WIP: Bridging Hope for Lebanon's Youth

Winter is approaching, and in Beirut a storm rages over the city. One by one, the employees of the Agonista bar, created by Wassim with the support of the WIP project, come inside, shaking off the rain. Only Joseph is missing, but Wassim already knows he won’t be coming.

Joseph is forty years old, has Down syndrome, and has barely spoken to anyone since he was a child. He’s afraid of many things, especially interacting with others—and above all, the rain. Winter, with its wind and cold, has always forced him to shut himself inside for months, despite any commitments he might have made.

Working at Agonista with so many other young people with intellectual disabilities has made him feel more understood, happier; he even started talking a bit more. But, Wassim thinks, maybe it’s still not enough to help him conquer his fear of winter.

While the others get to work, suddenly the door swings open: Joseph enters the bar, cold and scared, but he’s there. Everyone looks at him, surprised and happy, trying to keep their joy in check so as not to embarrass him. Wassim, proud and pleased, welcomes him with a smile: "Welcome back to work, Joseph! I’m glad to see you here."

This is precisely why Wassim wanted to create this project, and it’s why supporting local initiatives can truly make a difference: so that people like Joseph can have a chance to enter the workforce and change their lives—and the lives of others in their country.

Thank you for your commitment to supporting local businesses: none of this would be possible without you!