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Team > Executives

Teach for Lebanon is where the Executive and Board Members, along with the Fellows, the donors and university affiliates come together to bring this organization to life. Meet the team.

Farah Abou Maita

Head of Education Department

Farah’s passion for education led her to join Teach For Lebanon in 2012 as an education mentor. At that time, she also managed TFL’s communication and marketing departments. Today, she is our head of training and support. Her responsibilities include training and mentoring Fellows, managing the education team by following up with the other mentors, designing monthly professional development workshops, and designing and leading the curriculum for the six-week summer program (also known as the Summer Institute) that prepares our fellows for the two-year fellowship program. 


Farah holds a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from the Lebanese University. She has also completed seven courses in education at Haigazian University. She is currently pursuing a certificate in advanced education leadership from the Harvard School of Education. 


Farah taught English as a second language for thirteen years, at all grade levels from two to twelve. She has also given private lessons to university students, taught English as a second language at the Bourj Al Barajneh Palestinian refugee camp, and worked as a translator of documentary films. Since joining TFL, Farah has participated in global conferences and workshops through the Teach For All network and gained experience in the fields of education, marketing, and communications.

Mike Malek

Development Manager

Mike Malek’s passion for education led him to join Teach for Lebanon as a development officer in 2019. The bulk of his work is to build and maintain strong relationships with national and international donors, including individuals, corporations, foundations, banks, and NGOs. 


Mike holds two bachelor's degrees –  in biology and in chemical engineering – as well as a master’s degree in chemical engineering. He has published a variety of scientific papers, as well as given workshops to youth and students on matters relating to renewable energy, sustainable development, and climate change. Prior to joining Teach for Lebanon, Mike worked as a biomass engineer for the EU.

Manar Hammoud

Access Program Coordinator

Manar joined TFL as a fellow in 2016; she was placed in Bakhaoun, North Lebanon. The fellowship taught her a lot about the importance of education in making a change in any community. After her fellowship, Manar wanted to keep working with TFL in order to continue to have an impact, so she joined the team as an education mentor for North Lebanon. Currently, Manar is the coordinator for the English Access Microscholarship Program. She oversees the progress of the program to ensure that its main goals are met. She creates timelines, schedules, and work-plans with the Access team, relevant departments, and external stakeholders to ensure the implementation of planned activities. She also manages the administrative tasks for the project. 

 

Manar enjoys long walks in nature.


Ahmad Kassem

Education Manager

Ahmad holds a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance. Prior to joining TFL, he worked as an accountant, a warehouse manager, an English teacher, and a teacher trainer. Ahmad joined TFL in November of 2020 as an education mentor. He provides logistical, technical, and emotional guidance and support to our fellows in Beirut and in southern Lebanon. 

Ahmad believes that access to excellent education regardless of socioeconomic background is a human right, and that TFL is playing a key role in ensuring that Lebanese children are granted this right. He wants to help TFL grow and thrive in order to maximize its positive impacts.


Sarah Salem

HR & Recruitment Officer

Sarah joined TFL in January 2021 as an HR and recruitment officer. She holds a master’s degree in human resources from the American University of Beirut (AUB). Before joining TFL, Sarah did a variety of internships, but this is her first actual job. Outside of her academic and professional life, Sarah volunteers at the Lebanese Red Cross as an emergency medical technician (EMT). In the course of this work, she constantly witnesses misfortunes and inequalities among the people she tries to help. She believes TFL is trying to redress such issues, and therefore is committed to the vision and mission of our organization. 


George El Assad

Access Program Director

George is a professional leader of people as well as a manager of resources and budgets. His profile combines C-Suite experience and senior communications practice. He has operated on a multi-market basis in the MENA region and dealt with major multinational corporations as well as with public officials at the highest levels. Throughout his work, George emphasizes ethics and integrity.

