Shaping their futures with carpentry sessions
In times where most of the youth are interested in technology and automation, young girls and boys from Bekaa, aged between 17 and 30, enrolled themselves in Carpentry sessions. Funded by World Vision US in partnership with Michel Daher Social Foundation, 21 beneficiaries happily attend 100 practical hours of carpentry courses and 30 hours life skills.
Foster Access to Income Generation Opportunities to Vulnerable Youth is a project that aims to provide new opportunities for the youth of Bekaa to widen their scope for career choices and to help them learn new crafts.
Hanady, Julia, Youssef and Elias are four beneficiaries who never imagined that carpentry would one day be a passion, but now it is. And they gained the needed knowledge to dream bigger.
Hanady 28, who already learned how to paint walls and how to install flooring, she now learns about carpentry. "I am not planning on working in carpentry, but I love to seek every opportunity to widen my horizons", she says, "My husband is very supportive and proud of me. In my opinion, women should not be hesitant to learn different crafts so that they can take matters into their own hands at home.”
Julia, 17, does not accept the idea that girls cannot work in carpentry. She believes that these stereotypes ideas must disappear. "We are learning a lot about wood. As a girl who is interested in design, it is an added value for me. I can build a bench now, a door. When working on interior designs in the future, I can describe my vision better to the carpenter.”
A passionate wood lover, and a technical school student, Youssef, 24, had previous experience in carpentry. He heard about the sessions and was pleased to sign up and benefit from the lessons He is learning more about the machines and the proper safety measures. "I know now what material and equipment I need, how much it will cost, how to deal with costumers and all the necessary details," he adds, "At school we never learn these things; that is why I am thankful to World Vision and our tutors for this opportunity to discover more."
Elias is a 23-year-old, whose passion for craftwork and carpentry led him to register in the carpentry sessions. "We learn about the different types of wood and how to cut and paint them. The sessions gave me a broader perspective, “Elias explains, "It is an excellent experience because I did some studies in decor at the technical school Now I know the right type and the difference between wood for outside use and wood for inside use". He thinks of collaborating with his brother, who is also taking the sessions, and starting a business together, at a later stage.