Friday, December 9th, 2016, three members of the UNICEF team visited the Lebanese Organization of Studies and Trainings (LOST) in Baalbeck to observe the progress of the Innovation-Lab Program, a cooperation between LOST and UNICEF. The Innovation program is a program that aims to offer the talented youth in Baalbeck-Hermel region the necessary technological, digital and entrepreneurship skills to carry out new innovations, open their own businesses and stand out in the marketplace.
These youth have been chosen based on their skills and proposed suggestions to the issues they face in their daily lives (social, economic, scientific, etc.). A total of 28 youth were asked to attend the Accelerate training in Beirut and the DOT trainings, as well as other necessary trainings for the implementation of their planned projects.
One of the key trainings was called “Elevate Start-Up Sprint.” It focused on increasing youth’s awareness about issues they face in their surroundings. It also served as guidance to the right procedures to find practical and sustainable solutions to these issues. The training, which lasted for about four hours, was a success in which one of the youth groups became chosen as the team with the best innovative idea. The idea qualified them to attend a four-day training in Beirut which can result in turning their innovative idea into reality.
Youth who went through the Innovation-Lab program acquired awareness of the pending issues in their local communities; they also gained a skillset which will aid them in staying updated with the most recent technology as it becomes available. With the skills gained, they have the ability to successfully market their innovative product. Most importantly, they benefit society by becoming role model figures for other ambitious intelligent youth in underdeveloped societies.