 

Eager to share the expertise he gained in the corporate world with nonprofits operating in Lebanon, especially at this critical juncture, George found the opportunity he was looking for at Teach for Lebanon. In particular, George is committed to and proud of the goals of the English Access Microscholarship Program, of which he is the director. George has been keenly interested in the English language since he was a graduate student at AUB, and the program’s objective of developing the students' leadership skills also strongly appeals to him. Moreover, Access puts an emphasis on soft skills, which are very much in line with those he developed over the course of his MBA in the field (master’s in managing organizations of the net economy).

Rima Sherkawi

Access Program Education Mentor

Rima Sherkawi joined Teach For Lebanon as an English Access Microscholarship Program mentor in February 2021. She holds a master’s degree in educational management from the Lebanese American University. Rima is also an alumni of TFL’s fellowship program (Cohort 1, 2009–2011). The two-year teaching experience had an extremely positive impact on her, both personally and professionally. Post-fellowship, she decided to continue teaching English. Overall, she has accumulated 14 years of experience teaching at levels ranging from kindergarten to high school. 


Rima has always noticed major discrepancies and inequalities in education between private and public schools. TFL gives her the opportunity to contribute to breaking this cycle of inequality and in providing all students with what they need and deserve – all in order to build a better future.


Rodaina Bou Shaheen

Access Alumni Coordinator

Rodaina joined TFL at the end of 2020 as the Access Alumni project coordinator. As an alumna of both the Access program and TFL’s fellowship program, she believes her current position as alumni coordinator is an opportunity for her to express the knowledge and skills she acquired over the course of those two life-changing experiences.


Rodaina holds a master’s in human resources management from the American University of Beirut. She is the co-founder of the Lebanese State Alumni Community’s Mount Lebanon II chapter. She participated in the Professional Fellows program in Washington, DC, as well as in a number of other local and international programs and events, notably Erasmus+. She was the first prize winner of the EBDA Business Competition for her startup, Reef Catering, which focuses on rural women’s empowerment.

Pamela Hindi

MEAL Coordinator

Pamela joined Teach For Lebanon (TFL) as monitoring and evaluation (M&E) Coordinator in May 2021. Her responsibilities include preparing logframes for all education-related TFL projects as well as developing and implementing M&E tools for these projects. Prior to joining TFL, Pamela worked as an M&E officer for HelpAge, an international NGO serving older people, for four years. After these four years, she found herself wanting to explore working in other areas of public health, such as education. When she was offered a job at TFL, she saw it as an opportunity to learn and grow personally and professionally, and to open new doors for herself. 


Pamela holds a bachelor’s in public health and developmental sciences from the University of Balamand, and she is currently pursuing a master’s in human rights from Notre Dame University. 



Lina W. Harati

Education Advisor

Lina has been part of the TFL family since 2014. She is now an education adviser for the Access program


Lina has been in the field of education for twenty years. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Saint Louis University. She has worked as a teacher, subject coordinator, and departmental coordinator at the K-12 school level, and she has held assistant professor positions at universities in Lebanon and abroad. She has written a book and multiple articles about education. 


Lina has also led a number of professional development workshops. She specializes in curriculum design, education leadership, professional development, and career guidance. 


Lina is sure that the only solution to a better future is through education. She believes TFL’s mission aligns with her own and that it is being executed in an effective and positive way.

Nagham Al Banna

Project Coordinator

Nagham El Banna joined Teach For Lebanon (TFL) as a project officer in August 2021; she is currently working on our 1001 Nights program. 


Prior to joining us as a project coordinator, and as operations officer, Nagham was a TFL Fellow (Cohort 10). 


Nagham holds a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and political science from the Lebanese American University, as well as a master’s degree in rural community development from the American University of Beirut. She has experience working in the humanitarian sector with entities including Rural Entrepreneurs, Tatweer Baladna, Women Ascension, YMV, the British Council, and UNICEF


When asked “Why are you working with TFL, Nagham answers: “I’ve always wanted to make this world a better place through impacting the lives of others. I believe that TFL gives us the platform to change lives  and leave an impact.”

