Raif Shwayri
رئيف نديم شويري

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Raif Shwayri

Author

Economically Sustainable Development
Emerald Publishing, UK. 11 January 2021
Beirut on the Bayou
SUNY Press, New York. 2015
Beirut on the Bayou
Film produced by Raif Shwayri and Brent Joseph, Austin, Texas. 2019
Tilting at Windmills
Autobiographic work counting the story of Al-Kafaat, Beirut. 2019
Tilting at Windmills
Arabic version of Tilting at Windmills, Translated by Abraham Abdallah, Beirut. 2019
Nadim. Un Liban généreux
Les2Encres, Paris. 2008
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مراقصة الطواحين

قصة "الكفاءات" من 1992 الى 2015

رئيف شويري يسير على خُطى والده ليسرد رحلة "الكفاءات" في ظل إدارته.

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Tilting at Windmills

The story of Al-Kafaàt from 1992 to 2015

Raif Shwayri follows in his father’s footsteps to deliver a compelling biography and recount the journey of Al-Kafaàt under his tenure.

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Beirut on the Bayou

Alfred Nicola, Louisiana, and the Making of Modern Lebanon

Weaves a family narrative into the story of a people, of Lebanon-in-the-making.

Habib Shwayri was seventeen when he arrived at Ellis Island in 1902. Having left Beirut, then a harbor city on the Syrian coast of the Ottoman Empire, only weeks before, he took the name Alfred Nicola on his arrival and made his way to New Orleans, where he had relatives. There, he took to peddling down the Bayou Lafourche, befriending the communities living alongside the water and earning the nickname “Sweet Papa” for his kindness and generosity. When he returned home to Lebanon, he began to invest the money he had made from years of peddling in real estate. After his death, his youngest son, Nadim, turned his part of the inheritance into an endowment that started Al-Kafaàt, an iconic institution in Lebanon that serves the handicapped and underprivileged.

The story of Alfred Nicola, however, like the story of Lebanon itself, begins farther back in history. In its account of centuries of Ottoman rule, decades of colonial occupation, and years of internal political strife and civil war, Beirut on the Bayou weaves a family narrative into the story of a people, of Lebanon-in-the-making. From the Fertile Crescent to the Crescent City, the saga of Alfred Nicola and the Moujaes and Shwayri families reflects the experiences of those Lebanese who walked the path of immigration to the United States, as well as those who stayed behind — or returned — to help forge a nation.

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Press

Magazine (August 2016)
De la Louisiane au Liban. Raif Shwayri réinvente l’histoire de sa famille

Voice of America (July 2016)
http://www.voanews.com/a/from-fertile-crescent-crescent-city-book-details-immigrant-journey/3442513.html

Blurbs

James Ketterer, Bard College (September 2015)
“Beirut on the Bayou weaves together the fascinating story of a family with roots in both Lebanon and, more recently, in Louisiana. Along the way, we learn more about the history of the Middle East, the tragedy of the Lebanese civil war, and the remarkable development of the Al-Kafaàt Foundation and educational institutions. Raif Shwayri successfully combines personal stories with grand history, all in a compelling voice and an entertaining style.”

Eugene Paul Nassar, Director and Founder, The Ethnic Heritage Studies Center, Utica College (September 2015)
“Well written and charming at times, this book traces the history not only of Lebanon’s constant ‘realpolitik’ turmoil but also that of the enclave of humanitarianism in Al-Kafaàt. Raif Shwayri argues, somewhat wistfully—but at the same time, admirably—that someday and slowly, humanity will win out against violence.”

L'Hebdo Magazine
“Courage, ambition, and love of words. Raif Shwayri has it all at once.”

Voice of America News
“...a fascinating story.”

