Rana El Chemaitelly

The first reason that spurred Rana El Chemaitelly to set up The Little Engineer, an after-school activity centre where youngsters age four to 16+ can learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics, was her son: ‘he is only seven years old but he is addicted to electronic games! The more time he spent on them, the more unsociable he was becoming. I decided that youngsters today need a place where they can learn and engage in more practical and sociable activities.’

Critical thinking

A mechanical engineer and university instructor, Rana drew on her own experience to come up with the solution: a series of hands-on edutainment courses that will be fun for kids while encouraging critical thinking. One of the most popular has them build and operate a robot from A to Z. ‘It can be anything from a car to a conveyor belt! We use the parts in kits from major manufacturers, but I have worked hard to develop all the designs for the robots myself.’ These she sets out in The Little Engineer step-by-step books as guidelines for teachers and students.

The courses are taught by university undergraduates, who gain a positive experience from teaching classes the children enjoy. ‘I see more and more undergraduates struggling to bridge the gaps between school, university and the professional world—many are demoralised about the prospects of finding a job or question the course they are taking.’ It’s more hands-on for them too: ‘We have to get youngsters away from theory and into the real world!’ For the day sessions, she hires qualified women who need to work part-time due to family commitments.

A resourceful world

Despite its name, The Little Engineer offers much more than engineering courses: renewable energy, manufacturing and 3D graphic design are also on the programme. All have the children working in teams, which Rana rates highly to foil an increasingly individualistic and virtual society: ‘time management, collaboration and teamwork—these are crucial skills in the real world!’ The company currently has four centres in Lebanon, with two more set to open by the end of the year. To date, 750 children have attended a full course, and over one thousand more have enjoyed special ‘one-off’ Little Engineer sessions. ‘By teaching children how to make energy from wind, the sun, and even fruit and other biomasses, it helps them to think critically and make use of the incredible tools the world puts at their disposal. I want them to use the Internet positively, not to chat aimlessly.’ Up to 2,500 children are now waiting to join the 2011/2012 courses.

Sharing knowledge

Equal opportunities are a concept to which Rana is committed by delivering sessions for children from lower-income homes and public-funded schools, with the collaboration of the United Nations. The centres also cater for children with learning difficulties, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or hearing impairment, in tailored one-to-one courses.

Rana’s venture was a one-woman show when she started out, and as so often in stories of women’s entrepreneurship, many believed she was crazy! Even she acknowledges the odd moment of doubt. ‘When I opened my third centre in East Lebanon this Spring, there were people burning tyres and fighting in the streets nearby. I almost wondered if I wasn’t crazy to be going ahead in this context! But we Lebanese are survivors. We’ve known times of hardship and now we just have to put our heads down and forge ahead.’ On a machine built by a little engineer!