Photo courtesy GATE Lebanon, © RET Germany

Article by Carine Harouny, Operations and Communications Officer for GATE Lebanon, RET’s local implementing partner

AKKAR, LEBANON – In the hills of Jdaydet El Kayteh in North Lebanon, agriculture is more than a livelihood, it is a heritage passed down through generations. Yet for many young people in rural Akkar, limited job opportunities and rising household expenses make it difficult to sustain that heritage. Within this reality, the project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by RET Germany in partnership with GATE Lebanon is working to strengthen livelihoods, expand skills, and open new pathways for economic resilience.

One of the young people shaped by this initiative is Omar Abdel Karim Ghandour, a Lebanese resident of Jdaydet El Kayteh. Like many in his community, Omar grew up surrounded by olive and apple trees, but he lacked the technical skills needed to maintain the family land or turn agricultural work into a source of income. When he joined the vocational training program on pruning and grafting, he saw it as a chance to learn — but the impact went far beyond expectations.

The training, delivered as part of the project’s market‑driven vocational activities, equipped participants with practical techniques in tree pruning, grafting, and orchard maintenance. For Omar, these skills immediately translated into real change.

“I no longer need to hire a worker to maintain my father’s land,” he explains. “I was able to complete all the pruning work myself.”

This shift reduced household expenses at a time when many families in Akkar face increasing financial pressure. But Omar didn’t stop there. Confident in his new abilities, he began offering pruning services to neighbors in his village. Small paid jobs followed, and word of his work spread quickly.

“I now have hands‑on experience and confidence,” he says. “I am ready for new opportunities.”

Omar’s story reflects the broader goals of the project: empowering youth with marketable skills, strengthening local economies, and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities within rural communities. By focusing on practical, demand‑driven training, the initiative helps young people like Omar reduce costs at home, generate income, and build futures rooted in their own communities.

In a region where opportunities are often scarce, Omar’s journey shows what becomes possible when skills, confidence, and community support come together. What began as a training session has grown into a pathway toward independence — one branch, one tree, one job at a time.

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