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Events

Sep 21, 2015

Book-signing of special edition for friends of AKU - AL KAFAAT UNIVERSITY
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Apr 10, 2016

Family and friends, Louisiana, Phoenicia, 4201 Veterans Blvd, Metairie, LA
Raif at Phoenicia-01 Raif at Phoenicia-02 Raif at Phoenicia-03 Raif at Phoenicia-04 Raif at Phoenicia-05 Raif at Phoenicia-06 Raif at Phoenicia-07 Raif at Phoenicia-08 Raif at Phoenicia-09 Raif at Phoenicia-10 Raif at Phoenicia-11 Raif at Phoenicia-12 Raif at Phoenicia-13 Raif at Phoenicia-14 Raif at Phoenicia-15 Raif at Phoenicia-16 Raif at Phoenicia-17 Raif at Phoenicia-18 Raif at Phoenicia-19 Raif at Phoenicia-20

Apr 11, 2016

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Book signing | New Orleans, Octavia Books (513 Octavia Street, New Orleans, LA 70115)
Raif at Octavia-01 Raif at Octavia-02 Raif at Octavia-03 Raif at Octavia-04 Raif at Octavia-05 Raif at Octavia-06 Raif at Octavia-07 Raif at Octavia-08 Raif at Octavia-09 Raif at Octavia-10 Raif at Octavia-11 Raif at Octavia-12 Raif at Octavia-13 Raif at Octavia-14 Raif at Octavia-15 Raif at Octavia-16 Raif at Octavia-17

Apr 13, 2016

6:30 PM

Presentation, Lafourche Heritage Society | Ellender Memorial Library at Nicholls State University
University at Thibodeaux-01 University at Thibodeaux-02 University at Thibodeaux-03 University at Thibodeaux-04 University at Thibodeaux-05 University at Thibodeaux-06 University at Thibodeaux-07 University at Thibodeaux-08 University at Thibodeaux-09 University at Thibodeaux-10 University at Thibodeaux-11 University at Thibodeaux-12

Jul 27, 2016

Reception and Presentation, Organized/sponsored by LAU, Lebanese Consulate, and SUNY | LAU, 211 East 46th Street, New York, NY 10017
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Sep 16-17, 2016

Panelist | North America Lebanese Diaspora Energy Conference. Lebanese Consulate, 583 Park Avenue, New York
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Oct 25, 2016

Presentation Organized by the Rockefeller Institute of Government | Rockefeller Institute of Government, 411 State Street, Albany, NY 12203
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Oct 27, 2016

Presentation and book signing | Loyola University, 6363 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118
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Oct 29, 2016

Featured Author, 2016 Louisiana Book Festival | State Library of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, LA
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Voice recording of the presentation

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Beirut on the Bayou

the Film



Teaser


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Nadim.
Un Liban généreux

Nadim, anthropologue et professeur à l Université de Londres, d origine libanaise, exilé en Angleterre, est rejoint par son passé. Une lettre, écrite en braille, l appelle au chevet de sa mère atteinte de la maladie d Alzheimer. Tiraillé par le sens du devoir envers une mère qu il a peu connue et un refus de renouer avec un pays dont la mémoire est accablante, Nadim revisite les souvenirs, joyeux et tristes, de son enfance difficile. Suite à la mort prématurée du père tombé dès les premières rafales de 1975, et après la fugue de sa mère, Nadim est accueilli par « Al-Kafaàt », une organisation humanitaire pour le développement, où il vivra et sera scolarisé. Il y rencontre Charlie, un aveugle, né en Palestine d avant le partage, et dont l histoire est marquante. Ancien compagnon de travail de son père, il devient son ami. Nadim retrouve le Liban après vingt et un ans d absence. Il renoue avec Charlie et apprend à connaître sa mère. Revenu à « Al-Kafaàt », il revoit son fondateur, monsieur Nadim, celui, justement, dont il a reçu le nom. Il découvre la réalité du Liban contemporain et prend la mesure des difficultés de son pays d origine à travers les réalisations développées par « Al-Kafaàt » durant cinquante ans. Le message de foi qu il y perçoit lui permet de renouer avec sa vie antérieure. Mais c est pour assister à la fin de vie de sa mère. À travers les pérégrinations d hommes et de femmes, leurs histoires, leurs peines et leurs joies, ce livre offre un tracé limpide d un demi-siècle de tourmente dans un Moyen-Orient déchiré. Deux récits parallèles, l un romanesque, l autre documentaire, se croisent pour livrer une information historique précise sur des moments forts de la vie des gens de la Palestine et du Liban.

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Economically Sustainable Development: Practical Models for Long-Term NGO Viability

Released on January 11, 2021 by Emerald Publishing, UK.

Development projects, nearly always all hope and optimism at their inception, have often failed to maintain their impetus and impact in the long run. This is usually because they have failed from the outset to account for how imbalances of power, legacies of colonialism and global wealth inequalities can hamper their staying power. These hurdles have only become greater in the wake of Covid-19.

