October 11, 2026
The Municipality of Sidon hosted an employment fair with the participation of 35 companies, institutions and exhibitors, amid a large turnout of more than 800 visitors from young men and women looking for job opportunities, training and professional development.
The exhibition was organized at the initiative of the “DanChurchAid” Association (DCA), in partnership with the International Amel Foundation and the Al-Ikhwa Association for Social Cultural Action, as part of the “From Crisis to Strength: Strengthening Livelihoods and Protection in Lebanon” project, funded by the Danish government, which aims to enhance livelihoods, develop youth skills, and facilitate their integration into the labor market.
This event is the culmination of the project’s efforts to align vocational training with actual market requirements, based on a comprehensive assessment completed in cooperation with the “E-data” company, which included the regions of Borj el-Barajneh, Haret Hreik, Tyre, Nabatieh, and Wadi El-Zeina, to determine the needs of employers and fill skills gaps.
In the same context, 400 young men and women completed their vocational training with the support of the Amel International Foundation, while 143 male and female participants completed their training through the Fraternity Association. Support was also provided to ten youth projects and initiatives to transform them from mere ideas into implementable projects, which included preparing business proposals and budgets, and providing basic equipment and materials for launch.
The project seeks to provide 40 practical training opportunities to connect young people with employers, allowing them to gain field experiences that contribute to facilitating their transition to the professional market.
In this context, Programs and Partnerships Coordinator at Amel International Foundation, Zeina Muhanna, explained that the project succeeded in training about 400 young men and women in vital needed sectors, in addition to providing practical training opportunities and grants to support emerging projects, despite the difficult circumstances and the repercussions of war and displacement.
For his part, the President of the “Al-Ikhwa for Social and Cultural Work” Association pointed out that the aspirations of young people go beyond obtaining a job or a wage, to include the desire to prove themselves, develop capabilities, and create a real impact, stressing the necessity of investing in human capabilities and the future of society.
In turn, the head of programs at DanChurchAid, Mirna Al-Sabagh, stressed the importance of building sustainable bridges between youth and the private sector, considering that investing in skills is the basic foundation for supporting the local economy, and stressing that the impact of the initiative extends to following up on communication between participants and employers to provide decent and safe opportunities.
In conclusion, the Mayor of Sidon stressed the need to provide real opportunities for young people to reduce unemployment and immigration rates, stressing the municipality’s commitment to supporting local economic development, encouraging entrepreneurship and investment to create sustainable job opportunities that enhance Sidon’s role as a productive city and an incubator for its youth.
