TWE 2012 kicks off!

Bekaa - Zahle

Hayya Bina and its Teach Women English (TWE) program are proud to announce the start of TWE classes throughout the various regions of Lebanon!

Beirut - Chiyah

TWE offers free English language instruction to women in rural or peripheral areas of Lebanon, helping them improve access to employment and education, and better enabling them to support their children in their studies.

The demand for TWE is vast and growing. Therefore, we decided to keep the registration doors open for an extra month this year so that every woman would get the chance to benefit from this program

North - Menieh

South - Qaqaayet Al Sanawbar

 Moreover, TWE, in collaboration with the Social Media Exchange (SMEX), held the first training of its new program “Shou Osstik?”  last Saturday, February 18, 2012 at Hayya Bina's offices in Beirut – Chiyah. "Shou Osstik?" or "What’s Your Story?" is a six month, social media pilot training program for women from the North, South, Bekaa, and Beirut regions of Lebanon. The program aims to empower Lebanese women by amplifying their voice online through storytelling. 

Women learning social media

How to create a strong password

Free English Language classes for women all over Lebanon.Register Now!

Let's work together to empower women to reach their greatest potential as leaders in our communities. Teach Women English (TWE) opened the registration doors. We are waiting for you to come and benefit from the English language to help you improve access to employment and education, and to enable you to support your children in their studies. Registration is taking place now in different areas and regions of Lebanon and all for FREE:
Ain el Remaneh: 01 - 274 004 Ghobairi: 01 - 553 604 Dora: 01 - 241 085/ 087 Rayfoun: 03 - 095 793 Kfardebian: 03 319 025 Broumana: 04 862 442 Baalback: 70 002 512 Zahle: 08 820 837 Hermel: 71 445 254 Rashaya: 08 590 011 Majdl Anjar: 03 587 942 Shmustar: Kfarzabad: 03 587 942 Saadnayel Municipality: Manara Municiplaity: Orsal Municipality: Chebaa: 07 565 201 Baakleen: 05 304 050 Mishmish: 76 741 394 Fneidik: 70 286 584 Kweshra: 03 170 705 Beb el Tebeneh: 70 999 902 Tripoli:70 999 902 Jabal Mehsen: 06 381 772 Menieh: 06 460 640 Sawaneh: 70 909 855 Maarakeh: 71 241 827 Teir Debba: 71 241 827 Burj Rahal: 71 241 827 Qaqaayet Al Sanawbar:07 420 910 Bint Jbeil: 71 241 827 
Waiting for you ALL!

   

Digital Storytelling & Social Media for TWE women in Lebanon

Hayya Bina strives to provide the Lebanese community with programs that embolden our partners by
offering necessary skills training to keep up with the demands of the rapidly modernizing world. As
such, Hayya Bina and its Teach Women English (TWE) program are proud to announce the start of a
new project “Shou osstik?,” open to all participants of TWE. In collaboration with Social Media Exchange
(SMEX), the program will offer 6 months of training on digital storytelling and social media, beginning in
February 2012 at centers in Tripoli, Menieh, Baalbeck, Shmustar, Burj Rahal, and Beirut. Applications for the program can be found online at www.smex.org and are due by Wednesday, January 25.


Ideal Candidate Description:

Menieh Team

• Basic computer skills and online research, email and facebook
• Regular use of email
• Excited to share a story about yourself, your community, etc.
• Flexible to learn new internet/digital production and social media skills
• Preferred, but not limited to, teachers
• Must have easy access to the internet and use it more than once a week
• Commit to submitting assignments on time, and developing a digital story with the help of our trainers and share it online

Candidates with a strong application will be contacted for potential interviews. Certification will be given
to all trainees who submit all assignments and have posted at least one digital story upon completion of
the project.

Shmustar Team

Burj Rahal Team

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TWE & Social-Networking

Teach Women English is dedicated to promoting economic opportunities for women in rural regions of Lebanon through English language education. Given the difficulty of accessing these peripheral locations, TWE has predominately relied upon traditional means of promoting our program in these remote areas of society, including face-to-face meetings, phone calls, and letters. As TWE grew, however, so did our need to expand our methods of communication and promotion.

