Philanthropy Advisors
Middle East
Identifying amazing projects and NGOs
When investigating projects and NGOs in the Middle East on behalf of donors, the questions we ask ourselves include: What impact does the project have. How transparent is the organisation. How well run is it and is the project cost effective.
John Abbey visited Beirut and the Bekaa valley Lebanon on behalf of a HNWI donor who wanted to support skills training and education projects for young people from Syria.
John’s role was to identify a number of cost effective, high impact projects.
The above picture shows a group of young men supported by UNHCR that are studying for a vocational qualification in metal work. This type of project is vital if young men are to integrate into Lebanese society and have a chance of getting a job. The alternative could quite easily be long term unemployment, radicalisation, and a life spent in a refugee camp.
UNHCR has had a difficult time due to US budget cuts but it is still managing to carry out phenomenal work. The youth training projects UNHCR sponsors and runs in Lebanon, provides a lifeline out of dependence and poverty for thousands of boys and girls every year.
Syrian School Children Education must never stop
Just a few miles from the Syrian border a temporary school has been erected. A permanent building is not allowed. It is an ingenious “ikea” styled construct that can be dismantled and moved to another location without too much fuss.
The buildings are sturdy, warm and look great. The NGO that established the school John visited is the Kayany Foundation. The cost of building this facility was under $100,000.
The school can teach nearly 800 children with class sizes less than many UK schools. The children were all in uniforms, well behaved and eager to learn, devouring every single word the teacher was saying.
The temporary buildings are a brilliant solution that meant the school could be used to teach thousands of children in the years ahead in different and challenging locations. Cost effective, impactful and sustainable.
These two examples were exactly the type of project the donor wanted to investigate further.
For more information on our philanthropy work and how we can assist please contact John Abbey
Email: john@abbeysolutions.com
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