During my time with the NGO Relief and Reconciliation for Syria, based in northern Lebanon near the Syrian border, I worked to support both local Lebanese communities and Syrian refugees. My involvement spanned several roles, including but not limited to, communications manager, translator, English teacher, and computer literacy teacher.
As communications manager, I helped coordinate internal and external communication efforts. I worked with team members to develop and implement strategies that conveyed the organization's mission and activities clearly to stakeholders and the public. My goal was to support transparency and engagement, not to promote myself, but to ensure the work of the organization was effectively represented.
In my role as translator, I supported communication between Arabic- and English-speaking individuals, helping to facilitate understanding between staff, beneficiaries, and international partners. I saw this as an important responsibility in ensuring that language did not become a barrier to cooperation or access to services.
As an English and computer literacy teacher, I taught basic language and computer skills to students of varying ages from the communities we served. I also helped support students in Basic Literacy and Numeracy (BLN) classes as well as afterschool homework help classes. My role was to provide practical support and knowledge that could be useful in everyday life or future employment. I approached this work with the understanding that even small contributions can be meaningful when responding to long-term needs. A great source of inspiration was Paulo Freire and his book "Pedagogy of the Oppressed".
Overall, my time at the NGO was shaped by a commitment to serve and support others, and I remain grateful for the experience and for the opportunity to work alongside a dedicated team in a challenging environment.