Barbara Walters chats with Forward Syria
Swaying between art and seduction
Discussing monetary policy with the man in charge
Where the earth screams in horror
11/11/2010 - Issue 45
Ghazal Tabbal
Senior projects coordinator for SYEA Ventures (Syrian Young Entrepreneurs Association) at just 25, Tabbal – an English Literature graduate from Damascus University with no former experience - is as a promising authority in capacity building in Syria.
How did you reach your position at such a young age?
I wanted to work before graduating, so I enrolled in an internship at the UNDP for four months where I was trained in capacity development. After that I started working with SYEA because their mission statement and vision are unlimited, which I thought would enable me to learn and develop, and go up in ranks fast – and that turned up to be true. I was promoted after just four months, then again after three months.
How did working for SYEA and the rapid ascension in its ranks affect you?
It definitely taught me a lot, and helped me learn a lot and mature more.
I’m connected to SYEA, to its goals and projects, and I would love to leave a personal print. And now through its influence, I personally wish to have my own project to help with awareness and empowerment – though I’d be targeting different demographics.
I was considering women empowerment, as women aren’t accepted in society as equals. Even if a woman proves herself in the labor force she will not be accepted as an equal; women are underestimated even though they could be equal and more.
We need to raise awareness, and that is one of the key issues I’ve learned.
Throughout your experience, what are the challenges facing NGOs working in Syria?
In SYEA, we work through training and sponsoring projects, and one of the obstacles we face all the time is people’s fear of divulging their ideas, worried they might be plagiarized. People don’t understand the role of NGOs; they think all organizations are out for material gain.
The next big problem would be the lack of qualified staff in the Syrian labor market, though with our training schemes we are slowly tackling these issues and this is enabling us to branch and spread more in the region, to connect and cover all cities and municipalities.
Your passion for your work, and your performance skills, what do you attribute those to?
I couldn’t have made it without the support of my family. We are four girls and I am the first one to work, and that has only been possible through the encouragement of my family, I owe them everything. While professionally, my thanks go to Michel Arcouche, director of SYEA Ventures, and Abdulsalam Haykal, who both taught me a lot.
What would you advise those who would want to work with NGOs?
I would tell them that they should only work for an NGO if they believe in its goals.
Working for an NGO is different than holding a regular job, you must feel like you're affecting a positive change to be able to continue.
