Jusoor

2024 has been a year full of achievements despite its many challenges. It has also been a year with many new beginnings for Jusoor. As 2024 comes to a close, we can’t help but be inspired by the events that unfolded in Syria this month. While this moment is not without its uncertainties for Syria’s future, it is a moment of great potential – and we cannot wait to play a vital role in our country’s future. Read more about our year at Jusoor: https://lnkd.in/d_GEhMbG

December 8th marked a turning point in the history of our beloved Syria, a pivotal moment, full of hope, bringing us all together to rebuild and reimagine a brighter future for our people. This moment is not without its uncertainties, but it is full of potential - and we cannot wait to play a central role in our country’s future. Read our full statement here: https://lnkd.in/deqBpDJQ

This year we are celebrating the tenth anniversary of Jusoor's Entrepreneurship program. To mark this occasion, we invite you to meet three Entrepreneurs who through hard work, determination, and the help of Jusoor’s program have found success in their startups: Sami Al-Ahmad Emonovo Salma Amayri Smart Green for AgriTech Solutions Azad Hassan Eduba In its ten years, our Entrepreneurship Program has supported more than 800 startups and 2,400 entrepreneurs across diverse sectors—from education and technology to health and sustainable development, invested more than $2 million in funding and resources, helping founders bridge gaps and scale their visions, and delivered hundreds of hours of training and more than 3,000 hours of one-on-one expert sessions, equipping entrepreneurs with the tools and confidence to succeed. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d4uS3Mr7

Our Future Skills Project, generously supported by Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation (Al Ghurair Foundation), was redesigned to take place online. The 75 students, aged 14-17 enrolled are engaged in sessions on coding, robotics, critical thinking, and English to equip them with 21st-century skills, despite current circumstances in Lebanon. We worked closely with teachers to adjust to the online format, to ensure that the core objectives of each module would still be met. Also, we have considered the need for more interactive and engaging online tools to maintain student participation and interest, including a simulator for the coding and micro-bit setup that each student receives at home to work with. The students will continue the sessions online until January with a closing ceremony set to take place then.

We are excited to announce the three winners of our Disruptors Project! In first place, winning $10,000 in seed money is Mujaz, an Arabic-first platform that empowers creators and businesses to effortlessly build and monetize newsletters, effectively bridging the Arabic content gap. In second place, winning $7,000 in seed money is ShipDip, a platform that connects merchants with reliable freight forwarders, providing shipping quotes to streamline the shipping process and enhance business efficiency. In third place, winning $5,000 in seed money is Uniex App, an application that helps students choose the best major, university, and student environment for them. The Demo Day was part of our event ‘Scaling Opportunities: 10 Years of Disruption’ where we marked the ten-year anniversary of Jusoor’s Entrepreneurship Program. Read more about our winners and the event: https://lnkd.in/d4uS3Mr7

We are honored to announce that Jusoor has received the Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice under the theme “Humanity in Action” from The Harmony Foundation. This award, presented in Mumbai, India, recognizes Jusoor’s commitment to empowering Syrian children and youth through education. Our Executive Director, Khaled Abu-Ajwa, accepted the award on behalf of Jusoor. In Khaled’s words: “The Mother Teresa Memorial Award carries a powerful legacy of kindness and service, and we are proud to be part of that legacy. This award is a reminder of what humanity can achieve when we come together.” Now, we are honored to join the list of notable recipients of the award, including Nobel Laureates, global organizations, and exceptional individuals such as H.H Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, H.H. The Dalai Lama, Ms. Narges Mohammadi, the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNHCR, SPARK, and the Danish Refugee Council, to name a few. Thank you to the Harmony Foundation for this recognition and to our supporters who believe in the power of education to transform lives. https://lnkd.in/dQyqk4sy

Another success story! Congrats to Abdulhadi Alrajab for completing his journey in the Tech Talent pipeline and landing an amazing career opportunity!

Congrats to Ahmad Bakkar on securing his tech career. Thanks to our partnership with TalPods, our students are building promising careers in tech!

This achievement marks a turning point in our refugee talent, breaking into a promising tech career and securing a hopeful future for their families!

We are proud to share that, Yeti Confetti for Refugees, our project bringing AI learning to our Refugee Education Centers in Lebanon with Lirvana Labs, is one of six selected Solver teams in MIT Solve Global Learning Challenge! MIT Solve sought out cutting-edge technology-based solutions that address equity gaps in learning. Learn more about Solve’s Global Challenges and our solution here: https://lnkd.in/gww_aSZ6 At the MIT Solve 2024 Launch Event in September, we were also awarded the GSR Foundation Prize which recognizes solutions that innovatively use technology to address pressing issues in their communities, which have the potential to scale globally. This support is needed now, more than ever, to power us to continue to make education accessible to refugee children, despite the circumstances. #SolveChallenges2024