Most people walk through life taking the simplest things for granted without appreciating, or even considering the idea that what some regard as basic necessities/rights aren’t so basic. As a matter of fact, they are a struggle for others to achieve. Ali Sharaf, a 20-year-old Lebanese male from Baalbeck, is an example of this concept.
Being an orphan without a father is a big responsibility for anyone to handle, let alone a young male. As the youngest member of the family and the only one residing at home with his mother, Ali had to find a way to improve the quality of his life and remove some burden off of his family’s shoulders. For Ali, the way to accomplish this was to pursue his education. Like any young male striving for a better future, he registered for classes, studied hard, and attended all lectures, until one day he faced a financial bump that almost kept him from reaching his goals. Though Ali’s college fees were covered at the time, Ali was struggling to get to his classes since he didn’t have the money for transportation or allowance. Ali, however, didn’t let that excuse get in his way, or stop him.
Determined to continue what he had started, Ali went out and searched for jobs in Baalbeck-Hermel area until he stumbled across the “Food for Assets” project, carried out by the Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST), and funded by the World food Programme (WFP). Hearing about the project from other locals who benefitted from it, Ali came in and applied to become part of the F.F.A family, and began working in the storm canals.
Earning income by working in this project helped Ali have the money needed to transport him to and from college, as well as have some allowance money. Because of Ali’s dedication, and a small sum of $130, which most people underestimate, Ali was able to attend all his classes, land on the honor roll and graduate from college with a degree in Business Management. “WFP has given me the chance to aim for higher success, and I am very thankful for this opportunity”, Ali eagerly stated. After graduating from the Lebanese International University (LIU) in December, 2017, Ali is now applying for jobs in different NGOs and dreams of one day joining the WFP team at their local office in Germany.
