In a country facing ongoing socio-economic challenges, a fresh wave of hope and innovation has emerged from the classrooms of Saint Joseph University (USJ). As part of the Erasmus+ project SE.TC – Social Entrepreneurship in Time of Crises, University Saint Joseph’s Faculty of Business and Management (FGM-USJ) recently hosted a series of pilot workshops designed to equip youth and local communities with the skills to become agents of social change.
These workshops mark the first of a series of training events that will be organized by the Lebanese universities involved in the SE.TC project, paving the way for a broader national engagement in social entrepreneurship education.
Two in-depth training workshops have been organised – one in Beirut and another in Zahle – from June to July 2025, reaching students and professionals from diverse academic and career backgrounds.
A journey of learning and purpose
Structured around seven core modules, as foreseen for the SE.TC training course, the workshops tackled essential themes such as the theory and practice of social entrepreneurship, social impact, marketing and management, digital tools, financial and economic sustainability, legal frameworks, and business plan development. More than just a theoretical course, the program offered an interactive, collaborative learning experience where participants were encouraged to think critically, work in teams, and design their own impactful social ventures.
In Zahle, the workshop took place between June 13th and July 2nd at the USJ Amphitheatre. While 30 participants registered, 17 fully committed to the full training path. A special introductory session on June 13 was offered to those without a financial background, ensuring equitable access to the program’s more technical modules. Professors Michel Abboud, Céline Semaan Riachi, Jessica Chahoud, and Richard Sadaka guided the participants with clarity and enthusiasm, sparking a high level of engagement particularly around the financial sustainability components.
Meanwhile, in Beirut, sessions ran from June 10th to July 3rd, with each module delivered by a dedicated USJ faculty member, including Marc Bouji, Dina Sidani, Leonel Matar, Rima Rouhana, Maroun Khattar, Fadi Farah, and Antonio Sawaya. Participants followed a consistent schedule, engaging in rich discussions and hands-on exercises designed to bring social entrepreneurship principles to life.
Voices from the workshops
What made these workshops unique was not only the quality of the content, but the sense of community they nurtured. Participants—ranging from undergraduate students to working professionals—were grouped into teams, encouraging collaboration and the exchange of experiences. Together, they developed original project ideas aimed at addressing social and economic issues in their communities. At the end of the training, these projects were evaluated by the trainers, offering valuable feedback and encouragement for real-world application.
In conclusion, the impact of the SE.TC workshops was best captured in the words of the participants themselves.
Learn through their voices how this experience was!
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