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<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><b><font face="arial,sans-serif"><font color="#330099"><font size="4">Summer Internship Opportunities <strong><font color="#330099" size="4">in Lebanon</font> </strong>with BASSMA NGO </font>
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="arial,sans-serif" color="#330099">Are you still undecided for your internship this summer? Are you looking for a way to align "the set of skills" that you have been taught at MIT with meaningful public service that could shape the destiny of somebody's life?
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="arial,sans-serif" color="#330099">How about shaping the destiny of a whole country? </font></p>
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="arial,sans-serif" color="#330099">BASSMA, a humanitarian association in Lebanon does exactly that. This summer is a unique opportunity for you to be part of this experience because your knowledge, talent and dedication are needed in a country in crisis.
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="arial,sans-serif"><font color="#330099">Lebanon is a country currently undergoing a very tough transition. The aftermath of the July 2006 war as well as the complete paralysis of the governmental institutions has had many effects on the current state of the country. Two effects are especially stringent. The first one is the economic depression. It is hovering heavily over the country affecting the daily lives of every citizen in Lebanon even the apolitical who are subdue to a crisis that has been imposed upon them against their will. The second effect is the severe immigration of Lebanon's capable work force, Lebanon's only oil, which is depleting at an alarming rate.
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="arial,sans-serif" color="#330099">However, some have chosen to stay, out of hope, out of idealism, out of love for the country and with the deep conviction that the Lebanese people are in a deep time of need. Only solidarity, faith and compassion can help those completely deprived survive the massive ordeal. A large group of these dedicated individuals are part of a humanitarian organization named BASSMA.
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="arial,sans-serif" color="#330099">BASSMA is an NGO that works with deprived families of different confessions in Lebanon through food, medical, educational and social assistance with the ultimate goal of getting them to financial independence. What is unique about BASSMA is that it operates outside the traditional realm of sectarianism and partisan politics which are the main elements of tension and deadlocks in the Lebanese social and political circles. BASSMA has maintained its independence and neutrality despite outside pressure to align them in some political rank.
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="arial,sans-serif"><font color="#330099">BASSMA has assisted over 135 families in Lebanon and has worked in collaboration with the World Bank, UNDP and many other international organizations that have invested their trust in the great results that BASSMA delivers.
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="arial,sans-serif" color="#330099">Interning with BASSMA this summer will undoubtedly be a memorable and fulfilling experience. BASSMA is constantly looking for new policies to enhance the effectiveness of the NGO and bring better services to those in need and is looking for creative, motivated, hard working individuals to carry out its mission in Lebanon.
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="arial,sans-serif"><font color="#330099">If you are interested in doing truly remarkable work this summer with a team of exceptional people, fill out the attached form and email it to
<span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:jihanebassma@hotmaill.com" target="_blank">jihanebassma@hotmaill.com</a></span></span></font>
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="arial,sans-serif" color="#330099">If you need more information on BASSMA join the <strong>Facebook</strong> group by typing "BASSMA", meet the members and ask them anything that's on your mind.
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="arial,sans-serif" color="#330099">You can also check the BASSMA website at </font><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.bassma.org/" target="_blank">
<font face="arial,sans-serif" color="#330099">www.BASSMA.org</font></a><font face="arial,sans-serif" color="#330099"> <span> </span>or contact me directly at </font><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:yalda_aoukar@ksg08.harvard.edu" target="_blank">
<font face="arial,sans-serif" color="#330099">yalda_aoukar@ksg08.harvard.edu</font></a><font face="arial,sans-serif" color="#330099"> for more information.</font></p>
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="arial,sans-serif" color="#330099">Hope to have many positive responses. </font></p>
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span class="sg"><font face="Times New Roman" color="#330099"> </font></span></p><br clear="all"><br><font color="#330099">-- <br>Yalda Aoukar<br><br>Master of Public Policy | Candidate, 2008
<br><br>Harvard University | Kennedy School of Government <br><br><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:yalda_aoukar@ksg08.harvard.edu" target="_blank">yalda_aoukar@ksg08.harvard.edu</a> | (646) 593-1618
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