The rapidly evolving world of online social networking offers opportunities for individuals, business, and organizations to connect with potential partners, sponsors, donors, teachers, students, and friends in ways never before possible. After attending a training session on the importance and uses of social media with E-MediaT, I decided that internet networking would be the best way to fill in the ever-growing communication gap among TWE participants and expand the visibility of the project in Lebanon. Early on in 2011, I created a webpage on Facebook to test whether or not this new form of social networking would be successful for TWE. Our site grew rapidly, becoming a popular place for our women to share their thoughts and photos of the program. It also became an important tool for disseminating information about upcoming events and changes with TWE.

I quickly realized that all women could benefit from the lessons I learned on effectively using social media, and added a ‘Social Media’ session to the Teacher’s Training and Orientation held in Faraya this November. Since the training, internet traffic on our Facebook site has drastically increased. Established members have been using the site more often, and we are constantly accepting new members! Our site has become so popular that I’ve decided to expand TWE’s online exposure to blogosphere, through Google’s blog page Blogger, in order to provide our followers with the in-depth information they crave. I hope that you will join me as I increase my internet savvy for the betterment of myself and TWE.

TWE Teacher Training

On Friday, November 18, 2011, 33 teachers from all districts of Lebanon gathered for a four day workshop on Practical Methodologies for "Teach Women English" at the Intercontinental Mzaar Hotel. Hayya Bina was honored to have Dr. Leslie Opp-Beckman from the University of Oregon, head editor of TWE's new book "Women Teaching Women English,"  lead the training.

TWE Graduation

On Sunday, October 30, 2011 Hayya Bina held its second national graduation ceremony at Beit at Tabib for Teach Women English. It was with great pride and enthusiasm that Hayya Bina honored the students, teachers, organizations, and municipalities that worked for the success and growth of the program. Since February 2008, Hayya Bina has worked with diverse partners across Lebanon to serve nearly 3,000 students of all ages and backgrounds. Together, we have empowered women to reach their greatest potential as leaders in our communities.

U.S. Ambassador: Maura Connelly

Project Manager: Sylva Akl

Hayya Bina Director: Lokman Slim

Meet TWE!

Nahla Rifai is a 49-year-old French teacher from Baalbek who also owns an artisan clothing shop. She has a degree in history from the Lebanese University in Zahle. TWE has made a substantial difference in her daily life. “At my shop I have to speak to tourists in English. Before I could only speak French. Two weeks ago I had two people from Holland who only spoke English. I sold them a jacket and towel!”

Meet TWE!

Sanaa Yahfoufi is a 42-year-old mother of 3 boys from Baalbek. She graduated high school and practices a traditional form of sewing found only in Baalbek, called Oya. TWE has helped her daily life. “I can help my little boy with his English homework. I can also start to make out words on television or in magazines, and I can read medicine labels.”

Meet TWE!

Dunia Yaghi is a 50-year-old drawing teacher, graduate of Mackenze with a degree in visual communication, and a tri-lingual mother of 3 adult children. Despite some previous engagement with English (she loves Eminem), Dunia credits TWE with expanding her vocabulary and giving her opportunities to practice. “I knew no vocabulary about cars, hotels, speed limits, signs.” Dunia also has practical goals for English. “I want to get a new job, perhaps in Beirut. Men in Lebanon do not think women should work, but I disagree. My favorite story in our book is about the 100-year-old woman still working. No limits!” 

Meet TWE!

Nada Tufeili is TWE’s local teacher in Baalbek. At 23, she is a teacher with AMIDEAST and Baalbek’s Heliopolis Elementary School, studying English Literature at the Lebanese University in Zahle, and plans to learn translation in Beirut. Nada decided to teach with TWE for one reason: “Women. I want to educate women. In a society where men dominate, I want to make women more aware of education and their rights. Maybe it can help them find jobs.” 