In this book, I offer practical models for navigating the major structural and strategic problems currently facing the workers and organizations who strive to make significant, long-lasting changes in developing countries.

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Raif Shwayri

Development Specialist

  • Models
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  • Sustainable Village
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Models

School-Enterprise

The School-Enterprise Model combines the provision of educational instruction and services to the local community. In real terms, education is embedded in real enterprise. Students are themselves part of the operations, producers of goods and services. These are sold for a profit, by a company set-up to cater specifically for the needs of education. In the following picture, a printing school builds on a company structure, and students learn the profession by executing real jobs. In this case, the company (iPrint SAL) was owned by a development organization (Al-Kafaàt Foundation). Students gain hands-on experience and boost their employment possibilities, while profits generated from the sale of goods cover the costs of education.


In countries with modest government spending on education and social welfare, the School-Enterprise model is a solution. It fosters high level education leading to employment while keeping costs contained. This allows youth from economically challenged environments, otherwise considered to be at risk, to make it in life and contribute to the wealth of the country. Though simple in appearance, for the model to succeed the School-Enterprise should be:

  • Innovative
  • Empowering and community-driven
  • Accessible to markets
  • Ambitious
  • Scalable

“An Education for the real world”

This is what Education should ultimately serve: personal betterment of individuals and inclusion in the marketplace as contributors to society. For this to exist, Education has to respond to market needs and what better way to ensure it does but to bring students to perform while in their line of studying?

The following picture shows students reading a Bachelor degree in Special Education, at work at a real school. After a first year of observation in classrooms, students are hired as paid faculty, and are given a group of children to manage. From preparation of classwork to delivery, students are thrown in the mix, to perform in the real world, under the supervision and assessment of their University teachers.

AKU student in Special Education at work, while fulfilling her course credits (Al-Kafaàt, 2012)AKU student in Special Education at work, while fulfilling her course credits (Al-Kafaàt, 2012)

Learning through Development

Learning through Development is an initiative that brings together two worlds that have naturally grown apart: Development and Education. The former is the domain of Non-Government Organizations, Foundations, and Government Agencies. On the private side, it is spearheaded by philanthropists and individuals with diverse motivations. On the official side, it is governed by the incumbent interests of administrations, dictated by the world’s events. Education, on the other hand, is the domain of Colleges and Universities, unique clusters for research, innovation and creative thinking. A pool of knowledge, yet these clusters are set by tradition to operate in secluded environments and are virtual incubators of ideas.

While Development is carried out by people with honorable intentions, they all-too-often lack the knowledge and expertise to implement complex programs. Educational clusters, on the other hand, foster this climate of knowledge and expertise, but they too have limitations, for knowledge and expertise are usually bounded within the limits of their campuses. Learning through Development looks at bridging these two worlds that sit at the antipodes. It seeks to dwell on the resources present at Educational clusters to serve Development programs in countries in need.

Opening Colleges and Universities to the real world has many virtues. By confronting students and researchers to the real problems of the world, and bringing them to perform their College requirements in a real environment, Learning through Development gives purpose to individual Education. It intends to inspire people to use their knowledge and expertise to serve a noble and higher cause. The direct effect is grand if measured against the individual achievements in a span of a lifetime.

Learning through Development was co-founded by Raif Shwayri, to provide service learning, research and development opportunities for students and faculty through guided and supported placements in the developing world. This strategy was inspired by SUNY activity in the Middle East (Lebanon) in a USAID-funded project through Higher Education for Development (HED). Through this project, community colleges were leaders in fostering a capacity-building partnership which brought to bear the knowledge available at several campuses at SUNY – from comprehensive colleges, to technical colleges and university centers.

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Al-Kafaàt

From 1999 until September 2015, Raif Shwayri was the CEO of Al-Kafaàt Foundation in Lebanon. In this position, he concluded the following:

  • Managed 7 institutions, employing 600 full-time and 300 part-time staff, serving a population of 5,000 daily users (of which 700 are residents).
  • Managed and built the capacity of 12 programs for people with disabilities, serving a total of 1,200 permanent users and 300 out-patients (2015).
  • Developed and managed 30 programs in general education and Vocational Training, serving a population of 1,900 students from socially deprived environments (2015).
  • Initiated and managed the AL KAFAAT UNIVERSITY (AKU) which serves 1,500 students in 5 faculties (2015), with a growth of 20% new registrations every year.
  • Built the capacity of Al-Kafaàt institutions from 1,000 daily users (in 1999) to 5,000 (in 2015).
  • Conceptualized, secured third-party funding, and implemented a large count of Development (investment) projects:
    • Vocational Training workshops to benefit 1,000 students every year: $5M (1996-2010). In partnership with a number of donor-organizations and government agencies.
    • Vocational Training for young women: $650k (1999-2002). In partnership with Belgian and Spanish government agencies and donor-organizations.
    • A profit generating Social Enterprise in Central Kitchen Operations (with a dual approach of training and producing, with profits invested in education): $1M (1999-2002). In partnership with the Belgian cooperation agency.
    • A profit generating Social Enterprise in Printing (with a dual approach of training and producing, with profits invested in education): $1.2M (2007). In partnership with a number of donor-organizations and government agencies.
    • Assistance to the war afflicted; training of professionals and service providing to patients (physical therapy, war psychology, and supply of internally-produced orthotics and prosthetics): $1 M (2007-2010). In partnership with College Montmorency, Laval, Quebec, and the Canadian Agency for International Development.
    • Capacity building of 60 cottage inns in rural Lebanon: $1 M (2006-2010). In partnership with ANERA, Washington, and USAID.
    • Development of European-style Higher Education program in Special Education, instituting a France-awarded Bachelor Degree: $750k (2005-2009). In partnership with IRTS in Marseille and the European Union (TEMPUS program).
    • Creation of 30 workshops that foster gainful employment to 450 young adults with mental and cerebral disabilities: $4M (2009-2012). In partnership with a consortium of 7 donor organizations and government agencies.
    • Complete renovation of an Al-Kafaàt Institute that serves children with multiple handicaps: $1.6M (2009-2012). In partnership with a consortium of donor organizations and government agencies.
    • Creation of an ESL center, a Small-Business Development Center, a Learning Center, and a Center for Students with Disabilities at AL KAFAAT UNIVERSITY (AKU): $1.2 M (2010-2015). In partnership with the State University of New York, Higher Education for Development (HED), and USAID.
  • Initiated partnerships with donor-organizations and government agencies in Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Great Britain, Canada, and USA.
  • Founded a Dutch Charity and organized its governance with the object of garnering European support to Al-Kafaàt Foundation in Lebanon
  • Led AL KAFAAT UNIVERSITY (AKU) to enter into an official affiliation with the State University of New York (SUNY) and to prepare for full recognition from a US Accreditation Agency.
  • Organized tailor-made training sessions in Lebanon for regional companies and Gulf-countries.
  • Initiated and presided over a nationwide consortium of institutions, associations, and individual experts to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities in Lebanon. The National Consortium for the Rights of People with Disabilities (NCRPD) had 11 members sitting in 2014 on the National Council for Disability (total of 18 members) which brought it forefront in the law-making sphere.
  • Managed Government-relations for Al-Kafaàt Foundation and, as President of the NCRPD, was directly involved in the revision of State subsidies for disability allowances in 2009 and 2012 which benefited all institutions and people with disabilities across Lebanon.

From 1992 untill 1999, Raif Shwayri sat as Director of Vocational Training at Al-Kafaàt Foundation, Lebanon. As such, he:

  • Developed the capabilities of the institute from 250 to 1,500 students.
  • Entered into partnerships with leading European leading public and private schools (SEPR in Lyon, the Academy of Besançon, the IUT of Belfort-Montbéliard, and the IRTS – Institut Régional du Travail Social), and accreditation bodies (Institute of Motor Industry - IMI, London).
  • Implemented in Lebanon the British-awarded National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) since 1996.
  • Led Al-Kafaàt Technical Institute (ITK) to partner with the Association of Lebanese Industrialists and to sit as an expert-member in the Association’s Commission for Vocational Training (1994).
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SVLC - Sustainable Village and Learning Community

From 2016 until 2019, Raif Shwayri acted as the Development Expert for the Haiti initiative entered by the State University of New York and the Kellogg Foundation.