Rima Jamaleddine

Communications Officer

Rima joined Teach for Lebanon (TFL) as a Communications Officer in January 2022. Her responsibilities include content creation, production of social media posts and campaigns, web articles, and newsletters, translation, and coordination with the communications and creative manager to ensure that the achievements of the organization and its impact are visible to all. 

Prior to joining TFL, Rima worked as a freelance consultant and translator on the Article 26 Backpack project at the University of California in Davis (UC Davis) for four years and interned at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Librairie du Liban, Issam Fares Institute at AUB, the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE), University of Michigan, and Annahar Newspaper. 

Rima holds two Bachelor's degrees in Political Science and International Affairs and in Translation from the Lebanese American University (LAU). In 2020, she was awarded a full scholarship from Rotary International and the Kroc School of Peace Studies to pursue a Master’s of Science degree in Conflict Management and Resolution from the University of San Diego. 

Last but not least, she was the graduation cohort speaker and was featured on the university’s website to discuss her journey and influence prospective students.


Ghewa Zeitouni

Finance Manager


Ghewa joined Teach For Lebanon as a financial officer in January 2020. She works with the organization’s senior management to develop the annual budget and monthly financial reports, and she contributes to the maintenance of an accurate, up-to-date general ledger. She joined TFL to acquire experience in the field of education and to work with people who are motivated to give back. 


Ghewa holds a bachelor’s degree in financial engineering from Sagesse University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in petroleum management.


Mohamad Said

Education Mentor

Mohamad joined Teach for Lebanon (TFL) as an education mentor in September 2022. His responsibilities include providing guidance, advice, feedback, and support to the fellows and offering all the tools needed for them to become highly effective teachers. Before becoming an education mentor, Mohamad was a TFL Fellow (Cohort 11). 

During his fellowship, he witnessed how being a fellow can change and touch the lives of others and later joined as a staff member to provide the assistance needed to serve this mission.

Mohamad graduated from the Lebanese International University with a Bachelor's degree in Business Banking and Finance and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Business Management at the University of Balamand.


Lina Abdul Hadi

Education Mentor

Lina joind Teach For Lebanon in October 2022 as an education mentor, as she became aware that children are the future of the country. As part of the education team, her role is to support the Fellowship program's sustainability. 


Her high-impact leadership position entails a wide range of responsibilities, including overseeing the Fellows' educational follow-up and training throughout all program stages, as well as providing them with the knowledge, abilities, and skills required to be highly effective teacher leaders and agents of social change.


She holds an MA degree in International Affairs from Santa Maria University, as well as a Master in Educational Management and a Health Coach specialization from IIN New York


Lina is enthusiastic about education and mindfulness, therefore she would want to ensure that every child has access to a high-quality education so that they may grow up to be happy, healthy individuals who can constructively contribute to society and the world around them.



Janine Weber El-Meouchy

Executive Director

Janine joined Teach For Lebanon as the Executive Director in May 2023. She has 20 years of experience working with NGOs in the Middle East and has lived in Lebanon for 12 years. She has consulted on and led the organizational development processes of several NGOs, especially in the educational sector, and has also trained organizations in this area. Janine has profound experience in strategic development, implementing good governance-based structures, and international fundraising. 

She began her career in the German Parliament, working with a Member of Parliament in the field of human rights and humanitarian aid with a focus on South-East Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Middle East. In parallel, she conducted leadership and educational workshops for young leaders and emerging talents from these same countries for the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.  

Janine believes in change through civil society and is passionate about education, which is why she’s been a volunteer since her youth. Among other things, she co-founded a child and youth parliament in her hometown, initiated youth projects in art and environmental preservation, co-founded a student initiative for sustainable development at her university, and currently serves as president on the board of an educational NGO for children with disabilities.  

She holds two Master’s degrees, one from Humboldt University to Berlin in Politics and Sociology, and another from the University of Rostock in Education for Sustainable Development.


Mohsen El Husseini

Head of HR Department

Mohsen is currently the head of our HR department and our recruitment manager. The bulk of his work consists of selecting and recruiting top-notch candidates for all positions, from executive staff to fellows to teachers, as well as managing and following up on the tasks of his team. 


