17 October 2005

BEKAA: Taking a new approach to an old problem, Islamic charity organization Dar al-Aytam al-Islamiyya has created Al-Nibras Compound in the eastern Bekaa Valley to introduce technical training to orphans and high school dropouts. The organization aims to contribute "to the balanced growth in all Lebanese districts," said the manager of the Nibras Compound of Khirbet Roha, Nadia Barazi. "Dar al-Aytam al-Islamiyya will establish more similar compounds in Akkar and other districts throughout the country."

According to Barazi, the main goal of the technical schools is to provide dropouts with "another chance," and in doing so, relieve some of the area's economic and social hardships.

The organization is also trying to set an example of how to care for orphans in a non-traditional way using new approaches and methods.

"We have a vision of turning our experimental venture in the Bekaa into a pilot project that could be applied in other districts," she said.

"This compound houses orphans and other children of special needs, but we added a metal workshop and a farming facility in order to extend our services to the surrounding area.

"The main and immediate objective of establishing the technical training units is to help create jobs for the local community and contribute to its growth and development," she explained.

While stressing training, Nibras is also carrying out its more traditional role of providing for local orphans. More than 200 orphans live in the compound, few of whom attend the training programs; apart from those with special needs, the children attend regular schools outside the compound.

"In my view, sending children to ordinary schools allows them to socialize with their schoolmates and strengthen their self-confidence." Barazi said.

She added that orphanages traditionally feel like prisons to their residents as they eat, sleep and attend classes inside the same compound. "It is not normal that they only go out during infrequent school trips and special events," she said.

Ashraf Mostafa, a local agricultural engineer who manages the training units, said that while it was not difficult to attract trainees for the metal workshops, "inviting young candidates to enroll in an agricultural school was strange to locals."

Apparently, the parents of this farming community had difficulty understanding why their children would need training in their traditional field. Mostafa and other managerial staff members went from house to house to promote their program and encourage parents to send their children to the training schools.

"Another important aspect of the technical program is that it deals with depressed children and careless youngsters who otherwise could potentially be future street thugs and social burdens," Mostafa said.

The organization hopes that by providing technical training in a friendly environment and introducing children to computers and modern audiovisual studios they can improve the lives of the younger generation and prevent the area's children from growing up on the streets.

"When we started last year," he said, "only seven students aged between 13 and 16 years joined the program. This year we got 17 candidates."

"However, the parents were mostly attracted to the curriculum of designing private and public parks. They are aware of the [lack of] availability of jobs. Moreover, the parents acknowledge that job opportunities need special skills that could not be acquired without special training," he added.

Mostafa is well aware that children in the Bekaa are more than likely already familiar with the basics of farming, but said that the advantage of the Nibras program was the students would become "a group of pioneers to promote the principles of modern farming."

He explained that the agricultural classes teach students the various methods of how to produce new strains of fruits, vegetables and grains. "In this neighborhood, children grow up helping their parents in planting and harvesting. But they [only] know their parents' traditional ways and methods."

"Al-Nibras' initiative is the first project of its kind in Lebanon, and we hope one day the Education Ministry will introduce BT and BS levels in agricultural training," he added.

The team's objective is to enroll 30 students in each class for the two-year program. "The local job market will not need more," according to Mostafa.

Barazi said that in its first year the agricultural unit of Nibras produced only a humble amount of food; 20 kilograms of 100 percent pure honey, more than 200 kilograms of Chinese homegrown mushrooms and 22 tons of potatoes.

However, this year the charity was able to provide "most of our supplies of diary products," Barazi said excitedly. "Next year we will be able to provide another Dar al-Aytam compound with the surplus produced on our farm."

"In addition, during this holy month of Ramadan the orphans will eat the first meat produced on the farm," she added.