The WIP – WORK IN PROGRESS project was created to support those young people who wish to start a business in their place of origin to give hope to their country, even – and especially – when the context is difficult, marked by profound difficulties economic and social issues.
Helping to get the internal market moving again means opening up job opportunities in places that lack them, and thus triggering a process of rebirth of countries towards a more stable future.
Several countries in the Middle East are experiencing an economic, political and social crisis: the delicate balance between governments and other local political forces has made it difficult for the population to obtain basic necessities; As a result, there are large sections of the population that do not have access to schools, services, jobs. Work is not found and emigration is spreading, especially in countries such as Syria and Lebanon: people are fleeing to look for a more suitable place to build a future, and the country, left to itself, risks not being able to get back on its feet.
The aim of the project is to support the development of new micro-enterprises in the Middle East, to try to act in support of the local economy and labor market: we have created a competition for young people between twenty and forty years old who have an innovative business idea and who wish to carry it forward while remaining in their own country. The thirty selected aspiring entrepreneurs are offered training courses with specialized coaches, as well as personal tutors who support them throughout the construction and management of their projects. The name of the project is inspired by the desire to learn of young people and their ability to adapt and adapt to the course of events: there is no business without the ability to seize opportunities or turn the rudder in the direction of the wind. It's all a work in progress.
The objective of the training courses, lasting three months, is the drafting of a business plan to be presented to a commission that will evaluate the proposals presented and choose the most valid ones that will then be effectively financed. The two days dedicated to the presentation of business plans are known as Pitching Day: the commission meets and selects the beneficiaries who will obtain funding. Those who are taking their first steps in the construction of their business receive funding proportionate to the initiative, collected thanks to various sponsors, while those who already have a more structured project can receive funding or a loan, which they can repay when their activity allows them to do so and which will thus finance new future WIP candidates .
In addition to financial support, the winners are offered other training courses, differentiated according to the specificities of the various companies, at the end of which the young entrepreneurs can start their project, always with the support of coaches and tutors. The strength of WIP is in fact precisely this double mentorship that creates a safety and support network around the young people, essential for finding the courage to invest in a country that offers very few prospects.
WIP has been active since 2021, and to date has allowed 165 young people to attend training courses and 70 micro-enterprises to see the light of day, not counting the numbers of editions still in progress. Over the years, the project has been so successful that it has expanded geographically, losing the characteristics of a local activity and acquiring the characteristics of a project that can be implemented in different countries:
Damascus
In Syria, in Damascus, the project began in the autumn of 2021; today we have reached the fifth edition. In 2025, work focused on the resilience and adaptation of already established micro-enterprises: market volatility, rising costs, weak demand, and security risks tested many projects. However, constant follow-up, field visits, and networking among beneficiaries helped several of them resist and, in some cases, grow. Dozens of projects remain active within the monitored groups, while some have consolidated into particularly robust realities.
At the same time, we relaunched the program with a new phase: over 2,100 applications, more than 80 individual interviews, and a training path that introduced new topics—including the use of artificial intelligence and digital marketplaces—with a specific focus on youth and female entrepreneurship. Additionally, a job placement desk is active, offering training courses for young caregivers with subsequent job placement, which has benefited 17 young people.
Aleppo
In Syria, in Aleppo, the project was launched in the summer of 2023 and underwent a phase of consolidation and relaunch in 2025. The program followed 19 already funded projects, flexibly accompanying those in difficulty and adding value to the most solid realities. Furthermore, a new call was launched that gathered over 500 applications: after a selection and training phase, 15 promising projects were identified, which are now preparing to receive funding in 2026.
Beirut
In Lebanon, the project began in the autumn of 2022; today we have reached the third edition. The launch of 9 new activities and the vocational training of 28 young aspiring entrepreneurs in 2024 was made possible thanks to the support of a group of entrepreneurs, executives, and managers from prestigious Italian companies. In 2025, work focused on the follow-up of projects from previous editions.
Through the WIP project, we champion and demonstrate how vital it is to invest in young people and their ideas, even when they come from desperate situations: they are the first to believe in themselves and their potential, and they deserve to be offered the right opportunities to test them. In this way, we support the local economies of countries in severe crisis, helping the population to stand up again and acquire the necessary tools to start anew.
Stay on Trail
Also in Lebanon, in May 2025, the "Stay On Trail" project was launched. Funded by AICS (the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation), it takes place in the Zgharta district within the Qaraqir Valley—an area in northern Lebanon rich in rural villages, natural valleys, and traditions that are still undervalued from a tourism perspective.
The project's objective is to create a model of sustainable and community-based tourism that fosters local economic growth, environmental protection, and social inclusion. After an initial phase of partnerships and planning, the work expanded to involve 12 municipalities, 41 local structures and tour guides, and mapped 171 economic and social actors.
The redevelopment of the park has been completed and it was inaugurated on December 5 with a public event that drew around 2,000 people, featuring a local market with traditional food and crafts, including products made by youth from the National Autism Center. The center itself launched vocational training for 67 youth with autism and an initial disability awareness campaign targeting 117 secondary school students.
In collaboration with AITR (Italian Association for Responsible Tourism) and the Green Community, training courses on responsible tourism were also conducted for municipalities and guides, reaching 43 beneficiaries.
