TerraNet’s Mission to Connect All of Lebanon
The #GetOnline Initiative
TerraNet reached out to me a few weeks back, to tell me about their ambitious CSR campaign to connect schools across the country with free, high-speed Internet. The #GetOnline initiative is the perfect example of a company giving back to the community in the best way possible: getting young people online in places where they previously couldn’t.
Luckily, this coincided with the MARCH Kawhetna cultural cafe’s relocation and expansion in Tripoli, right on the former frontline of Syria Street between Beb El Tebbeneh and Jabal Mohsen. That’s when we decided to pitch the cafe to the TerraNet team, explaining what we do there, how it’s a hub for all our development projects in the region and how quickly we outgrow our first location and its terribly spotty Internet connection.
We were delighted when TerraNet agreed to install high speed unlimited internet connection through microwave for one year for free. Preliminary tests before installation showed extremely promising potential for a reliable, fast connection in an area where Internet connection is notoriously terrible.
Why Getting Connected is Essential for Kahwetna
Being able to #GetOnline is essential for Kahwetna’s success. Apart from helping the MARCH team run our many projects in the area, from the Beb El Dahab rebuilder’s initiative, to football tournaments, the stateless dilemma, drug awareness campaigns, countering violent extremism initiatives and regular trainings, workshops and events, having WiFi attracts a lot of young men and women from both neighborhoods to come and hang out in the safe space MARCH has created.
MARCH struggled to find affordable, reliable connections for the new cafe and cultural center’s location. With TerraNet, this will no longer be a problem, and the TerraNet team even offered the ability to sell DSL connectivity to our neighbors too! Helping not just Kahwetna get connected, but the entire marginalized areas of Beb El Tebbeneh and Jabal Mohsen.
History of Kahwetna
Back in late 2014, the MARCH team went up to Tripoli just before the clashes were stopped, and brought together young men and women from Beb El Tebbeneh and Jabal Mohsen to create a play about their lives and circumstances. Over the course of more than a year, the actors transitioned from former combatants and prospective refugees, into youth leaders in their communities, solidifying reconciliation and bringing the severely neglected communities together for a common cause: peace and prosperity far from violence and extremism.
Security concerns, resistance and intimidation from local non-state actors and a deep distrust and fear of each other took months to thaw, but the results stunned everyone, including the MARCH team and our partners. A witty, honest play that eloquently satirized the tragic conditions the actors face every day which the actors co-wrote and co-directed was the result of months of stubborn perseverance. It toured all over the country and a documentary that cataloged the arduous process was also received with much praise and massive boosts of serotonin for everyone who witnessed them and got to meet the actors.
But, that wasn’t enough. Capitalizing on the positive momentum of the play “Love And War on the Rooftop”, MARCH decided to turn the results into a more sustainable project. That’s when Kahwetna: Cafe bi Kafak was born. Early 2016 saw the official opening of “Kahwetna”, which has since seen dozens of events, festivals, workshops and themed nights. The ever-growing Beb El Dahab project, as well as all of MARCH’s other projects in the region, meant we needed a bigger space to be able to host more people and projects. That’s when we found the new Kahwetna location, and spent the past 3 months in 2017 renovating and equipping it, and officially opening it to the public in mid-November!
Four Schools Across Lebanon will also #GetOnline with TerraNet
Intilaka School in Akkar, Goodwill School in Beit Misk, Lycee Notre Dame de Maghdouche in Maghdouche and Zein El Abidin in the Bekaa will all also get free Internet for the next year, along with free installation.
I absolutely love this initiative, and feel that having the ability to go online, with the parental control services offered by TerraNet, is essential to give students in under-privileged areas and communities the chance to further their education and increase their chances in succeeding later in life. It also provides entertainment, not just education, especially in rural areas where safe, fun spaces are often replaced with environments that foster bad habits and extreme ideologies.
Thank You TerraNet
I’d like to wholeheartedly thank the TerraNet team for coming up with and executing this initiative. Most companies would spend money on silly ads and lame campaigns, so seeing TerraNet decide to invest that money in communities and projects that need that support, is extremely encouraging.
Kahwetna Official OPENING on November 16
We invite you all to come and test out our new TerraNet connection, and see our gorgeous new location, furnished with home-made, up-cycled furniture. The cafe will include a large event space, a cozy cafe, multipurpose rooms for trainings, classes and meetings. Later this year, we will also inaugurate a fully-equipped recording studio too!
The opening is on November 16th, starting 3PM. You will find us on Syria Street! See you all there.
