Janine joined Teach For Lebanon as the Executive Director in May 2023. She has 20 years of experience working with NGOs in the Middle East and has lived in Lebanon for 12 years. She has consulted on and led the organizational development processes of several NGOs, especially in the educational sector, and has also trained organizations in this area. Janine has profound experience in strategic development, implementing good governance-based structures, and international fundraising. 

She began her career in the German Parliament, working with a Member of Parliament in the field of human rights and humanitarian aid with a focus on South-East Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Middle East. In parallel, she conducted leadership and educational workshops for young leaders and emerging talents from these same countries for the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.  

Janine believes in change through civil society and is passionate about education, which is why she’s been a volunteer since her youth. Among other things, she co-founded a child and youth parliament in her hometown, initiated youth projects in art and environmental preservation, co-founded a student initiative for sustainable development at her university, and currently serves as president on the board of an educational NGO for children with disabilities.  

She holds two Master’s degrees, one from Humboldt University to Berlin in Politics and Sociology, and another from the University of Rostock in Education for Sustainable Development.

Ahmad holds a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance. Prior to joining TFL, he worked as an accountant, a warehouse manager, an English teacher, and a teacher trainer. Ahmad joined TFL in November of 2020 as an education mentor. He provides logistical, technical, and emotional guidance and support to our fellows in Beirut and in southern Lebanon. 

Ahmad believes that access to excellent education regardless of socioeconomic background is a human right, and that TFL is playing a key role in ensuring that Lebanese children are granted this right. He wants to help TFL grow and thrive in order to maximize its positive impacts.

Nagham El Banna joined Teach For Lebanon (TFL) as a project officer in August 2021; she is currently working on our 1001 Nights program. 

Prior to joining us as a project coordinator, and as operations officer, Nagham was a TFL Fellow (Cohort 10). 

Nagham holds a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and political science from the Lebanese American University, as well as a master’s degree in rural community development from the American University of Beirut. She has experience working in the humanitarian sector with entities including Rural Entrepreneurs, Tatweer Baladna, Women Ascension, YMV, the British Council, and UNICEF. 

When asked “Why are you working with TFL, Nagham answers: “I’ve always wanted to make this world a better place through impacting the lives of others. I believe that TFL gives us the platform to change lives  and leave an impact.”

Ghewa joined Teach For Lebanon as a financial officer in January 2020. She works with the organization’s senior management to develop the annual budget and monthly financial reports, and she contributes to the maintenance of an accurate, up-to-date general ledger. She joined TFL to acquire experience in the field of education and to work with people who are motivated to give back. 

Ghewa holds a bachelor’s degree in financial engineering from Sagesse University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in petroleum management.

Aya joined Teach For Lebanon (TFL) in May 2023 as an accountant. She has six years of experience in the field of accounting.

Her primary role responsibility is to assist the finance manager with general accounting procedures and tasks. She is also responsible for preparing the monthly reconciliation of bank accounts and suppliers, executing monthly payroll data entry, and assisting with financial reporting and analysis.

Aya holds a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance and a Master’s in Business Management from LIU University.

Aya is a diligent worker and an honest individual. She is a timekeeper and is always eager to learn new skills. She always plans ahead to ensure she manages her time effectively.

Mohammad joined Teach For Lebanon (TFL) in early 2023 as an Access Alumni Project Assistant. Six months later, he was selected as the MEAL assistant for both Access and TFL ongoing programs and projects. His responsibility is to ensure that all MEAL procedures are properly implemented at the organizational level and that the technical teams are equipped with the appropriate MEAL tools to gather the correct data for various interventions.

Before joining us, Mohammad was a data collector and translator for a Spanish-based research and communication company. 

Mohammad holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Communication Engineering from Phoenicia University. But his passion for the nonprofit sector and social advocacy pushed him to work and volunteer with different NGOs.

Mohamad joined Teach for Lebanon (TFL) as an education mentor in September 2022. His responsibilities include providing guidance, advice, feedback, and support to the fellows and offering all the tools needed for them to become highly effective teachers. Before becoming an education mentor, Mohamad was a TFL Fellow (Cohort 11). 

During his fellowship, he witnessed how being a fellow can change and touch the lives of others and later joined as a staff member to provide the assistance needed to serve this mission.

Mohamad graduated from the Lebanese International University with a Bachelor's degree in Business Banking and Finance and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Business Management at the University of Balamand.

Manar joined TFL as a fellow in 2016; she was placed in Bakhaoun, North Lebanon. The fellowship taught her a lot about the importance of education in making a change in any community. After her fellowship, Manar wanted to keep working with TFL in order to continue to have an impact, so she joined the team as an education mentor for North Lebanon. Currently, Manar is the coordinator for the English Access Microscholarship Program. She oversees the progress of the program to ensure that its main goals are met. She creates timelines, schedules, and work-plans with the Access team, relevant departments, and external stakeholders to ensure the implementation of planned activities. She also manages the administrative tasks for the project. 

Manar enjoys long walks in nature.

Rima Sherkawi joined Teach For Lebanon as an English Access Microscholarship Program mentor in February 2021. She holds a master’s degree in educational management from the Lebanese American University. Rima is also an alumni of TFL’s fellowship program (Cohort 1, 2009–2011). The two-year teaching experience had an extremely positive impact on her, both personally and professionally. Post-fellowship, she decided to continue teaching English. Overall, she has accumulated 14 years of experience teaching at levels ranging from kindergarten to high school. 

Rima has always noticed major discrepancies and inequalities in education between private and public schools. TFL gives her the opportunity to contribute to breaking this cycle of inequality and in providing all students with what they need and deserve – all in order to build a better future.

Reem joined Teach For Lebanon (TFL) in May 2023 as an Access mentor. She brings a unique perspective to her role, having been an alumna and former teacher in the Access Program.

Reem holds an M.A. in Linguistics from the Lebanese University. She has received scholarships from UNESCO Lebanon for the Preparing Global Leaders Academy (PGLA) in Jordan and Med Culture for their youth development program in Morocco. Reem also received two scholarships from the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon, enabling her participation in the Access Program and Fulbright FLTA exchange program at Bucknell University, Pennsylvania. 

Her passion for education led her to teach in the State Department's English Access Microscholarship Program and Teaching Women English (TWE).

Returning to Lebanon, Reem actively contributed to educational initiatives; she worked on a university scholarship initiative in partnership with Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). 

Reem cherishes the impact the Access program can have on students' lives and is excited to give back to a program that has given her so much. She looks forward to fostering a positive, engaging learning environment that empowers students to reach their full potential. She is deeply motivated by education's transformative power for individuals' academic, professional, and personal growth.