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I'm going to Lebanon to volunteer with the ngo Salam LADC. I need to support myself while in the country and want to raise money to give to the organisation. They bring education and aid to those who desperately need it.

• I'll be teaching English and supporting daily humanitarian aid operations in the refugee camp
• I'll be spending money on: accomodation, food, insurance, mobile data, transport, etc
• I'll be earning: nothing

I'm raising money to support my work AND to give to Salam LADC as a cash donation to continue their work.

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So this is my story... what brought me to this moment, starting in the early days of COVID-19

I was jobless, and the first one I found was in a furniture factory. I worked with many skilled and wonderful people, and even though we could only really communicate with severely fragmented Maltese/English and gestures, we formed really good relationships. I quite enjoyed it, even though it was back-breaking and dirty and sweaty. Despite having a good time, I learned a lot about carpentry from these guys because they were very skilled at it. One day I found out how much they earned... it was less than I did.... It wasn't because I was more skilled, experienced, or better looking... it was because I negotiated my salary with my beautifully colourful vocabulary. (That's probably why it wasn't so great, in hindsight...) These guys didn't have the vocabulary to negotiate a salary, and so were exploited. This was my first encounter with it, and I was quite disgusted.

Thank god, soon after I began the job I was waiting to do, but COVID restrictions were delaying it, and I began teaching English as a second language. I loved it from day 1 and I think I have a knack at it. Besides my full-time job, I volunteered with a local NGO teaching migrants English to help them integrate. It was hard for them. Imagine attending a language class after a full days work AND using local buses... No easy task! Their lives would be so much easier if they already had some skills in English... 

I found myself teaching two kinds of students; those who were seeking to improve their prosperous careers and education, and those who were striving to climb out of poverty and be assimilated into their society. Two extremes.  

How incredible it is that I have learned a set of skills that can empower people. 

I came accross Salam L.A.D.C. and after speaking to a member of their staff, I knew that I'd be giving everything up and going to work with them. They have education, social, distribution programmes that serve Syrian refugees and impoverished Lebanese. They've got a big job to do and I'm going to help out. 

While I'm there I'll need to support myself to pay for my accommodation, food, mobile data, transport, etc. I am putting my own money aside to do this, but I would like to give you the opportunity to help me.

Contribute on Revolut! revolut.me/edschembri

Your donation will allow me to teach and also give money to Salam LADC to help with their operations.