  • Co-founded the Learning through Development program, now cornerstone of the SUNY/Kellogg Haiti initiative. The program offers a new paradigm where students in learning become agents of change for development initiatives globally.
  • Consulted on the establishment of the Sustainable Village and Learning Community in Haiti. The SVLC offers:
    • Service and learning compound spread over 40 acres in Arcahaie, Haiti.
    • School-Enterprise model in multiple sectors: agriculture, fisheries, maritime shipping and passenger transportation, food processing and industry, hotel business, television and radio production and broadcasting.
    • Support to small enterprise by way of physical and virtual incubation.
    • Social workshops to empower individuals at risk: winery, perfume and soaps, 3-D printed orthotics and prosthetics production and supply, solar panels.
    • Health and rehabilitation center: internal medicine, women’s center, pediatrics, emergency medicine, physical therapy, speech and occupational therapies.
    • Rural and community development: distribution of resources and allocation of businesses across the community (cattle, seeds, equipment …) while centralizing marketing of ensuing products on local and international markets.
    • Performing arts, music, and heritage center.
  • Participated in the effort to pool resources from across multiple campuses in New York (SUNY counts 64 campuses, with 80,000 faculty and near half a million students).
  • Built the initial budget for the overall plan of action (+$150 Million; 12 years in three phases). Participated actively in the fundraising efforts and communications strategies.
  • Co-managed the start-up and structural developments.

With children, at the Salesian School in La SalineWith children, at the Salesian School in La Saline

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Raif Shwayri

Social Entrepreneur

Sagittaire Invest


EME Consult


ZEYT Alberto B.V.

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Sagittaire Invest

SAGITTAIRE INVEST is a company that invests in people, believing that big ideas are brought by micro enterpreneurs. It aims at sustaining efforts borne by individuals, helping to bring their ideas to fruition, and their projects to the light. From counseling to development, from concept to marketing, the company accompanies innovators with a research-and-development approach to build their ideas. SAGITTAIRE INVEST is a virtual incubator that nurtures champions across multiple interrelated fields.

Devoted website
sagittaireinvest.com

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EME Consult

Empower the Middle East (EME) is a consultancy firm registered under Lebanese law. It was founded by Raif Shwayri in 2015, an expert in development and rehabilitation, and the former CEO of Al-Kafaàt Foundation in Lebanon.

With Abraham Abdallah, director of EME Consult, and Nadia Ballan, the projects coordinatorWith Abraham Abdallah, director of EME Consult, and Nadia Ballan, the projects coordinator

EME started with the mission of empowering people and organizations across the countries of the Middle East and has extended to cover a number of countries in the Caribbean, Africa and Central and Southeast Asia. EME undertakes study and implementation tasks on behalf of for-profit companies, universities, welfare institutions, and government agencies, in areas of Health, Education, Social Entrepreneurship, Business Development and Consultancy.

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ZEYT Alberto B.V.

ZeytAlberto believes that celebrating life is important. Connecting with other people, creating good moments is our drive. Enjoy spending time with friends and family. Give loved ones a special gift. Relax after a busy day. Or just smile and be happy.

Our products based on craftsmanship and authenticity surprise your senses: by sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. We are a bit quirky and love to surprise our consumers.

ZeytAlberto is in the process of elaborating shops where everybody can discover and enjoy an energetic and cosmopolitan atmosphere, through a sophisticated line of products.

ZeytAlberto. Celebrate life.

Founded and managed by Reina Khoury Choueiri

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TV

الآثر على الاقتصاد الفرنسي جرّاء إقفال الأول من أيار

May 2, 2025

الانتخابات الرئاسية في اميركا

November 4, 2024

أزمة الطاقة في مصر

July 8, 2024

الانتخابات التركية وارتفاع أسعار الذهب

April 5, 2024

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Raif Shwayri

About

Raif Shwayri is a specialist in International Development. He has corporate and business expertise in conceiving and implementing programs in health and rehabilitation, education, social entrepreneurship, economic development, capacity building and community engagement.

Fields of expertise

Institutional building

  • Development of institutional mission and vision.
  • Building institutional corporate structures.
  • Development of funding and fundraising mechanisms (operations, investment, and endowment).
  • Elaboration of financial systems and controls, and development of institutional procedures.
  • Development of institutional communication strategies.
  • Building networks and consortia for international partnerships.

