In my last blog I mentioned how time is rushing by so fast, so much so that soon, we will find ourselves back in Malta. With every day that goes by, we are approaching our destination - the aims of our project. Or I'd rather refer to it as the initial step of a project which will now be in the hands of Keen International under the supervision of Nada Al Mais.

Within the next few days I will try to share with you what the next few steps will be… but first, let me introduce to you Keen International, the organisation which contacted agara back last year after we posted information about PoléPolé as described in my first blog almost two weeks ago.

 

Keen International was founded by Nada Al Mais a couple of years ago. As the name itself implies, the organisation encourages and empowers people who are keen to be different, stand out and volunteer for the aid of others. Hence their motto, ‘Live to Give’. Nada was inspired by her own life circumstances. Several aspects of the traditional and conservative culture, which is still very strong in such countries, confine the growth of those who are more vulnerable - or to be exact, the women - especially when faced with choices at the age of 18, the same age that Nada got inspired by her own life episodes to help others. She now finds herself supporting vulnerable people especially women and young girls who might have some sort of resistance to education, opportunities and even life decisions:
“It is about them, choosing their own life and understanding the importance of the woman’s role in society!” - Nada Al Mais.

 

The primary objective of Keen International is to provide education to such persons whose opportunity to learn is limited for some way or another, including Syrian refugees, Muslims and Christians. This is an important point, as it is not a religious influence, or a muslim problem but more of a cultural one, of the dominance in a male-oriented society! Currently, the organisation is involved with UNICEF & UNHCR offering variety of courses. UN, both directly and by collaborating with other organisations, is providing Keen International basic resources and, hopefully, other funds in the near future to establish more projects. Currently, Keen together with the organisation 'Injaz', are mentoring a training course (in the same class / offices of Keen International in Chtoura) focused on starting up businesses with the intention of helping groups of youths be creative. Their small business will gain funds from UNICEF within the next few months, under the supervision of Keen International in order to make such projects a reality.

 

And agara’s input?

As described in previous blog entries, the PoléPolé project aims at providing laptops to these sort of organisations with the intention of creating a sustainable project that can improve the life of others for as long a period as possible. Apart from delivering the laptops two weeks ago, we started the first few steps of a couple of projects. I will go through one today:

 

Within the next months, up till December, Keen International in collaboration with DOT - Digital Opportunity Trust, will initiate a series of courses lasting one month and a half for classes of up to 25 students with 3 lessons a week on basic computer skills. DOT will provide the professional tutors for these students whilst Keen International will be making us of our laptops for the classes. Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese trainees of particular vulnerability, aging from 14-24 will benefit from this course which will augment their portfolio, and increase their opportunities. The same initiative will provide further opportunities such as communication skills while empowering participants to be creative, to dare to dream and keep on the look-out for anything that might address their ambitions.

 

“We will still be living if we don’t give… why not live with giving! We visit life once, I find this as an opportunity to give back to the community.” - Nada Al Mais

 

Time is up and we must go and prepare for our last training session. I will have to continue later, as this was just the beginning!

 

Adrian Cassar