From 24th–30^th May 2023, Lebanese trainees graduated from the YEP MED courses will travel to Spain and Italy for a great opportunity for their professional future. The five trainees were selected based on specific criteria related to their profiles, performances during the training, and individual motivational videos they submitted. A jury of professionals and tutors from the Escola Europea, lead partner of the YEP MED project, carried out the selection process.

In these very dire days that are still hitting the Lebanese population and in particular its youth future, an access to international training, standards and certification in the maritime field is a glance of hope made possible by the Beirut Chamber of Commerce.

The YEP MED Talent course combines theoretical classes, practical visits , workshops and collaborative work in teams. Young trainees from Spain, Italy, France, Tunisia, Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon – participating countries - will take part in this training. After the course, interviews and behavioral tests will take place to help the graduates obtain professional assessments.
In this article we get to know the successful applicants from Lebanon who will attend the course in May 2023.

Mayssaloun Mohammad, 24 years                                                                                 Lebanese International University Field Investigator,Accounting bills

1. You have been chosen to participate in the YEP MED Talent Training for high performance teams in Sustainable Maritime Transport that will take place in Barcelona and Italy.  How are you preparing yourself?

Well!!! I'm super excited for this new step, I'm preparing myself mentally for this training by focusing on how I will improve my knowledge and skills and for sure I'm preparing all the needed documents right now in order to apply for the visa. Overall, I'm committed to being fully prepared for the participation in this trip.

2. What are your expectations?

When it comes to expectations, I might mention learning new skills, knowledge, meet and interact with new people from different cultures and backgrounds and discover these new cultures and for sure it will be a new adventure and somehow a challenging entertainment.

3. What about the opportunity behind this programme opportunity?

I would say that it might be a personal growth opportunity, this programme or training can offer an opportunity to me for growth and development and also may expose new ideas and even it might be possible to get a new job opportunity, who knows!!

      4- In these very difficult days for Lebanese youth for employment, what do you hope?
We hope that even during these difficult times, it is still possible to get new job opportunities or even more training in this sector.

Mario Boutros Rizk                                                                                                               

American University of Technology (AUT) Graduate Shipping and Logistics

1. You have been chosen to participate in the YEP MED Talent Training for high performance teams in Sustainable Maritime Transport that will take place in Barcelona and Italy.  How are you preparing yourself?

First, I'm so happy for this opportunity and I want to thank everyone for their sacrifice and support.  I'm very excited to attend the conference and my expectations are very high and I'm sure that we will be surprised with the YEP MED Talent course between Barcelona and Civitavecchia.

1. What are your expectations?

I cannot express and describe my expectations and feelings except that I'm very excited and eager to learn more about this field in order to build our brighter future via the YEP MED programme.

       3-   What about the opportunity behind this programme opportunity?

The opportunity from the YEP MED programme is that we can find a job directly and without losing time because we learned a lot and gained more information in this field and we can reach very high positions in this field.
      4- In these very difficult days for Lebanese youth for employment, what do you hope?                           

No one should lose Hope and Faith in bad and hard situations and specially with the YEP MED programme which is able to make you qualified to find a job and work in this field and that is through the information, sacrifices and support provided by all the YEP MED members.
The difficult circumstances make us strong.
Stay strong and keep fighting to reach your goals.

Mariam Raad, 26 years                                                                                                                     

MBA graduate in supply chain management from La Sagesse University

1. You have been chosen to participate in the YEP MED Talent Training for high performance teams in Sustainable Maritime Transport that will take place in Barcelona and Italy.  How are you preparing yourself?

After receiving the acceptance letter from YEP MED and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon - I didn't believe especially since I've been chosen from hundreds of candidates that are qualified from the previous trainings - I've e-mailed the Lebanese chamber and YEP MED to know more details about the travel and what to prepare. The YEP MED programme in Barcelona and the Lebanese Chamber and specifically Mr. Dori Abou Saab provided and supported us with all information and requested documents that we must prepare to be able to travel to Barcelona such as the requested visa documents, training programme details, and informed the Spanish embassy about the programme which facilitated our visa and traveling requirements. Preparing for the travel doesn’t only require the preparation of documents and luggage, it requires you to be fully aware of the programme and to be familiar with shipping and transportation terms and procedures that occur during a maritime supply chain. Therefore, refreshing my memory with previous training material is essential to see what was done and to be ready for the settled training.

2. What are your expectations?

Having the opportunity to participate in this programme will allow me to get in touch with real life port logistic operation, community and documents that are usually required during a maritime process. Moreover, we will have the opportunity to study different shipping operations and be able to find the best route and scenario for different shipped materials. Furthermore, this training will update us with new techniques and technologies that are reshaping and improving shipment process while ensuring a sustainable maritime chain which ensures a safe shipment while protecting the environment. Furthermore, this programme will allow us to interact with various doctors and specialists in the maritime sector that will not only provide us with process details but also share with us their gained experience in this field which cannot be gained from books. Moreover, working in an international environment (by having candidates from different countries Spain, Italy, Lebanon, Egypt, and Tunisia) will allow us to be familiar with international trade and to interact and get in touch with various cultures, ideas, and involved with different shipping requirements.

