From Introvert, to Community Leader: The Story of Nibal

Nibal was sitting in her bedroom studying for her official exams and trapped by “her small and conservative society,” as she calls it, when Najib and Youssef, World Vision staff members, knocked the family’s door and asked her if she would like to become a volunteer with World Vision. She was 14 at the time. “You can say that was the beginning of my life,” says Nibal, now 22.  “When they left, I started jumping from happiness,” she recalls. “That was when the new me was born,” she adds.

 This is Nibal, the sponsored child, at the age of 12. Nibal is now 22, and she has been volunteering with WVL for the past 8 years. Nibal sees these photos for the first time (with the presence of WVL staff). 

Marjeyoun, is a district in Southern Lebanon. The area is rural. World Vision first began working there in 2004 when sponsorship staff selected children to participate in the programme. Nibal was registered at the age of 10.

Nibal still remembers every single experience she encountered in World Vision; literally every single detail. ‘Trust me, I am not exaggerating,” she says. “Every workshop… Every camp… Every lecture… is still in my mind and my heart,” she says, emphatically.    

With tears in her eyes, she narrates the smallest details that contributed to her personal growth. “I remember myself laughing. I remember myself seeing Broummana (mountains in North of Lebanon) for the first time and watching the sunset there. I remember sleeping for the first time outside of my home. I remember when we sang with children; it was the first time I sang,” she adds. “I still remember all the songs we shared with children; every song; every word,” she says.

“Every now and then, [World Vision staff] used to come and take some pictures of me for my sponsor until that unforgettable day when they came not to take my picture but instead to give me a golden opportunity to experience the world for the first time,” says Nibal.

 Nibal still has all papers, workshop notes and documents she has accumulated during her time as a volunteer with World Vision. “I [keep] them for the record; the record of my experience; I do not want to throw any of them away,” she adds. She even still has invitations for trips organized by World Vision six and seven years ago. She keeps the papers to remind her of her what she calls her “life-changing experience”. 

She explains that her family background and community in general puts a lot of restrictions on girls and women. Females cannot go out alone by themselves and cannot sleep outside of the home. This isolation made her shy. She shares that she even hid her face when another child looked at her. Even when they had guests at home, she used to sit in her room until they left. “Not anymore,” she says. “World Vision made me a new person!”

After she joined World Vision as a volunteer, she challenged her shyness and introversion. “The three-day workshop in Broummana changed everything,” she said. “My father allowed me to sleep a few days outside of the home so that I did not miss the workshop. He trusted World Vision a lot. It was the first time I slept outside my home alone,” she says. “I was afraid on the way,” she admits. “When the car stopped and I saw Broummana for the first time, my heart started beating. I tried to hide my excessive happiness. There, we learned about children’s rights; and the difference between rights and duties. [It was then that] I decided to study law,” she adds.

Nibal recalls all the workshops and activities she attended with World Vision. She mentions specifically that it was at the age of 16 that she learned about family violence and children rape. It was shocking to her at that time. “Later on, I discovered that, unfortunately, it is part of society,” she shares.

Nibal still keeps every single paper and document from her volunteering journey with WVL; even invitations for excursions! When asked about the reason, she answered: “because every single moment at World Vision means to me, and I do not want to throw what reminds me of those moments”. 

It was this legal information she received from World Vision that triggered Nibal’s curiosity to learn more. “That’s why I decided to specialize in law at the university,” she shares.  Today, she is just one semester away from graduating. “My dream is to give people back their rights, especially those who think that there is no justice,” she says.

 “Let me tell you more about my experience”, says Nibal every time she felt that the interview is about to end. She insists on not missing any experience. “I want to tell you about my first leadership experience in the 14-day summer camp for underprivileged children, and she narrates:

“Like any World Vision volunteer I was trained on leadership before taking the responsibility of leading the camp. It was the first time for those children to participate in such a big camp, and they were too new to everything, like me. I was tense and confused. I was wondering how to lead children. At the time, I was shy. But, I wanted to challenge myself. I started learning from other volunteers and staff at World Vision. I started trying to be like them. It was the first time I held such a big responsibility. I felt that my role in society became really important. Since then, I faced my fears and have become way more courageous,” Nibal says.

Afterwards, Nibal was selected, among other volunteers, to lead the first and only child-friendly space (CFS) with the in her village (with the municipality). The CFS worked on providing entertaining and educational activities for children. Later on, Nibal was selected to help World Vision staff conduct evaluations and assessments. “I found myself interviewing men and farmers; that’s when I knew that I broke all social boundaries,” says Nibal.

Nibal studies in a university in Beirut, the capital. She is away from her parents for five days a week. “World Vision taught me that I should be responsible and independent,” says Nibal, explaining that she is surprised to meet friends at university who depend on their parents in the smallest parts of their lives. “I know that all the experiences in World Vision empowered my self-confidence and independence,” she repeats. 

“Whether now or later, I want to become part of World Vision,” shares Nibal. She is now preparing herself for a new career step; work, dreaming that might someday become a staff member for World Vision. “I wish for every person to pass through a volunteer experience, like mine with,” shares Nibal. “Volunteerism plants the seed of change in your soul,” she adds.