Here I am standing on the balcony for one last time. The others have all fallen asleep...
Yesterday was an experience that I will cherish forever and I'm sure all of my teammates are of the same opinion. It was a day filled with activities, as we tried to squeeze in as many "last opportunities" as possible.
We started our day with informal graduation ceremonies, where participants from the last two weeks were given certificates for the different courses they attended. This would be highly beneficial when applying for their jobs, since employers are always keen to see proof of extra training.
The experiences in both centres were amazing or perhaps even overwhelming. There were some tears as well! I felt really happy, proud but confused at the same time when two particular participants handed me gifts, the Lebanese flag and other souvenirs. Their message was simple..."Please remember us!" It was an episode which begs a particular question... But what did I do which was so special?
And here is the lesson of the day...
Do you recall when in the previous blog I mentioned how the simplest form of sustainable empowerment is to sit down, listen and walk together? Well, this is exactly what happened! I had the opportunity to sit down next to these two friends in the beginning of our experience. I remember being absorbed by a discussion I had with them, about their future, their dreams and ambitions... today they are showing appreciation for what I did back then... perhaps I simply listened... or simply inspired them with my own thoughts. I seriously don't know. But one thing I am sure about is that whenever we are gifted with the presence of another person, we simply have to live the moment... next time I might be the one in need of someone to listen.
In the afternoon we were invited by a family to their camp for lunch. And my goodness, that was some good food let me tell you! And generous portions too! Again, we were treated like kings and queens. They were simply showing us appreciation for spending time with their kids. Maybe all this was due to the smile on their childrens' faces, the laughter that we experienced together and maybe the sparking of ambitions and dreams! Believe me, experiencing at first hand the love, life and happiness in such a tent was one of the strongest experiences that will stay stamped in my mind for years to come.
Finally the day ended with some more time spent with the newly-found friends from the training courses. Together with the hosting family, we went to a dinner and some shisha (you can't be in Lebanon without tasting it once!). I will simply describe the evening by what a participant told us, "Putting the skills and the knowledge that you gave us a side, I really appreciate the fact that you came here out of your own money, the fact that you gave us your time but most of all your friendship!"
Looking forward...
These same participants will, as from next week become part of Keen International, in another project which I still have to share with you: Nada will soon be coordinating the laptops and volunteers to be part of a teaching and training program on computer essentials for kids, especially girls from refugee camps. The idea is to target 60 students in two centres and if it is not possible for girls to leave the camp, then the volunteers will themselves go there! Presently a volunteer is already teaching a young girl who wishes to learn English on a weekly basis.
I'm off to start packing... next blog will be somewhere at 10,000ft high!