A LOYAC Lebanon and Appetito restaurant chain collaboration… The Common Target Is Supporting Youth
LOYAC Lebanon announced its collaboration with Appetito chain of restaurants a few days ago, on its social media pages’, through the “Darb” program, to launch a vocational training program in the field of hospitality, especially with regard to food and beverages, targeting all the Lebanese youth. The program started on December 11th,2021.
“Darb” program was launched in early August of this year within the professional development department at LOYAC Lebanon. This program aims to prepare its participants for the professional labor market through two sections, the first section is: workshops revolving around various topics the youth needs to empower its abilities in practical life. The second one is vocational training in several specializations, such as: hospitality, psychology, chemistry and biochemistry. The program will provide the participants with training opportunities in their field of specialization, after the participants are trained by the “Darb” team which is led by the head of the professional development department in LOYAC, Muhammad Yahya Al-Bissani, and by professional specialists. This training serves as a first step toward each participant’s career path.
The "Darb" program also adopted a special approach to empower the youth to become competent leaders and efficient in their field and society.
In the current context, the Head of professional development department Mohammed Bissani says: "we aim in the Darb program to include applied science that's missing in the Lebanese universities for the university's students, or the graduates". Stressing on the goal of the program that is facilitating the way to practical life and guiding the youth on how to excel in the Lebanese and Arab work field.
In regards to the collaboration between "Darb" and the Appetito food chain, Bissani stated that this collaboration is a first of its kind for both parties, adding that it's the beginning of many projects they will both be working on in the future. Stating that both sides have big things in common, like supporting youth and offering them unique opportunities.
As for the motivation of the owner of Appetito, Ras Beirut cafe, Aal shatt and Beit el Baher, the Lebanese pioneer Ali Farhat revealed" I lost two of my restaurants, Appetito and Trattoria romana, in Beirut's explosion in Gemmayze. 10 minutes later, my pregnant wife and I reached Gemmayze street to find people covered in their own blood, then I remember telling my wife that leaving Lebanon is not an option".
He continued, "When I saw that none of the employees and customers were harmed, I resolved to find a solution to quickly rehabilitate the shops and some hope.” Continuing to say that on a day in which Lebanon lost 218 victims and displaced more than three hundred thousand citizens and residents, it was the presence of his loved ones safe and sound that he considered a blessing. A year and four months later, he decided to re-open Appetito in Gemmayzeh to deliver a message of steadfastness and survival in Lebanon.
As for the collaboration with LOYAC, Farhat said: “Following the Beirut port explosion, the ones who helped me clean my shops and what was left of the rubble, were Lebanese youth under the age of twenty-five... This made me believe that this generation will make Beirut rise up.
He added that LOYAC is the best example in terms of supporting youth, as it launched the “Rise Up, Beirut” campaign.
On the second day of the explosion, its volunteers descended on all the streets of Beirut to restore homes and help those affected.
He continued, "Our new branch in Gemayzeh is not for material profit, it is to prove the presence and survival of the country."
