As part of the EU-funded ENABLE Programme, implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO), an initiative undertaken in partnership with the Safadi Foundation, the Directorate General of Vocational and Technical Education (DGTVET) and Hospital Abou Jaoudeh qualified thirty young men and women as healthcare assistants, marking a significant step toward strengthening Lebanon's healthcare workforce.
A graduation ceremony was held for the newly qualified health workers at Hospital Abou Jaoudeh in Jal El Dib, Mount Lebanon, bringing together high-level representatives and partners, including ILO Deputy Regional Director and Director of the Decent Work Team for the Arab States Patrick Daru; Programme Manager at the European Union Leila Emerson; Farouk Haraka who represented DGTVET Director General Hanadi Berri; Habib Maawad who represented the Ministry of Social Affairs; and Medical Director of Hospital Abou Jaoudeh Dr. Imad Abou Jaoudeh. Senior representatives from the Safadi Foundation and the ILO joined the graduates and their families in celebrating this milestone, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing skills, resilience and opportunities within Lebanon's healthcare sector.
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Speakers at the ceremony highlighted the vital role of skills development as a pathway to employment, resilience and social protection in Lebanon. Programmes Director at the Safadi Foundation Khaled Hanouf emphasized that "investing in young people is investing in the future," highlighting the critical role of healthcare assistants as the first line of patient care, particularly in the current challenging social, economic and security context prevalent in Lebanon.
Medical Director of Hospital Abou Jaoudeh Dr. Imad Abou Jaoudeh reaffirmed the hospital's longstanding commitment to offering opportunities for individuals without formal diplomas to train and work as healthcare assistants. He praised the programme's positive impact and expressed hope that it would expand to include midwives, nurses and surgical assistants across Lebanon.
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On behalf of the ILO, Deputy Regional Director and Director of the Decent Work Team for the Arab States Patrick Daru stated: "We are very happy that through funding from the European Union and collaboration with national partners, we have put together a successful model of a rapid work-based training programme that delivers modular credentials to facilitate the transition of young women and men to health assistant jobs. This pilot offers great potential, and we look forward to opportunities to partner again with the Government of Lebanon and the EU to support its upscaling."
DGTVET representative Farouk Haraka stressed that short-term training has become a pressing necessity amid Lebanon's socio-economic crisis, as it provides immediate, practical skills that translate into real job opportunities and contribute to national economic recovery.
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Programme Manager at the EU Leila Emerson stated: "The European Union is proud to support this project, together with the ILO and the Safadi Foundation. We believe in work-based learning because it delivers real results. It equips people with practical skills. It builds independence, dignity and resilience. These are all urgently needed in Lebanon today."
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Newly qualified healthcare assistant Christiana Rizk expressed gratitude for the opportunity, noting that "this programme was more than a training course - it was a journey where we learned not only the technical skills of healthcare, but also the true meaning of care and compassion."
The event featured a documentary video showcasing the trainees' experiences and concluded with the distribution of certificates, followed by a reception to celebrate the achievements of the graduates.
