Follow your passion and trust the process

Meet Tania Khalil and Zeinab Hammoud, two amazing women from the Green Village Lebanon’s nineteenth batch who keep going after their dreams.

Designing clothes: a passion to follow

Hi everybody, I'm Tania Khalil from Batch nineteen. I have a real passion in life: I love designing clothes. Alongside my studies, I spend a lot of time creating cool outfits at home. Looking back on my time at the Green Village, I'm thankful for all the lessons I learned there.

Green Village taught me about being independent and trying new things because, becoming more independent also means taking responsibility for your dreams, following your passion and doing everything you can to achieve it.

So, it was there that I got to work at a cool fashion place last summer. It was a full-time job in summer where I had the opportunity to manage the fashion atelier. Unfortunately, I had to leave the job to continue my education but this experience made me even more determined to follow my dream to become a fashion designer. Indeed, it even gave me the idea of starting designing clothes at home! Taking old clothes and recycling them into beautiful designs: that is what I like to do now!

With hindsight, to other young people like me, I used to say:

“Keep going, even when things get tough. Finding the right job can be hard, but don't give up. Be brave, take chances, and remember that learning new things is always worth it.”

A non straightforward journey to find a job

Hey there, I'm Zeinab Hammoud, also from Batch nineteen. I work at CI College, and I'm studying French literature at the Lebanese University. Looking back on my time at the Green Village, I remember learning all the important things to reach the job market like being professional and managing my time well.

Navigating the job market in Lebanon, particularly as a woman, presents its unique challenges. However, my determination to become independant and demonstrate that womens are capable of accomplishing anything they set their minds to remains unwavering. My journey to my current position wasn't straightforward. Initially, I explored opportunities through door-to-door inquiries, which led me to participate in a job fair alongside a group of inspiring individuals, often referred to as stars. It was during this fair, and with a renewed application to CI College, that I successfully secured my role in administration.

My advice to those who dare to dream big is simple: never give up. Stepping out of your comfort zone, building new connections, and embracing continuous learning are crucial steps towards realizing your ambitions. The path may seem daunting at times, but with collective support and a steadfast belief in our capabilities, success is within our reach.