AI Training for 50 Lebanese Youth

The Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development, through the “Youth of the Rise of Lebanon Forum” and in partnership with “ZAKA,” organized a training course on artificial intelligence techniques for 50 university students from various Lebanese regions. Over four weeks (30 training hours), they were introduced to AI and data analysis techniques: Data Science & Machine Learning, Deep Learning & Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing & Time-Series Analysis, and MLOps. During another four weeks, they applied the knowledge and skills they acquired in this field through 9 projects that address developmental challenges in Lebanon and around the world and offer solutions to them.

At the end of the course, a graduation ceremony was held for the participating young women and men at the Hariri Foundation’s National State Academy – Saida, in the presence of the Foundation’s President Mrs. Bahia Hariri, Executive Director Dr. Roubina Abu Zeinab, and ZAKA’s representative and course trainer Mr. Murad Suleiman.

Hariri

In a speech at the start of the ceremony, Hariri stressed the importance of this training course with “ZAKA” and said:
“If you do not fortify yourselves with this kind of technology, we will all be out of step with the times. The future ahead is a digital future, and it will provide you with diverse jobs, each according to one’s abilities and distinction. The diploma you obtain from universities is good and important, but it is not enough. There are new skills you must acquire, and learning does not end with a course. You are now standing on the track of the future, and the future is digitalization. You are the generation called Gen Z, and there are generations after you who know nothing but digitalization; they will outpace you if you do not develop your capabilities. I thank the representative of ZAKA and the Foundation’s team for the effort they made so that you truly become prepared for the future of this country and the future of the entire world. Digitalization has made us a global village with its own mode and system, but of course it matters to us that you remain rooted in this country while at the same time being open to the whole world. We are always committed to meeting you with everything that contributes to developing your capacities.”

Suleiman

ZAKA’s representative, Mr. Murad Suleiman, also gave a speech in which he noted that university education, especially in the field of artificial intelligence, on its own is not sufficient. Addressing the participating youth, he said:
“You must demonstrate the skills you possess. We congratulate you all on this achievement, which is not only about completing this intensive training that demanded much effort and energy from you, but is also a real investment step in your future. At ZAKA, we believe the Middle East and North Africa region has the talent and creativity that qualifies it to lead the AI revolution. That is why we work to build programs that cover various levels, from general awareness to specialized professional trainings. During the program, you worked on developing models and algorithms, but more importantly, you designed solutions to improve people’s lives, because artificial intelligence is not just about data, it is about serving the public good. Now your journey begins in a world where AI is reshaping the rules of sectors such as health, finance, and education. You are the leaders of the future—its innovators and changemakers. The world and the region need your vision and creativity. And remember: the future is not something we wait for; it is something we make. And always remember artificial intelligence does not change the world, you are the ones who change the world.”

Project presentations and certificate distribution

There was then a presentation by the Hariri Foundation’s Manager of Networking and Analysis, Mr. Mohammad Ismail, about the “Youth of the Rise of Lebanon Forum” and the programs it implements. The Foundation’s data and AI engineer, Ms. Maya Bsat, gave an overview of the training course, its objectives, stages, and outcomes.

After that, the trainee young women and men presented their nine projects and discussed them with the audience. The projects focused on:

• Emotional Speech Recognition
• Hate Speech Recognition
• A chatbot about the regulatory decrees of Lebanese ministries
• Guiding users on how to sort waste using AI (Waste Sorting)
• Misinformation Detector
• Carbon Footprint Prediction Model and Climate Change
• Topic analysis in development reports (Reports Analysis for Development Agencies)
• Time-Series Analysis (Climate Change)
• Sign language translator

At the end of the ceremony, Hariri, together with Suleiman and Dr. Abu Zeinab, distributed certificates to the participating young men and women.