3. What about the opportunity behind this programme opportunity?

This training will allow me to gain real life experience and direct interaction with different sectors and process that usually occur during a maritime shipment which will allow me to gain knowledge and experience in this field especially since I am an MBA graduate in supply chain management that lacks training in this filed due to the economic depreciation and the lack of opportunities to do training in this filed in Lebanon.(Especially after port Beirut explosion no new trainings are done in the port real experience like this training). On the other hand, this programme will allow me to gain and establish new relations on professional level (professional instructors) and make friends (with different colleagues) at an international level.

4. In these very difficult days for Lebanese youth for employment, what do you hope?

Having the opportunity to get an international training at a high level will not only allow me to get an international certification in port logistics but it will eventually help me to apply and find jobs in maritime sector in Lebanon or at an international level.  In fact, YEP MED programmes are developed programmes emphasized to help youth like me to gain knowledge and develop their skills in the maritime sector which will allow unemployed youth to gain the requested experience to be able to find job in this field. Hope that similar programmes will be always available to Lebanese graduates and youth that are seeking opportunity in this field. And I hope that employment opportunities in Lebanon will be open especially since the port sector in Lebanon requires new blood and change and now new youth with gained skills and experience are available thanks to YEP MED and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon.

Elfadel Salameh, 27 years                                                                                                

Finalizing an MBA degree in Management information systems at the Lebanese International University (LIU) -Employed at the CMA Beirut terminal (BCTC / CMA)

1. You have been chosen to participate in the YEP MED Talent Training for high performance teams in Sustainable Maritime Transport that will take place in Barcelona and Italy.  How are you preparing yourself?

Here I must thank the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Lebanon for the tremendous efforts in developing and supporting the Lebanese youth, they were and still following up with us on each detail and directing us from the first day of training till this day where we are preparing the documents needed for the visa application to Spain to join the YEP MED Talent programme. And of course, a big thank for the Escola Team for their great efforts and for giving me this Opportunity.

2. What are your expectations?

It’s said that "Great leaders are great learners" and the ones greatest asset is his professional and interpersonal skills, for that I am looking forward and with help of the experts in this project to gain more knowledge, develop my techniques, and practices to increase my levels of performance and to gain a competitive advantage in my field of work.

3. What about the opportunity behind this programme opportunity?

The YEP MED Programme had a great impact on my personal career, I am now aware of so much details and aspects of my field of work and as I mentioned previously I am looking forward to increase my knowledge and develop my skills with the help of the experts in the programme to gain more competitive advantage and looking forward to fulfill my dream in becoming one of the leaders and influencers in this industry.

4. In these very difficult days for Lebanese youth for employment, what do you hope?   

As a Lebanese youth and as a survivor of Beirut's Port 4th of August blast I wish my beloved country peace, safety, security, and stability and all the best and for all the Lebanese youth I would like to say that these difficulties are what makes us unique. Don’t lose hope, be as smart and as patient that nothing stops you from what you wish to achieve.

Zahraa Jassar, 22 years                                                                                                           

BBA in Finance and Msc. In business analytics at the American university of Beirut, winner of the Jimmie Smith Student Leadership Award (Texas), current volunteer in Diversity Equity & Inclusion at the IMA

1. You have been chosen to participate in the YEP MED Talent Training for high performance teams in Sustainable Maritime Transport that will take place in Barcelona and Italy.  How are you preparing yourself?

The opportunity is definitely a once in a lifetime experience and I am planning to fully immerse myself in the programme. First, I am doing research about the current trends and challenges in the maritime industry, specifically in port logistics, to have a deeper understanding of the field. I am also leveraging the analytics, data, and optimization skills I learned as a master’s student to understand the role of analytics in maritime process optimization. And finally, I am mentally preparing myself to embrace new challenges and opportunities, and network with other talented and passionate professionals in the field.
 

1. What are your expectations?

I believe this experience will not only benefit me personally but also contribute to my future career and help me make a positive impact on the industry.
I am expecting to grow and kickstart a new career journey. As I am planning to do my masters capstone project on maritime process optimization, I am looking forward to learning from the experts, get their advice in identifying the key challenges and areas of improvements. I am hoping to become more confident in applying for maritime and ports related jobs as I will gain the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the field with the hands-on on vessel experience.

2. What about the opportunity behind this programme opportunity?

YEPMed, and specifically the Chamber of Commerce, helped me identify an area of interest that I wasn’t aware of, through the occupational training in Lebanon. I knew that maritime operations and port logistics is a field I can excel in. And now with this new once in a lifetime opportunity, I see a great potential in myself becoming an expert and leader in the field. This opportunity will help me position and differentiate myself, and will the on-vessel practical experience, I will be able to gain a deeper understanding of the day-to-day operations on board a vessel, including its functions, equipment, and personnel.

3. In these very difficult days for Lebanese youth for employment, what do you hope?           

In a country where the circumstances seem to crush our hopes and limit our potential, this training opportunity will not only be my door to kickstart my career in the industry, but also will expand my knowledge and network with fellow leaders and professionals from all around the world. I want to use this opportunity to give back to my country and help in re-building more efficient and optimized operations at the port of Beirut. With limited employment opportunities, I believe this programme will help equip the youth in Lebanon with the needed skills and knowledge to establish sustainable careers in maritime industry.