Meet TWE!

Ghina Hamade is an 18-year-old finishing Sahlat el Muy High School in Hermel. She wants to learn English because “it’s for life generally. Even if I wanted to study in Italy or France I need to pass an English test. My sister speaks French and Italian. I speak neither.” Although Ghina only knew English letters before starting TWE, the class is already making a difference. “I used to not be able to use the internet. Now I can – even for basic things.” 

Meet TWE!

Khadija Hajj Hasan is a 27-year-old from Chaat Rasm el Hadath, living with her husband and three children in Hermel, and is pursuing a degree in English Literature at the Lebanese University. Why did you start teaching English? “To escape from our children! No, I started teaching because I didn’t know people in Hermel so I saw this as a chance to communicate with others and help them. It’s a way for me to get to know them, enjoy my time, and teach what I’ve learned.” 

Meet TWE!

Amal Hushemi is a 46-year-old mother of 4 grown children from Taalabaya. “I wanted to study more after high school, but I got married and had too many responsibilities at home. But now that I’ve been married 26 years, I think I have more time.” Amal stays late to finish her homework and is teaching her husband, too. Amal’s interest in English began on a small scale. “I wanted to be able to send text messages. Now I can send texts to my husband and my brother in Romania.” 

Meet TWE!

Siham Baroud is a 37-year-old mother of 3 from Fourzol, a small village in the Central Bekaa Valley. “I wanted to go to university, but I got married after high school. I had too many responsibilities – immediately I had babies. I’m thinking about going back to university when things calm down at home. I want to study archaeology. I love discovery, renewal, making new from the old.” Siham’s interest in English most recently sprung from “using the internet – everything is in English. I also wanted to be able to watch movies without subtitles.” 

Meet TWE!

Heba Youssef is a 22-year-old from Taalabya who holds a Master’s Degree in Sociologyand will be matriculating into a PhD program in social sciences at the Lebanese University this fall. A recent experience tutoring English on the side motivated Heba to enroll with TWE. “I was teaching a small girl English who corrected me when I told her “chair” was spelled with an S-H.” 

Meet TWE!

Maila El Rafih is a 21-year-old from Bekaa and a psychology student at the Lebanese University in Zahle. “I actually teach English at my village school – the Bekaa school in Rashaya.” Maila decided to enroll with TWE when she found she could not answer an 8^th grade student’s question about cooking. “When children ask you something and you say ‘I’ll get you the answer later,’ it’s very hard.” TWE has also affected the way Maila teaches. “The way our teacher teaches itself tells me how to teach and order ideas for others.”

Meet TWE!

Mary Najam is a 36-year-old from Ain el Rimaneh who holds a degree in Biology from the Lebanese University in Beirut and a certificate for teaching high school biology and physics. She is a full-time high school physics teacher. Mary’s immediate motivation to learn English came from a trip to Australia. “I was visiting my aunt for 3 months, but I couldn’t do anything alone. Simple things like shopping, taking the bus were very difficult. It was embarrassing.” Mary’s class has given her confidence and goodwill. “I’m no longer afraid to speak English.”

Meet TWE!

Fatima Kteish is a 20-year-old from Beirut with a degree in business management from the Lebanese University, starting her Master’s program. Fatima realized she needed more English “when I was teaching a Canadian girl physics, biology, and math.” Fatima’s goal is to be a translator. “I plan to travel to Germany to learn German so I speak can English, French, German, and Arabic.” Her favorite part of class is that “everyone is equal, even though I’m younger than everyone else. Even though we all come from different places and religions, there is no difference in class.” 

Meet TWE!

Mariam Sleiman is a 21-year-old from Beirut with a BA in business management at the Lebanese University and beginning her Master’s degree. “Before I started here, I never liked English and could never learn it – the words used to just run together. But I work at a bank and most systems use English so I needed it. As I learn more, though, I see that I can learn and I’ve started to enjoy it.”