American University of Beirut
Department of Sociology, Anthropology & Media Studies
(SOAM)
In Collaboration with Ana Aqra Association and Unite Lebanon Youth Project
Cordially invite you to a lecture entitled
Reversing Social Exclusion?
Education and the Role of NGOs in Lebanon
By
Melek El Nimer, Nicole Eid Abuhaydar, and Rima Musallam
Chaired by Karma Bibi
Wednesday, March 16th 4:00–5:00 pm
WEST HALL AUDITORIUM A
Melek El Nimer worked with the underprivileged in refugee camps in Lebanon for over 25 years. Observing the impact of poverty on
sectarian conflict and the isolation of the refugees from the host community, she founded Unite Lebanon Youth Project based on her
belief that all children and youth have the right to equal education and deserve the opportunity to fulfill their potential as human
beings. Melek holds an MS in Accounting and Finance from the Bosphorus University in Turkey and a BS from the American College
of Switzerland. She is active in the running and management of the organization, where she acts as Chief Executive. She recently
received the “WOMEN WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AWARD” at the International Women’s Forum conference 2015 in Boston.
Nicole Eid Abuhaydar is the director at Unite Lebanon Youth Project. She believes effective education must go beyond academic
skills to empower people reach their potential, integrate in society and become active agents of positive social change. She has been in
the field for over 30 years, and has worked in Lebanon, the MENA region and the USA .She holds a BA and MA from AUB and an
Ed.M. from Teachers College-Columbia University. At ULYP she oversees the operation and implementation of all programs to
ensure that every child, youth and woman has equal access to pathways for success to help shape a better future for Lebanon.
Rima Musallam worked as a systems analyst for 20 years in the U.S. In 2005, she returned to Lebanon and started her social work in
education, volunteering to serve elementary public school learners. Initially, her focus was on encouraging reading skills. With time,
her work shifted to reducing achievement gaps and more recently to creating an education pathway to formal schooling for out of
school Syrian refugee children. Rima served as member of the board of Ana Aqra Association for 8 years, acting as president from
2011 to 2015. In 2016, she was appointed as Executive Director of the association to support its institutionalization. Rima holds an
MS in computer science from the University of Utah and a B.A. in Mathematics from AUB.