Arab Philanthropy Education fund | Refugee Education Fund

Skills Training Education Program” (STEP)- GMPFC-Spark-IsDB

About The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)

The Islamic Development Bank empowers individuals, communities, and nations across 57 member countries. Through collaborative partnerships and innovative financing, it fosters sustainable development and supports economic growth. IsDB ensures transparent procurement processes and advocates for public procurement system reforms to enhance efficiency and reduce poverty.

Target: 1965

Reach: 2398

About Spark

Spark empowers young people in fragile communities, fostering peace and stability. We provide education, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities, collaborating with local partners to tailor programs to each community’s needs.

About the program

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair Refugee Education Fund are funding a two-year US$10 million initiative with SPARK, an international non-governmental organization, to support refugees and vulnerable communities in Jordan and Lebanon. The IsDB, as an AAA rated multilateral development bank that works to promote social and economic development and the Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair Refugee Education Fund have developed a 2-year regional program with SPARK that aims to support the “Skills Training Education Program” (STEP) in Jordan and Lebanon. The program aims to skill up entrepreneurs, modernize existing curricula, connect participants to the labour market, create sustainable jobs and offer training and internship placements, among many others. It’s expected that at the end of the project, many participants will have started their businesses, SMEs have scaled up and men and women are equipped with market-relevant technical skills through training.

Success Stories

Refugee Youth Vocational Training – UNHCR

About UNHCR

UNHCR Lebanon dedicated to helping and protection to refugees, particularly those from Syria, in Lebanon. The organization is actively involved in various programs, including efforts to ensure access to education for refugee children and youth. This involves supporting schools, providing resources, and implementing initiatives to enhance both the access to and quality of education for refugees in Lebanon.

About Program

Success Stories

Youth Higher Skilled Program – ASAC

About ASAC

The Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair School of Advanced Technology was established in 2019. Through its partnership with Coding Fellows, this pioneering school offers fast paced, career-focused and immersive education known for driving tangible results in a short amount of time. The Program hones the skills required for today’s jobs by providing students with hands-on software development and software engineering experience, so they may positively contribute to companies they join.

Target: 210

Reach: 167

Program Description

This program provides 210 learners with a strong foundation and a range of market-relevant qualifications at multiple levels to facilitate access to employment in the ICT sector. It also implements peer mentoring to improve motivation retention and career awareness. These learners will graduate from Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair School of Advance Computing.

Success Stories

Energy Upskilling Project – German Energy Academy

About GEA

The German Energy Academy is under the umbrella of Al Hussein Technical University in Jordan, it combines the expertise of two major Jordanian universities, German professional skills training institutions, representatives of the Jordanian industry and a consortium of the leading German Renewable Energy Industry. The certificates of GEA Jordan are accredited by AHK Cairo, the German Foreign Chamber of Industry and are this of international standard. Studying at the GEA Jordan trains practitioners and engineers and gives them the skills that are really needed in the industry of the rapidly growing renewable energy market. For a green and clean future for Jordan and the region.

Program Description

The program aims to empower and boost the capacities of refugee youth and vulnerable Jordanians in the technical, digital, and soft skills that are needed to meet job requirements in the energy sector. 180 Youth (18 – 30 years old) will be equipped with energy technical skills, by providing them with training and webinars of PV Installation and Energy Efficiency courses to youth as well as training for PV Design.

Success Stories

Digital Citizenship Project – Borderless

About Borderless

Borderless NGO is an independent Lebanese non-profit organization with a mission to build, and strengthen the well-being, knowledge, and skills of disadvantaged and at-risk communities, and to safeguard and equip them with the means for a better sustainable life.
Since its establishment, Borderless has educated more than 6,220 children, upskilled 700 youths, empowered 1,870 women, and built a comprehensive set of community-based services that deliver life-changing impact.

Program Description

The program will help in upskilling youth through vocational training focused on digital skills (web design, coding, data management, applications development, E-commerce management, digital marketing), English and digital literacy classes, it will be followed by providing the youth with internship opportunities to integrate them into the professional world. Students will gain certifications in digital vocational training complemented by vocational training courses. The program targets 240 youths from the ages 18-32 yrs old.

