...Coming soon to Salamieh. 

By Ali Al-Khateeb, translation by Sameer Kassam
Published on 28 February 2010  

The Salamieh ReefNet Centre, in cooperation with the British NUHA Foundation, has launched its English Conversation Programme (ECP), which can be considered as the first activity of the ‘Public English Library’ Project that will be inaugurated soon in the centre of Salamieh as the first library of its kind in Syria.” 

E-Syria was amongst the attendees of the first meeting for participants held on Wednesday 24th February 2010. There, Mr. Nabil Eid, head of the ReefNet Centre in Salamieh, commenced proceedings by speaking to us about the ‘Public English Library’ Project.” 

“The Public English Library”, he said, “offers its visitors a large collection of diverse English language references which will allow for the building of students’ capacities and the strengthening of their skills in using the English Language. Additionally, it will offer several training and improvement courses specifically for the English Language, and all of this will be undertaken free of charge for the children of this region.” 

Mr. Nabil Eid also spoke to us about the background to the launching of this distinctive project by reviewing the steps taken thus far. He said: “Recently, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the British NUHA Foundation and the ‘Strategic Programme for the Use of Information and Communication Technology in Social and Economic Development in Syria’, as represented by the Ministry of Communication and Technology and the UNDP through its ReefNet Programme, in the knowledge that NUHA is a British foundation which will supply books and various programmes on a complementary basis to the local communities.” 

Mr. Nabil Eid added: “This library is the first of its kind in Syria and an agreement is currently in the pipeline for the development of a similar library in the Abu Kamal region in the Governorate of Deir Al-Zur, as well as for many other regions in Syria within local communities, and all this forms part of the guidelines to transform Telecentres into Knowledge Hubs.” 

Mr. Sameer Kassam, a British national, is working as a volunteer with the UNDP programme, and is supervising the ECP, which is the programme’s first activity. Speaking to me about this, he said: “The ECP is divided into three parts, the first for University Students, the second for English teachers and the third for people actively involved in the local community in Salamieh. The courses will last for just over two months and during that period I will drill the students in the English language in a way that differs from school curricula. Both I and the team I work with will think about what the students need and want from this language, and then we will select a training curriculum, for I do not wish to impose my thoughts on them, rather they are the ones who should decide what they want to speak about.”

Mr. Sameer Kassam studied Arabic and Spanish, and he is preparing to take a Masters degree in Middle East Studies, having spent 6 months at the University of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. However, in his remaining time here, he wants to give something to the city of Salamieh which, as he said with a smile, he loves.” 

I also asked him about what motivates a young man like him to offer voluntary services in Salamieh. “My parents raised me to believe that the culture of giving is a wonderful thing”, he replied, “and through my numerous visits to this city it has endeared itself to me, and I want to give something back to its people in the time that I have before I leave. So, we researched as to what could be offered that would be both beneficial and sustainable, and as you can see, here we have the ECP which has begun today.” 

On the extent of the participation of the students in the presentation session, he said: “Generally, when there is a large room filled with very many students, the participation level will be relatively low, for they are not very used to dealing with foreigners and they lack conversational practice, in addition to feeling shy, due to the somewhat different atmosphere of this session. However, I noticed, from their answers to the questionnaire, that they have written well and I will review these questionnaires to deduce the topics for future sessions.” 

As a final remark he commented: “The enthusiasm which the students brought with them today perhaps represents, for me, a sort of responsibility – that of the necessity to benefit them in the greatest way possible.”

Mr. Ismail Al-Khateeb, a student of English Literature, works with the ECP team in his capacity as a volunteer with the British NUHA Foundation. He explained to me his goal from volunteering by saying: “I personally hope that a culture of exposure to sources in their original language is spread in my city, for the benefit to the reader would be even greater. I want to thank Mr. Nibras Aldibbiat who has played a great role in the accomplishments of the ‘Public English Library’ Programme and in the NUHA Foundation. I also wish to thank him as he opened the door for me to be here at its first activity.”

One of the student participants, Mais Habeel, had a simple comment to make: “I think that I am fortunate to be a participant in a programme that is being done for the first time in Salamieh. Truth be told, I am in need of an opportunity like this because it will go a long way in helping me to find employment opportunities inside and outside Syria, especially as I study Archaeology.” 

A programme of this sort, if the efforts and opportunities are made available to complete its expansion to the national level, will surely open wider horizons in the thinking of our youth and, of course, in their various subjects of study. When all is said and done, I cannot but wish for it all the continuity and success. 

Please click here to return to the ECP Pilot page, or here to find out more about NUHA in the press.