through SE Factory’s Full Stack program, she advanced her skills in JavaScript and React while integrating AI tools into her work. With essential soft skills training, Hiba now confidently navigates competitive interviews as a job-ready developer.

Mastering the Professional Narrative: Manar
Despite holding a Master’s degree in Economics, Manar initially found it difficult to market herself. Through the NOMU Al Ghurair program, she learned to turn her academic experience into a compelling professional story while earning targeted certifications. With newfound clarity and confidence, she secured a role in Executive Operations at a prominent multinational agency, MCN.

This impact reflects more than just program delivery. It shows ongoing investment in people, systems, and solutions that help young individuals move forward with confidence.

We are truly thankful for your continued trust and partnership in making this work possible. Your support not only keeps us running; it creates real, lasting change in the lives of young people across Lebanon.

As we look ahead, we invite you to share Nawaya’s work within your networks. Growing this community of support is vital to reaching more youth eager to learn, grow, and shape their futures.

In 2026, we renew our commitment to providing young people with invaluable skills, meaningful opportunities, and the resilience to navigate a constantly changing world. With your continued partnership, and the support of those you involved in this journey, we will keep turning potential into progress.

Zahraa - Founder of Lamsa Card Game

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Dec 31, 2025
Celebrating an Impactful 2025

By Celine Akkary | Marketing and Communications Director

Marwa, Employment Graduate & Account Manager

We extend our sincere thanks to our donors for their continued trust and unwavering support. Your commitment has enabled The Nawaya Network to strengthen our organizational roots, deepen our programmatic reach, and remain a constant for young people navigating Lebanon’s increasingly complex economic landscape.

In 2025, through our integrated entrepreneurship and employment initiatives, we successfully supported 1,652 young people, equipping them with the technical skills, professional guidance, and market access needed to move forward with confidence. This impact is only possible because your support allows Nawaya to operate sustainably, investing in our people, our systems, and our programs to deliver long-term, meaningful change.

As we look toward 2026, we renew our commitment to the youth we serve. With your continued partnership, we will keep building resilient programs that adapt to evolving needs, ensuring that The Nawaya Network remains a dependable platform for empowerment in the years to come. Thank you for believing in the work behind the impact.

Stories of Impact

From Academia to International Markets: Employment Hub

Marwa, a 21-year-old from the quiet town of Rachaya in the Bekaa, exemplifies the high-potential youth who often find themselves geographically isolated from professional opportunities. Despite graduating with High Distinction in Finance from the Lebanese University, Marwa faced a daunting reality: a local market with almost no professional financial internships or roles.

Determined to bridge this gap, Marwa joined “Employment Hub”. After showing incredible persistence to enter the program, she was selected as one of the top applicants.

Through personalized career coaching and intensive workshops on CV optimization and mock interviews, Marwa transformed her academic knowledge into a professional identity. The results were immediate: she received multiple offers from leading firms in Lebanon. Today, she is gaining vital international exposure working for an offshore firm linked to a U.S. medical insurance provider, while simultaneously continuing her Master’s degree and working as an accounting assistant in her hometown.

“Youth need the tools to compete and create opportunities... The future of Lebanon depends on our courage to believe that change begins with us.” Marwa

From Ideas to Action: The Entrepreneurship Program

Hasan, a 24-year-old agricultural engineer from Ghaziyeh, South Lebanon, joined Nawaya’s entrepreneurship programming with a mission to solve the growing environmental crisis in his community. While pursuing his Master’s in Environmental Engineering, Hasan envisioned Redo Waste Management, a local collection and sorting initiative.

Through the entrepreneurship program, Hasan refined his business planning and financial strategies, moving from a concept to a viable venture. Despite the disruptions caused by the 2024 conflict, Hasan’s resilience, supported by Nawaya’s coaching, allowed him to resume operations immediately following the ceasefire. To date, his initiative has successfully processed over 2,000 kg of recyclable waste, demonstrating how sustained organizational support helps young innovators turn local challenges into scalable solutions.

“The GIL program didn’t just give me tools, it gave me purpose. Every piece of waste we collect is one step closer to a cleaner, healthier Lebanon.” Hasan

Hasan Entrepreneurship Grad Recycling MSME Founder

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Sep 3, 2025
Stories of Change from Nawaya's Youth

By Celine Akkary | Marketing and Communications Director

Zeina, Founder of Under the Olive Tree

Dear Valued Supporter,

On behalf of The Nawaya Network, I want to express our heartfelt thanks for your ongoing commitment to Lebanon’s youth. Your support makes a real difference by turning challenges into opportunities.

This time, instead of just sharing program updates, we want to connect you with the young people whose lives you’ve enabled us to support. Below are four stories that highlight strength, innovation, and courage, all made possible by your support for our mission.

Clara: Supporting Children with ADHD

Clara, 29, co-founded Little Stars, a mobile app for parents of children with ADHD. Inspired by her co-founder’s struggle and misdiagnosis of ADHD, Little Stars connects families with doctors, therapists, and teachers. Backed by the entrepreneurship program, the app is set to launch in early 2026, ensuring that no child grows up misunderstood or unsupported.

Ayman: Blending Science and Sport

At just 28, Ayman is a para-athlete and a biochemist. While looking for therapeutic products for athletes, he noticed a gap in Lebanon’s market and seized the opportunity. With help from the entrepreneurship program, Ayman launched Kade Cosmetics, a brand offering natural, doctor-tested wellness products made by athletes for athletes. Today, Kade has 10 products available in gyms, pharmacies, and online.

Hanan: Harnessing AI for Small Businesses

Hanan, 22, grew up between Beirut and the Bekaa, where she saw the difficulties faced by local startups. With degrees in computer engineering and biology, she created Creovate, an AI platform that aids small businesses in branding, content creation, and social media. With mentorship, funding support, and coaching, Hanan is preparing to launch her platform across Lebanon, helping underserved communities thrive in a digital age.

Zeina: Reconnecting Children with Nature

At 23, Zeina turned her lifelong passion for nature into Taht El Zaytouni (Under the Olive Tree), a forest school that reconnects children aged 3 to 12 with the outdoors. Motivated by her childhood frustrations over the lack of natural spaces and the impact of conflict on children's well-being, Zeina designed a program that combines global forest school philosophies with Lebanese traditions.

Through Nawaya's entrepreneurship program, she received mentorship and tools to bring her vision to life by creating workshops in Chouf and Beirut that focus on play, emotional well-being, and connection to land and culture. Taht El Zaytouni is not only an educational space but a movement to restore joy, empathy, and humanity to learning.

Every success story starts with the foundation you help provide. Your contributions keep The Nawaya Network running, ensuring that youth across Lebanon receive the training, mentoring, and opportunities they deserve. Without this support, stories like Ayman’s, Clara’s, and Hanan’s would not be possible.

Thank you for investing in the systems and programs that make this work a reality. We are grateful to have you as part of The Nawaya Network family.

With gratitude,

Ayman, Founder of Kade Cosmetics

Clara, Co-founder of Little Stars

Hanan, Founder of Creovate

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