Skills Training Education Programme (STEP)

In 2018, Asma Health Products emerged from a small, home-based kitchen in Jordan, aiming to provide gluten-free food products that would support healthy lifestyles. Founded by a local entrepreneur with a background in food processing, the initiative started with a single product—jams. Today, the business has flourished, offering over 20 items ranging from molasses and thyme to pickles and cheeses. Asma Health Products has also grown into a team of four employees from both Syrian and Jordanian backgrounds, with an expanded seasonal workforce of ten local women.

Massa Abar's story of transitioning from biomedical science to UI/UX design highlights the struggles many young graduates face in Lebanon's difficult job market. Through SE Factory and the STEP programme, she found the tools and confidence needed to succeed in a new field.

Fatima, Shaza, and Rayane, Syrian refugees in Lebanon, overcame challenges through the STEP Programme, gaining vital skills for employment. Despite social stigma and economic difficulties, they stayed committed to education. Their success highlights the transformative power of targeted vocational training in empowering refugees and creating new opportunities for brighter futures.

The Skills Training and Education Programme: Supporting youth to have economic impact in Lebanon and Jordan In October 2022, SPARK launched the Skills Training Education Programme (STEP) in Jordan and Lebanon, supported by the Islamic Development Bank, Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair Refugee Education Fund. Working with young people, both refugees and youth from host communities, STEP offers vocational training (TVET), startup and business skills development, internships and job placements, as well as access to finance for businesses to enhance employment opportunities and economic recovery.

Awad Al Khatib, a 22-year-old fresh graduate, is navigating Jordan's high youth unemployment through support from SPARK's STEP programme. With employability training from our partner, Education For Employment, Awad was matched with a job placement, which later evolved into a full-time position as an Account Manager.

Despite dropping out of school at the age of 13, this young Syrian refugee woman is thriving within Jordan’s beauty industry with a full-time job as a Manicure and Pedicure Technician. Technical training by SPARK’s partner, Education For Employment (EFE), led Angham to a job placement and a new career.

Manal Mamou and Maysaa Alsaghyer, Syrian refugees in Lebanon, transformed adversity into opportunity by establishing MOUNET Al DAR cooperative. Driven by the need to support their families amidst crisis, they ventured into food processing. With STEP’s programme support, they overcame challenges, launched their brand, and empowered women in their community through employment.

Muthanna Al-Muhaisen, the founder of Hypo Farm, is leading Jordan's hydroponic farming revolution. Supported by mentorship and coaching sessions, Hypo Farm is a pioneer in sustainable agriculture, offering pesticide-free produce while saving water in a country facing severe water scarcity. Through expansion, Muthanna provides opportunities for Syrian refugees and people with disabilities, driving future-focused farming.

Meet Doha, one of the graduate students who was part of the STEP programme and was able to secure a full-time job in Lebanon. The STEP programme is a widening access programme that collaborates with young people from across Lebanon and Jordan, which have the highest unemployment rates in the Middle East. Over the programme period, which consisted of 35 boot camps, a total of 395 students enrolled, and 208 students successfully attended the programme. As an outcome, 128 students secured internships, and 68 students secured paid employment.

With a mission to spread coding and robotics education, Ralph and Hussein, both aged 21, co-founded RobotX. Joining the Startup Roadshow 4 competition, the paid secured mentorship, skills and funding, propelling them to the top 10 startups.

Shifaa’s childhood fascination with computers led her to pursue a career in the tech industry. Despite only 23% of the digital workforce in Lebanon consisting of women, participating in SE Factory’s web developer boot camp, as part of SPARK’s STEP programme, she has now secured a full-time role in tech.

E-waste poses a global challenge, with its hazardous substances and valuable elements. UN projections estimate 120 million tons by 2050 due to increased consumption and short product lifecycles. Hamza Al Faoori's Virus for Electronic Waste Recycling in Jordan embodies circular economy principles, repurposing e-waste responsibly and overcoming refugee entrepreneur challenges with MSME support.

WATR, first place winner of the Startup Roadshow 4, revolutionises water delivery by connecting tanker drivers with customers through a smart app, ensuring timely service and transparent pricing. Tanker owners benefit from regular clients, while customers enjoy features like location tracking and convenient payments.

Rahaf Abu Mayaleh, a 21-year-old health skills trainer, identified a lack of innovative tools for children's health education. Joining the STEP programme, she was able to launch her startup, 4HEALTH EDU, an eco-conscious platform offering Arabic health courses for kids.

Ejet Elkahraba is a startup addressing Lebanon's chronic electricity crisis through a user-friendly app, providing real-time updates on power availability and outages. Founded by Abdulkader Khateeb, the company empowers its users with insights and predictions for optimising energy consumption. This business is growing in the midst of Lebanon’s nationwide challenge, providing solutions and creating vital job opportunities.

Aya Emad, a Syrian refugee in Jordan since 2015, turned her passion for art into a business to sustain her family and contribute to her community. Facing challenges common to refugees, she found support through programmes like SPARK, enhancing her skills and accessing markets.

The impact of locally-run development is clear. SE Factory, SPARK’s partner in Lebanon, helped Majd secure a remote job in a US company by boosting his skills within UI/UX and front-end development.

Hasan Al-Ahmad impressed judges at Startup Roadshow4 with his vision for Liber, a sports platform addressing booking challenges in Lebanon. With planning and support from STEP programme, Hasan and Mohammad Bakour turned their idea into a reality, revolutionising sports access and management. Liber's growth continues with strategic partnerships and job creation.

The Antabi family's new health tech startup, File in Tab, is providing a digital solution for managing and accessing medical records in Jordan. Supported by the SPARK programme, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Abdul Aziz al Ghurair Refugee Education Fund, the startup is taking its next steps.

AI-powered startup in Lebanon, Questa, was propelled by the Startup Roadshow 4 incubation programme offered by SPARK and Jusoor, financed by Islamic Development Bank and the Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair Foundation. Founders, Anthony and Nour said: “The work that was supposed to take a year and a half, they helped us accomplish it in four to five months.”

Transitioning from one career path to another can be daunting, especially when needing a new set of skills. However, as both Souraya Abdel Kader and Asmaa Hamid have experienced, with the right mindset, dedication, and support, it is possible to make a successful transition into the tech industry.