Nada Jammoul Messaikeh, co-founder and director of Impactiv, an organization that supports associations whose objective is to develop human capital and contribute to the empowerment of young people, decided to support Lebanese graduates. In collaboration with the Injaz organization which aims to prepare young people for professional life, this former deputy vice-rector at New York University based in Abu Dhabi, and former director of finance and administration at Sorbonne University, also in the United Arab Emirates, created a mentoring program called “Intersection Mentorship Program”. The objective of this program, the first cycle of which ended in December, is to guide Lebanese graduates to find their professional path. This personalized program helps participants plan their career, to optimize their CV, prepare for job interviews and enter the job market. And, for those who wish to continue their studies, to enroll in a new specialization, by putting them in contact with professionals from their sectors. “Actually, the idea came to me about ten years ago. I was chatting with Samar Dani, a friend of mine, who currently serves as Executive Director at Injaz. We were looking for a way to help Lebanon…” In August 2020, after the explosions at the port of Beirut, the realization of this idea became urgent. “After August 4, I was devastated. I had to do something to help in my own way,” adds Nada Jammoul Messaikeh, who says she is “convinced that education can change the lives of young people.” In view of the financial difficulties faced by many Lebanese students, mired in a country in the midst of an economic crisis illustrated by a dizzying depreciation of the Lebanese pound, it began by providing financial aid to students to enable them to complete their studies. For this, she receives help from her acquaintances and friends, but especially from Lebanese expatriates, in collaboration with the NGO Atamanna, whose objective is to help Lebanese students to cover university costs. “We supported students who were about to finish their studies, but needed funding for their last semester of college,” she explains. By organizing fundraising events, Nada Jammoul Messaikeh and its partners succeed in financially helping 100 students, allowing them to obtain their diplomas. “While visiting Lebanon, I decided to meet these students in person. » She then realizes that these young people are still mostly lost, not knowing how to enter the job market in a paralyzed country, or whether they wanted to stay in Lebanon or rather apply abroad due to the economic crisis. “The year following the port tragedy was very difficult for everyone, but especially for the students,” she emphasizes. She then decided to launch the mentoring program. “There are many programs to help young entrepreneurs. I wanted to create a program for all students, whatever their profiles or sectors of expertise, by providing them with a professional in their field who volunteers to guide them in their job search process,” explains Nada Jammoul Mesaikeh. Responding to a real and urgent need, this program has so far welcomed sixteen students from several universities, including the American University of Beirut, the Lebanese-American University, the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik , the Lebanese University and other establishments. They all have diverse profiles and come from different specializations. “A student looking to start a career in accounting is put in touch with a mentor who is the financial director of a multinational, for example, and so on,” she explains. this program has so far welcomed sixteen students from several universities, including the American University of Beirut, the Lebanese American University, the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, the Lebanese University and other establishments. They all have diverse profiles and come from different specializations. “A student looking to start a career in accounting is put in touch with a mentor who is the financial director of a multinational, for example, and so on,” she explains. this program has so far welcomed sixteen students from several universities, including the American University of Beirut, the Lebanese American University, the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, the Lebanese University and other establishments. They all have diverse profiles and come from different specializations. “A student looking to start a career in accounting is put in touch with a mentor who is the financial director of a multinational, for example, and so on,” she explains. They all have diverse profiles and come from different specializations. “A student looking to start a career in accounting is put in touch with a mentor who is the financial director of a multinational, for example, and so on,” she explains. They all have diverse profiles and come from different specializations. “A student looking to start a career in accounting is put in touch with a mentor who is the financial director of a multinational, for example, and so on,” she explains.
Preliminary training and selection of candidates
80 students expressed interest in this program, of which 16 were selected via interviews. Each of the young people selected was put in contact with a professional active in the field that the graduate wishes to enter. “The mentors also worked on networking the students, putting them in contact with their knowledge in the world of work in order to facilitate the hiring procedure,” adds Nada Jammoul Mssaiskeh. “The mentoring sessions are held online as most of the mentors reside abroad, particularly in the United Arab Emirates. » Beforehand and to optimize these twinning relationships, both students and mentors underwent training to understand how mentoring works and to ensure their commitment to this program. The mentoring lasts six months, a period during which the trained pairs must meet at least once a month. Today, one year after the launch of the first cycle, the results are promising. Of the 16 students who completed the program, 5 found work, 2 launched their start-ups and 4 continued their higher education. “There is not necessarily a direct correlation between the program and the new positions filled, but as mentors, we have directed them to the right companies and connected them with people in our network to facilitate the process” , is satisfied Nada Jammoul Mesaikeh. As a next step, the dynamic professor wishes to “offer this mentoring opportunity to more students, given that in the first round, a limited number had to be selected based on the number of professional volunteers available.” “Towards the end of the program, one of the students told me that the fact that we spend time with them and listen to them already gives them a lot of hope. » To apply for the Intersection mentoring program:https://www.injaz-lebanon.org/activities/projects/intersection.html.
