THE PROGRAMS

Currently, SHIFT runs 3 programs:

The Tatweer (translation) helps small, local businesses and start-ups to grow. It aims to revive businesses on ex-frontlines in Qobbe, Jabal Mohsen and Tabbaneh, focusing on social entrepreneurship and specifically targeting women, youth and persons with disabilities.
The program started by mapping all the businesses in the area. All business owners were called for a basic business training, and those interested and motivated to participate were invited. The business training includes topics such as marketing, finance, accounting, operations, HR, management and legal questions. After the training, participants create a business plan which is presented to a jury. Based on the plans, the BDS can identify the specific needs of the participants and provide further training in the form of an advanced business training, which is organised by sector. After this training, the participants might be eligible for an in kind-grant, including business coaching and procurement support.
Further the program includes a mentorship program, where volunteers with specific knowledge or skills support the different small business throughout the business development process. The program even includes an incubation component; it incubates initiatives on different levels by offering start-ups, businesses or non-profits facilities like offices, meeting rooms and services.

The Tamteen (translation) program seeks to support the self-development of individuals and their integration to the work place. The program begins with a screening process to assess economic, social and personal skills of the applicants and to determine the kind of support they need. After that the self-development training takes place for 3 months providing psychosocial support and life skills to applicants.
In parallel, the program seeks school dropouts and unemployed persons who it offers vocational trainings to. Furthermore, enrolled students are also targeted to guide and assist them throughout their academic years.
Later on, applicants go through an Internship for 2 to 3 months to visit and work with companies they aspire to work in. Alongside the internship, a mentor will be meeting with the applicant every week to check for progress and success.
Finally, a job placement takes place for applicants either in the same place they did their internship or they apply for other companies.

• Life skills/psychosocial support/vocational training/apprenticeship with mentorship and job placement
• All the components have 9 topics, the person will pass through different stages f.ex life skills and PSS before vocational training
• Vocational training: digital marketing, food innovation, upcycling, etc

The Reconciliation and Peacebuilding component is not an independent program, but a pathway that hosts currently 4 different initiatives all incubated by SHIFT.
The component is part of The Roadmap to Reconciliation in Tripoli (RRT) -initiative, which was launched in April 2017 with the purpose of creating an inclusive process for communal reconciliation in the city of Tripoli in Lebanon. RRT began as a research to profoundly understand public perceptions on reconciliation in Tripoli. Furthermore, the aim was to map the willingness of people to engage in a communal reconciliation process. The results of the research were published in April 2017, followed by several pilot projects that were started by various individuals and organisations operating under the RRT. The current initiatives include:
Women’s peace initiative

Taht el Sa’ef - a committee including members from both the Sunni and Alawite communities advocating for their rights to communal housing.

Al Harake Barake - a committee including members from both the Sunni and Alawite communities advocating for their right to employment and social inclusion.

SADA - Playback theatre that connects individuals from the Sunni, Alawite, Palestinian and Syrian communities by storytelling and theatre and gives a chance for young actors to work together, while their performances give a chance for the audience to see their stories come alive on stage.

Aleb El Mashou’ - Enhancing social stability and improving the living conditions of the residents of Al Qubba residential complex