"Education is the most powerful weapon which we can use to change the world”
- Nelson Mandela -
News >INCLUSION+ Program Award Distribution Ceremony
Mar 26,2023
The English Access Microscholarship Alumni Program, funded by the US Embassy and executed by Teach for Lebanon, launched the INCLUSION+ program to train, equip, and empower 86 Access alumni to lead community initiatives under the theme of inclusion, during the month of February, in a two-day retreat in the following regions: Mount Lebanon, the North, Bekaa, and South, and Beirut.
The camps produced 23 project plans with inclusion-related themes (inclusion of people with disabilities, migrant workers, marginalized women, street children, ex-female prisoners, refugees, and other excluded communities), and 20 of them received funding of $2000 as a result of the jury's decisions.
The jury included representatives from the U.S. Embassy, representatives from TFL, and subject matter experts including Injaz Executive Director Samar Dani, Makesense Lebanon Country Manager Celine Caudron, VP at the Global Center for Inclusion in Education Salyne El Samarany, design thinking trainer and consultant Aseel Honein, and social innovator and TFL alumnus Fahd Jamaleddine.
On Saturday 18 February 2023, the Access Program honored the winners at an award distribution ceremony that took place in Padova Hotel, Sin El Fil, and celebrated their winning projects. The event was attended by TFL interim CEO and Access Program Director, Mr. George El Assad, Access Program Coordinator, Ms. Manar Hammoud, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy, Ms. Melissa O’Shaughnessy, Cultural Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy, Ms. Edith Bitar, Management Officer at the U.S. Embassy, Mr. Micheal Moise, Access alumni, and TFL staff.
After playing the national anthems of Lebanon and the United States of America, Mr. George El Assad, delivered a welcome note addressing the winners before giving the floor to Ms. Melissa O’Shaughnessy, who expressed her gratitude and pride as these empowered Access Alumni will be able to make a positive change in their communities.
A series of videos were displayed, outlining each winning project, its impact, and finally, testimonials on how helpful and engaging the camps were.
The ceremony closed with the distribution of cheques to the winners, followed by group pictures and a cocktail.