INJAZ Lebanon is proud to announce the publishing of “Learning to Improve the World: How INJAZ Al-Arab Helps Youth in the Middle East Develop an Entrepreneurial Mindset,” by Professor Fernando M. Reimers and his colleagues, Maria Elena Ortega and Paul Dyer. Professor Reimers is a global education expert and esteemed faculty member at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Inspired by the vision of INJAZ Al Arab’s founder Soraya Salti, Professor Reimers undertook on an extensive study of INJAZ’s flagship Company Program in Lebanon and five other countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa region. As the world’s largest youth entrepreneurial program, the Company Program offers students the opportunity to transform their classrooms into start-ups, with the help of corporate mentors and entrepreneurs from the local business community. In total, 867 Company Program participants from the 2010-2011 school year were surveyed for Professor Reimers’ research.
Samar Dani, the Executive Director of INJAZ Lebanon, comments: “INJAZ Lebanon is very appreciative of Professor Reimers’ expertise in his study of our Company Program. We are happy that the book is a success, and we hope our partners, students, and alumni will read “Learning to Improve the World” to gain the best possible understanding of how INJAZ makes a tangible difference in Arab youths’ lives and markedly accelerates their career skills development.”
Akef Aqrabawi, Presdient & CEO of INJAZ Al-Arab, adds that: “This book offers an in-depth study of the great role that the entrepreneurship education programs of INJAZ AL-Arab and Junior Achievement Worldwide play in advancing, empowering, and giving agency to youth. We are especially pleased with the impressive impact of INJAZ Lebanon’s Company Program and commend the INJAZ Lebanon team on their excellent work.”
The feedback from INJAZ Lebanon’s Company Program participants was extremely positive. While only 69% felt they could successfully complete a job interview prior to the Company Program, this number leapt to 83% in the post-surveys. Another significant change was in the participants’ self-reported confidence in being hired in the private sector, which increased from 81% to 94% at the end of the program. Lastly, participants were more likely to see entrepreneurs as contributors to the greater good.
About Professor Fernando M. Reimers:
Fernando M. Reimers is the Ford Foundation Professor of the Practice in International Education and Director of the Global Education Innovation Initiative and of The International Education Program at Harvard University. His current research focuses on educational innovation and on the impact of education policy, leadership, and teacher professional development on education that supports the holistic development of children and youth.
He earned Doctoral and Master degrees in education at Harvard University and obtained a Licenciatura en Psicologia at the Universidad Central de Venezuela. In 2016, he received the Global Citizenship Award from the Committee on Teaching About the United Nations for his work advancing global citizenship education. He is a member of the International Academy of Education and of the Council of Foreign Relations.
To learn more about Professor Reimers, please visit his website: https://fernando-reimers.gse.harvard.edu
About Lebanon:
INJAZ Lebanon, a non-profit organization, is a member of INJAZ Al-Arab (www.injazalarab.org) and an affiliate of Junior Achievement (JA) Worldwide (www.jaworldwide.org), the world’s largest and fastest growing youth business organization dedicated to educating students about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through hands-on training programs.
INJAZ Lebanon is a partnership between the business community and educators all working together to equip youth with the skills and mindset they need to become the entrepreneurs and business leaders stimulating their communities. Since its inception in 2001, over 60,000 youth aged 10 to 24 years old have participated in INJAZ Lebanon programs thanks to the support of 2,500 professionals from local and international corporations in Lebanon. For more information, please visit (www.injaz-lebanon.org).
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