Empower youth in Beirut to set up businesses

I ran Berlin Marathon on September 24 in support of Bedayati - an NGO in Beirut that empowers youth from marginalised backgrounds to find work. My mission with this marathon was to support Bedayati’s youth entrepreneurship fund, empowering youth to set up their own micro businesses. Here’s why I chose this cause:

One out of every three young persons in Lebanon is not in education, training or employment (UNICEF 2022). In an effort to encourage self employment, Bedayati launched an entrepreneurship program. Students who completed the program in 2023 pitched their business ideas to a jury of business coaches and industry experts just this past August. Five winners will receive funding to start or expand their micro-businesses.

They’ve dreamed it and you can help bring it to life!

Encouraging entrepreneurs to set up their own business through small but interest-free loans is globally recognized as an effective tool for combating poverty and empowering youth. To this end, Bedayati established a revolving fund in 2022 to finance young microentrepreneurs. Loans that are repaid back to Bedayati will be used to fund additional micro-entrepreneurship projects.

Hassan's story

Hassan is a carpenter by training and has been working independently for the past two years. He received a micro-loan from Bedayati in 2022. With his first payment, Hassan bought equipment that he used to rent, including a table saw, a router jig saw, a power drill and an SDS drill. With these tools, Hassan was able to improve the quality and speed of his carpentry work and cut on costs.

Today he still needs to buy additional equipment he normally rents (worth $1,500), including a circular saw, chisel rolls, a fixed drill, a pillar drill, a mitre saw, a sanding machine, planer and an electrical tool bag. Hassan has so far reimbursed 60% of his loan. When he reimburses the full loan, he will receive an additional $1,500 to buy his equipment. He expects to make $1,000 in profit should he secure the required equipment.

What will Bedayati be providing?

Bedayati will be providing ongoing training and mentorship to all projects that receive micro-loans including in financial management and accounting, digital marketing and sales.

How can I track my donation?

We will provide regular updates about the winning projects on our website (bedayati.org) and on social media (@bedayatilebanon). You can also follow Hassan’s projects on @hansancarpentry.

Project by project, we can empower youth to pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations and create their own employment opportunities.

Thank you for your support!