On 18 September 2026, Business Consultancy and Training Services (BCTS) organised the Closing Event of the EmpoweerNEET Training Cycles in Lebanon at Padova Hotel, Sin El Fil, Beirut. The event brought together participants, trainers, project representatives and guests in a warm and inspiring atmosphere marking the culmination of an important capacity-building journey.

For many participants, the day represented far more than the end of a training programme. It was a moment to look back on the progress made, recognize personal and professional growth, and look ahead with renewed confidence toward employment, entrepreneurship and new opportunities.

From Vision to Impact

The event opened with welcoming remarks from Dr. Wafaa Haidamous, CEO of BCTS, and Mr. Emilio Zaccour, EmpoweerNEET Project Manager in Lebanon, who reflected on the journey of EmpoweerNEET in Lebanon and the commitment shown by participants throughout the programme.

Their messages focused on the human dimension of the project: the courage to learn, the willingness to change, and the importance of believing in one’s ability to move forward even when the path is uncertain.

Throughout the training cycles, participants were encouraged not only to strengthen practical competencies, but also to discover their own potential, challenge personal barriers and begin building a clearer vision for their professional future.

A Mediterranean Partnership Built Around Opportunity

The ceremony also highlighted the broader regional dimension of EmpoweerNEET.

Dr. Esmat AlKaradsheh, Office Coordinator of the Branch Office for the Eastern Mediterranean of the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, shared remarks on the Programme and the value of cooperation across the Mediterranean.

Dr. Imad Ibrik, EmpoweerNEET Project Manager at An-Najah National University and representative of the Lead Partner, reflected on the regional partnership behind the project and the importance of collective efforts to create meaningful opportunities for young people and women.

The event also welcomed Mrs. Pascale Assaad, Project Management and Monitoring Expert at the Joint Secretariat of the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, who contributed the Programme’s project management and monitoring perspective.

Their contributions reinforced a central message of EmpoweerNEET: meaningful change becomes stronger when organisations, experts and communities work together across borders around a shared purpose.

The Voices Behind the Journey

One of the most meaningful moments of the event came when the spotlight shifted to those who had lived the training journey firsthand.

The trainers shared their reflections on accompanying participants throughout the capacity-building process, recalling not only the learning achieved in the sessions, but also the visible changes in confidence, communication, motivation and participation.

Across the five training cycles, participants worked on a range of personal and professional competencies. The final cycle, in particular, brought together confidence, emotional intelligence, communication and leadership, helping participants recognize their strengths, address internal barriers and define more concrete next steps for their future.

The programme was therefore not only about gaining knowledge. It was also about helping participants find their voice, regain confidence in their abilities and see possibilities that may previously have seemed distant.

When Participants Tell the Story

The participants’ testimonials and success stories gave the event its most personal dimension.

Through their reflections, participants shared what the EmpoweerNEET journey had meant to them and how the experience had influenced the way they viewed themselves, their capabilities and their future.

Behind every certificate was a different story: a challenge overcome, a new skill developed, a moment of self-discovery, a professional ambition made clearer, or simply the confidence to take the next step.

These stories captured the essence of the programme more powerfully than numbers alone ever could. They showed that capacity building becomes truly meaningful when participants are able to translate what they learn into hope, direction and action.

A Moment of Recognition

The certificate distribution and recognition of trainers was another emotional highlight of the ceremony.

For participants, receiving their certificates represented the completion of months of commitment, participation and personal effort. For the trainers, the recognition acknowledged the expertise, encouragement and dedication they brought to the learning journey.

The moment was also a reminder that every successful training programme is built on relationships: between trainers and learners, between partners and communities, and between individuals who choose to invest in their own development.

Not an Ending, but a Beginning

The event concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony, an official group photograph and informal networking, bringing participants, trainers, guests and members of the BCTS and EmpoweerNEET teams together for one final shared moment.

The group photograph captured more than the closing of an event. It represented a community that had grown together through learning, collaboration and shared experiences.

As the training journey in Lebanon came to an end, one message remained clear: the closing event was not simply a goodbye. It was the beginning of the next chapter.

Participants now leave the programme carrying new skills, stronger confidence and a clearer sense of direction. Across the five training cycles, they were supported in becoming better prepared to pursue employment, entrepreneurship and new opportunities.

EmpoweerNEET brings together partners from Palestine, Spain, Greece, Lebanon, Tunisia and France to strengthen youth inclusion and socio-economic participation across the Mediterranean. Through employability, entrepreneurship and Social and Solidarity Economy initiatives, the project aims to help young people move from uncertainty toward opportunity and from potential toward participation.

For BCTS, the closing event was therefore both a celebration and a commitment: to continue believing in people, investing in their capacities and creating spaces where potential can become possibility.

The EmpoweerNEET project is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg NEXT MED Programme.