17-year-old Ibrahim Zohori had little to no hope that one day he would serve his family financially after all the misery they went through after leaving Syrian Kseir to reside in Wadi El Hosen, Arsal. Being the eldest male child from a family of six with an elder sister (18 years), two younger brothers, and a father that suffers from heart disease and partial visual impairment, Ibrahim was overburdened in his abilities to offer his family very basic needs. Thanks to the Competency Based Skills (CBT) trainings, which is carried out by the Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST) in partnership with UNICEF under the Skills for Active Youth project, Ibrahim was able to acquire new skills and improve his financial situation.
Ibrahim began attending trainings on the topic of sanitation. He knew nothing about sanitation; however, several weeks later, he acquired enough knowledge about sanitation to start working as a sanitation specialist for a modest salary. He was developing his skills while gaining experience from his work, and kept attending the training sessions as well. Ibrahim now is the only provider for his family, who is suffering financially. “These classes are crucial to my future”, said Ibrahim with hope filling his heart. He is now in charge of accomplishing sanitation duties in a few houses on his own.
As Nelson Mandela stated, “overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, it is an act of justice”, a saying that depicts the core target of all the social activities taking place in the area. Attaining sufficient knowledge to make a living and to achieve financial independence is the ultimate goal that Ibrahim was aiming for, and is gradually reaching.
