Photo: Raneem presenting her project idea “Al Osol” to the grant committee

Raneem Diab (YES 2015-2016, Lebanon, hosted by AFS in North Mankato, MN) is an active and ambitious YES alumna. Through hard work and perseverance, she recently started her own catering business, called Al Osol.

Raneem, who is only 17 years old, had a dream of helping unemployed women find jobs to support their families. In August 2017, Raneem’s dream came true. After attending a one month training titled "Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking," organized by local NGO Nawaya Network, Raneem started her own project planning, conducted extensive research, and presented her project at a competition held at the end of the training. Raneem received funding of $2,000 to kick-start her catering business from her own home in South Lebanon.

Al Osol catering serves Lebanese traditional food cooked by five local women, with delivery to customers located in Raneem’s hometown of Baysarieh in south Lebanon, as well as nearby towns. The business is off to a great start: Raneem and her catering team were able to reach their three-year goal in just two months!

In addition to her future plans to grow the catering business and reach new customers, Raneem knows how to keep herself busy. She recently used the English language skills she gained while on the YES program to co-translate a children’s book, Forty and One Stories from World Heritage, originally written in Arabic by Dr. Ibtihaj Saleh.

In addition to her final year of high school studies, the catering business, and her translation efforts, Raneem is currently working with a group of friends on registering their own NGO. Called Ahya lel Salam (“Live for Peace”), the NGO aims to plant peace in people's hearts and minds through music and other activities. According to Raneem, “The YES experience had its own refining touch on EVERY angle of my life. From knowing how to be successfully independent to creating international lifelong relationships and learning how to connect with the world with no fear of obstacles.” 

Raneem will be starting university this fall and wants to major in political science and international relations.