“Education is the weapon of people. It is an effective method by which we can grow better and faster. Although my brother can’t attend school because he has to work, but this doesn’t stop him from learning, that’s why due to the help of my teachers at the center, I started to teach my brother every evening at home after he finishes work.” Said Lina.

Lina is 16. She lives with her family- her parents, her younger brother and older sister in a humble apartment in Bourj Hammoud.

Her father is a painter and her mother is ill. Lina’s younger brother who is 13 doesn’t go to school; instead he works in car mechanics. He walks for 30 minutes everyday to reach work.

Due to the restricted cultural values at Lina’s family, the older sister who is 18 years old and engaged is not permitted to work. Lina attended literacy, numeracy classes; recreational activities and awareness sessions at Dar Al Amal center- Nabaa.

Side to all that, she also attended the Make-Up and Nails vocational training, for a period of 3 months in which she developed a soft skill and got a certificate.

Lina is feeling bad due to her bad family situation, that’s why she is looking for a job. She thinks that she has to work in summer to help her sick mother. During the awareness sessions Lina had known that working at her age will perpetuate poverty except of reducing it. She is aware today that if it is a must for her to work and help her family this shouldn’t stop her from attending the classes at the center and side to that she also promised that she will only seek a part time job that won’t harm her development.