By Donna Baranski-Walker | Founder & Executive Director, Rebuilding Alliance
Dear Friends,
We are delighted to watch 15 young people, all from Al Aqaba Village, move forward in the Ibn Rush'd Entrepreneurship Club! They formed the club just before the April Youth Spark competition and here we are with another Bonus Day this week.
These high school graduates (some already in college) are coming together to build one or more businesses that will provide them with jobs. They meet at Al Aqaba's Ibn Rush'd Library. First, Librarian Kefah held meetings with local experts to to help the students learn how to come up with good business ideas. At both the cheese and tea factories, they interviewed the managers and discussed marketing and management. They also met Mayor Haj Sami Sadiq and Raheya Alsbaih, director of the Rural Women’s Association, both inspiring leaders.
Then Librarian Kefah invited them to brainstorm their own business ideas. Among the many projects they thought of, the frozen seasonable vegetables seemed suitable for its minimal budget and resources, especially since the Goat Cheese Factory is receiving new freezers. Meanwhile, interest is growing around the possibility of bringing a high quality ice cream machine to Al Aqaba for goat milk ice cream. Their next step: to learn how to write a business plan.
Meanwhile, Librarian Kefah is working to complete her training as a librarian. She recently completed training at the Al Bireh Public Library, a remarkable library in the large town next to Ramallah. She has also been joining cultural training programs in the nearby villages of Tamoun and Al Far'a.
Good news. This Wednesday June 25th is a bonus day with a dollar for dollar match for donations up to $1000. On Wednesday, Microsoft Youth Spark is giving away $200,000 in matching funds via GlobalGiving — I think the match will go in the first 5 minutes.
If you would like to give, please mark your calendar for Wednesday, June 25th and set your alarm for 9:01am Pacific, 10:01am Mountain, 11:01am Central, or Noon:01pm Eastern. Please click Ibn Rush'd Entrepreneurs Program for Area C Youth to give.
As always, please call me if you have questions or suggestions. My phone number is 650 325-4663.
Sincerely,
Donna
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