Success Stories

Tashgheel – LASER

About LASER

LASeR is a Lebanese non-profit Association for Scientific Research focusing on Higher Education and Youth Empowerment in Lebanon. LASeR serves Youth in Lebanon to get access to quality education.

Target: 80

Reach: 98

Program Description:

Tashgheel program empowers young individuals (aged 18-29) with market-driven technical and digital training, mentorship, and career readiness skills. Upon completion, participants gain the chance to connect with corporate entities and international NGOs for internships and jobs. This transformative journey goes beyond training, providing comprehensive support to help build compelling portfolios for future employment opportunities.

Success Stories

Hassan Salem – SE Factory Lebanon

Hassan Salem

SE Factory Lebanon

“I was the first cohort with SE Factory in 2019. It was an intensive course of 9-hour day, 5 days a week. I still had to work part-time, but I made it work. As hard as programming may be, learning the programming itself was the easier part. However, what I learnt is recruiters were no only looking for technical skills, but also skills needed in in the real world. How effective you are as part of a team, can you manage your time, communicate well with people, etc. We learnt what is required now in the programming industry”.

It broadened my mind, I learnt you do not need to start something from scratch when you can learn from others. I learnt to build on something that is already tested, in other words not to reinvent the wheel. It changed my mindset and how to view myself differently. I respect and listen to criticisms and different perspectives, I am not afraid of my weaknesses, on the contrary, I use it as an opportunity to learn and to continuously work on myself to improve. The Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair Refugee Education Fund provided me more than an opportunity to learn, it provided me with an opportunity to grow and today I am proudly known as a Programmer. Hassan currently works in an HR Software Company in Germany. It was his first interview and he got accepted. “I never imagined I would be here. I am exposed to great experiences and technologies; I make sure not to keep this learning to myself. I share it with all my peers, so they can learn and benefit from it.

Ahmad Mahmoud – SE Factory, Lebanon

Ahmad Mahmoud

SE Factory, Lebanon

“It was almost near impossible to find a job after I graduated with a Computer and Communications Engineering degree through a scholarship. My sister who is my biggest inspiration, encouraged me to learn programming. I joined SE Factory a couple of months after my graduation. It was the best decision I made. I learnt how to code and to be a mature developer. But most importantly I learnt how to learn. We continued our learning during the pandemic, I learnt how to keep persevering and never give up, especially when it comes to education. I graduated in May 2020 and I received 8 job offers, which was overwhelming. I currently work remotely with a Software Company in France”.

I am grateful to the Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair Refugee Education Fund for this amazing opportunity, I would love to see it grow in the region. Employment challenges is not only in Lebanon, itis a challenge for Arab youth across the region. This program is not about teaching a subject, they work on the whole person, I value the Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair Refugee Education Fund and SE Factory that taught me how to take responsibility, not only for our own sake, but for my community. Every problem has a solution, take it a step at a time.

FLY Program – ULYP

About ULYP

Unite Lebanon Youth Project (ULYP) was founded in 2010 with the mission to empower marginalized children, youth and women living in Lebanon today with the skills and knowledge they need to become active agents of change for a better tomorrow.

Target: 125

Reach: 172

Program Description

For the Livelihood of Youth (FLY) program is a one-and-a-half-year project to upskill around 150 disadvantage Lebanese and refugees’ youth who are unemployed or underemployed by engaging them in online bootcamps and obtaining certificates (AI, Automation, Web analytics, Cyber Security…etc) along with providing them with job opportunities for job applicants in digital economy.

Success Stories

Digital Skills Building and Employability Program – DOT Lebanon

DOT Lebanon (DoIT 1)

About DOT Lebanon

DOT Lebanon, established in Lebanon since 2010 empowers and equips youth, women, and people with special needs in marginalized communities, with the digital tools and life skills to help them create a better future for themselves while making a positive impact in their communities.

Target: 3890

Reach: 4426

Program Description

Digital Opportunities Through Integrated Training (DoIT) program seeks to equip over 4,400 youth with a pathway to improved livelihoods in the digital workspace through access to recognized courses and education, and through fostering income generating opportunities to vulnerable refugee and host communities including people with special needs living in North Lebanon, South, Bekaa, Beirut and Mount Lebanon.

Success Stories