He joined TFL as a fellow in 2012 because he found our organization’s mission and vision to match what he wanted his country’s educational framework to be like. Mohsen was a public school student and experienced the inequities of the current system firsthand. So he wants to change the system in order to see each and every child provided with a quality education, regardless of their background. 


Mohsen holds a master’s degree in microbiology and immunology from the American University of Beirut. On top of being an alumnus of the TFL fellowship program, he is also an alumnus of the English Access program. Mohsen was also a volunteer at the Lebanese Red Cross for ten years, from 2010 to 2020.

Mohammad Al Saeed

MEAL Assistant

Mohammad joined Teach For Lebanon (TFL) in early 2023 as an Access Alumni Project Assistant. Six months later, he was selected as the MEAL assistant for both Access and TFL ongoing programs and projects. His responsibility is to ensure that all MEAL procedures are properly implemented at the organizational level and that the technical teams are equipped with the appropriate MEAL tools to gather the correct data for various interventions.

Before joining us, Mohammad was a data collector and translator for a Spanish-based research and communication company. 

Mohammad holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Communication Engineering from Phoenicia University. But his passion for the nonprofit sector and social advocacy pushed him to work and volunteer with different NGOs.


Denise Atallah

Education Mentor

Denise joined Teach for Lebanon (TFL) as an Education Mentor in February 2023. Her responsibilities include coaching and mentoring the fellows in the Beirut and Mount Lebanon areas and taking part in the preparation and presentation of professional development (PD) trainings at the monthly PDs and the Summer Institute.

Prior to joining TFL, and for 17 years, Denise worked as an educator at different educational institutions: private schools, public schools, and private universities, and as a freelance translator, editor, and copyrighter.

Then, Denise decided to shift from working in the teaching field to working in the humanitarian field, as she worked with NGOs on different projects, mainly education related, for three years before joining the TFL team.

Denise holds a Master’s degree in the English language from the American University in Beirut (AUB) and a License d’enseignement (LE) in English Literature and Linguistics from the Lebanese University.

Reem Awwad

Access Program Education Mentor

Reem joined Teach For Lebanon (TFL) in May 2023 as an Access mentor. She brings a unique perspective to her role, having been an alumna and former teacher in the Access Program.


Reem holds an M.A. in Linguistics from the Lebanese University. She has received scholarships from UNESCO Lebanon for the Preparing Global Leaders Academy (PGLA) in Jordan and Med Culture for their youth development program in Morocco. Reem also received two scholarships from the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon, enabling her participation in the Access Program and Fulbright FLTA exchange program at Bucknell University, Pennsylvania. 


Her passion for education led her to teach in the State Department's English Access Microscholarship Program and Teaching Women English (TWE).


Returning to Lebanon, Reem actively contributed to educational initiatives; she worked on a university scholarship initiative in partnership with Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). 


Reem cherishes the impact the Access program can have on students' lives and is excited to give back to a program that has given her so much. She looks forward to fostering a positive, engaging learning environment that empowers students to reach their full potential. She is deeply motivated by education's transformative power for individuals' academic, professional, and personal growth.

Aya Moussa

Accountant


Aya joined Teach For Lebanon (TFL) in May 2023 as an accountant. She has six years of experience in the field of accounting.

Her primary role responsibility is to assist the finance manager with general accounting procedures and tasks. She is also responsible for preparing the monthly reconciliation of bank accounts and suppliers, executing monthly payroll data entry, and assisting with financial reporting and analysis.

Aya holds a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance and a Master’s in Business Management from LIU University.

Aya is a diligent worker and an honest individual. She is a timekeeper and is always eager to learn new skills. She always plans ahead to ensure she manages her time effectively.


Where We Work

Antelias Public School

Mount Lebanon- Antelias
Florida

Number of fellows: 1

students: 600

refugees: 600

"Education is the most powerful weapon which we can use to change the world”

- Nelson Mandela -