Ismail Qara-Khaled, a 24-year-old Syrian refugee, lives in a modest neighbourhood in Baalbeck with his wife, mother, and brother’s family after they left their home and all their belongings behind in Syria to escape the war. As the majority of refugee youth in the area, Ismail lacked empowerment and an opportunity to gain hope and achieve; he obtained these elements in the Competency-Based Skills Training (CBT) program that LOST and UNICEF are implementing in Northern Beqaa, from Ersal to Bedneyel; in addition to other vocational training institutes all over Lebanon.
Ismail learned about the CBT classes through a social media campaign, and then signed up for the catering/cooking course. After the 3-month course, Ismail enrolled in a gastronomy class under the same project. Ismail has always been passionate about food and cooking. His personal ambition was to become a professional cook, and he strived towards perfection day after day; leading him to become the successful cook he is today.
After completing the courses, Ismail was provided with some counselling on the next steps, as he was also supported by LOST and UNICEF’s Employment and Entrepreneurship Bureau (EEB), which helped him get employed as a fulltime assistant chef at Baytuna restaurant in Baalbeck. Ismail has been working for more than a year now and has gained a lot of experience in the field. He learned how to prepare food professionally, as he also gained some techniques that expanded his knowledge and thinking.
Ismail described his experience, stating, “I can’t express how grateful I am for the job and expertise I gained after struggling for more than five years being unemployed. Cooking is an art and mastering it has always been my goal. The course was very beneficial, and I am looking forward to registering in more courses related to the field until I can call myself a professional chef. Also, I would like to learn English, for I believe it can help me develop on many levels. I am happy to be doing what I love, and making a living at the same time”.
