Zeina was determined to help cultivate the talents of unprivileged youths when she founded “The Nawaya Project” in 2012, an innovative non-governmental organisation (NGO) that helps marginalised youth develop their talent so that they can integrate into the workforce.
To launch the “Talent Program”, she and 10 members of the Nawaya team connect youth from underprivileged backgrounds with mentors and professionals. There have been over 300 beneficiaries since the beginning of the project. Their main objective is to develop and cultivate their passions and talents in various fields, such as design, music, athletics, writing, performing arts and even coding and robotics.
Though she is currently focused on Lebanon, Zeina Saab wants to expand the platform to the entire Middle East.
To sustain her NGO, Zeina Saab relies on sponsors as well as regional and international partners, which include Patchi Chocolates, Global Fund for Children, King Abdullah Fund for Development and UNICEF. Nawaya’s website also hosts an online donation platform.
“Anonymous donations represent the majority of our funding. We also organize events for the general public and for investors from across the country. This program engages a lot of people since it primarily targets Lebanese, Syrians and Palestinians”, explains Maria Achkar, Head of Communications at Nawaya.
Today, Nawaya has a new project, “Impact Lab”, funded by UNICEF, which aims to help young unemployed Lebanese enter the workforce. Youths are selected across the country through a series of organised meet-ups. The most viable ideas are submitted to entrepreneurs, who contribute up to $2,000. Ultimately, the youth-developed projects must become profitable, so that they are able to sustain themselves.
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Source: The Straits Times, 24 June 2017