Program conceptualizing and management

  • Conceptualization of Development projects, elaboration of funding mechanisms, and implementation in multiple sectors:
    • Vocational Training facilities for young adults from socially challenged backgrounds.
    • Self-sustainable and profit generating Social Enterprises.
    • Rural development and empowerment of micro businesses.
    • Rehabilitation clinics and Special Education facilities for people with disabilities and socially disadvantaged.
  • Conceptualization, development, and implementation of “cradle-to-career” systems, and elaboration of funding mechanisms:
    • Pre-schooling, primary, intermediate and secondary Education.
    • Technical Education, Vocational Training and Continuing Education.
    • University Education (Bachelor and Master levels).
  • Development and management of care programs for people with disabilities.
    • Creation of residential homes with nursing facilities.
    • Creation of rehabilitation facilities.
  • Development and management of Special Education and Employment programs:
    • Devising of tailor-made programs for people with autism, cerebral palsy, multiple handicaps, mental disabilities, and learning disabilities.
    • Creation of self-sustainable workshops that provide gainful employment for people with disabilities.
    • Implementation of forward integration measures in Education.
  • Building assistance programs in response to humanitarian crisis:
    • Meals-on-wheels.
    • Mobile clinics.
    • Hands-on apprenticeship and job creation.
  • Overall management and planning for multidisciplinary organizations.

Policy-Making and Advocacy

  • Harnessing local and regional competencies, and organizing think-tanks and lobbying groups.
  • Building on institutional pilot schemes to address law-making spheres; capitalize on individual outcomes by spreading successful initiatives nationally.
  • Building outreach mechanisms to connect with civil society, government institutions, and media.

Education

  • MBA from Cardiff Business School, University of Wales (1993).
  • Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering from King’s College, University of London (1991).
  • French Baccalaureate in Mathematics from Notre-Dame de Jamhour, Lebanon (1986).

Affiliations and previous positions

  • Holder of the John W. Ryan Fellowship for International Education, bestowed by the State University of New York in 2012 (system.suny.edu/global/opportunities/jwr-fellowship).
  • President of the Board of Directors of Al-Kafaàt Foundation (from 2002 until 2007).

Publications

  • Nadim. Un Liban généreux. Les 2 Encres. Paris; 2008.
  • Beirut on the Bayou. SUNY Press. New York; 2015
  • Tilting at Windmills. 2018
  • ٢٠١٩. مراقصة الطواحين
  • Economically Sustainable Development: Practical Models for Long-Term NGO Viability. Forthcoming 2020
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Abraham Abdallah

Abraham Abdallah has extensive experience working in the fields of disability rights, humanitarian actions, inclusive education, accessibility and assistive technology. Furthermore, as a human rights activist, he has a particular interest in advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities.

Mr. Abdallah has a bachelor of arts in Business Finance and Political Science and a Master’s degree in Commercial Law.

Currently, Mr. Abdallah is the President of the Arab Organization of Persons with Disabilities, IDA board member and executive board Member of the National Council on Disability in Lebanon.

Mr. Abdallah is the director of Empower the Middle East Consult (EME) and the disability program advisor for FPS and he is teaching a course on human rights and disability at USAL. Recently, he finished coordinating many projects related to disability with OHCHR and IFRC.

Previously Mr. Abdallah served as the Dean of Inclusive Education and the director of the Center for Students with disability (CSD) at Al-kafaat University, and he was a member of the Lebanese official delegation for negotiations on the CRPD at the United Nations, from 2002 to 2006. He participated in the discussions and promoted the rights of persons with disabilities.

Mr. Abdallah has contributed to various publications related to disability rights and also has been quite active in the disability field in Lebanon, the Arab region and on the international arena.

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Nadia Ballan Karam

Nadia Ballan Karam has a good experience in the fields of disability rights and administrative work.

Mrs. Karam has a bachelor of arts in law from Aleppo University, and she is currently working as the executive assistant to the director of Empower the Middle East Consult (EME). Previously, Mrs. Karam worked as the director assistant for the Center for Students with Disability at AKU.

Mrs. Karam has been active in the disability field in Lebanon; She participated in many conferences and training workshops related to disability.

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Reina Khoury Choueiri

Reina Khoury Choueiri has devoted her time for the last fifteen years to build the capacity of individuals with needs. She started as an administrator at a residential facility with nursing services, then managed the “Village” at Al-Kafaàt, an institute that offers employment to 400 people with disabilities in some 15 workshops and small industries. Through ZeytAlberto, she continues to promote social justice and participation of all, in constructive measures that make our world diverse, equitable and fun!

Reina has a Master Degree in Engineering.

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