+ Studio
Madane
Ji[Daruna]
Beirut River: Portrait + Injection
Community Activists
Citizen Scientists
Learning Programs
Led by the Creative System Operators Working Group
This commitment extends beyond our project methodologies to encompass tailored programs where youth apprentices actively learn to implement these principles.
Studio Madane’s Learning Program equips youth with the theory and practice of systems thinking, process development, group organization and collaboration, leadership, design thinking, problem-solving, and effective information management.
The modules are highly practice-oriented, enabling youth from diverse working groups to collaborate on shared goals. This mirrors Studio Madane’s own approach to mission execution, creating a hands-on simulation of our practices for the interns. Many program graduates continue their journey with Studio Madane, contributing to its ongoing work and impact.
COORDINATOR | Nader akoum
mentors | ramona fricke + nader akoum + aya rafeh + batoul awwad
mentors | ramona fricke + nader akoum + aya rafeh + batoul awwad
Access to Knowledge and Employment Opportunities.
The program was conducted in Beirut, Lebanon, during the transformative period of the October 17 uprisings in 2019. This historic moment saw political oppositions uniting to challenge systemic corruption and advocate for a better future. The uprisings galvanized youth from across Lebanon to join Studio Madane, a network founded earlier that year in the summer of 2019, to collaboratively design an action plan for meaningful change.
The program combined online sessions, field engagements, and in-person meetings to foster collaboration and drive impact. Regular meetings were held among coordinators and administrators to track progress, ensure alignment, and refine the objectives of the working groups.
Interns & Coordinators: More than 25 apprentices participated in the program. 7 coordinators, one for each working group. They facilitated collaboration among members, ensured progress, and worked closely with administrators to align group efforts with the program's overarching mission.
Working Groups: The Urbanists & Environmentalists Working Group, Documenters & Visual Creators Working Group, Artists & Laborers Working Group, Community Activists Working Group, and Creative System Operators Working Group
Outcome: This program successfully established Studio Madane’s foundational structure and strategic direction for the working groups for the coming year. It equipped youth with the skills and organizational frameworks to contribute to systemic change, while each working group delivered 3 detailed actionable plans aimed at fostering multithematic and multiscalar progress.
The program was conducted amidst Lebanon’s economic and political turmoil, a period marked by widespread community depression, a mass exodus of locals, and significant brain drain, leading to a loss of talent and opportunities. This challenging context, dominated by a pervasive state of urgency, pushed communities into survival mode, often at the expense of thoughtful planning and long-term solutions. Recognizing the destructive potential of this mindset, we built a learning program rooted in the principle of stepping back to see our needs as interconnected with those of a larger system, our ecology, land and identity, our social ecosystem and obligation, and economic interdependencies. Studio Madane chose to persist in its activities during this difficult time but adopted a more pedagogical approach.
The program combined online sessions, field engagements, and in-person meetings. Regular meetings were held among coordinators and administrators to track progress, ensure alignment, and refine the objectives of the working groups.
Interns & Coordinators: More than 15 apprentices participated in the program. 3 coordinators facilitated the ongoing projects and tasks.
Working Groups: The Urbanists & Environmentalists Working Group, Documenters & Visual Creators Working Group, Artists & Laborers Working Group, Citizen Scientists Working Group, and Creative System Operators Working Group
Outcomes: This program ensured that Studio Madane’s ongoing activities were maintained while producing a revisited package of the 2022 Urban Injections architectural project, a pitch deck for said revision, 2 multimedia digital newsletters, 15+ statement pieces, 5+ article features, 20+ urban informality awareness videos, two focus groups in two towns outside of Beirut, 2+ group workshops, 2+ networking events, 35+ online meetings, and excellent feedback from the interns.
The program was conceived at a pivotal moment following the end of the war in Lebanon, the return of many young people, and a surge of hope. It was an opportune time to revive one of Studio Madane’s enduring principles, now more essential than ever, to support the natural revival of the local spirit and address the urgent need for multilevel reform. Anchored in partnerships, entrepreneurship, social responsibility, and urban development, the program brought 3 youth for 3 paid internship positions to be mentored by the CEO of Studio Madane, Nader Akoum, and one of its mentors, Ramona Fricke.
Interns & Coordinators: 3 paid interns participated in the program. 2 mentors facilitated learning and practice modules.
Working Groups: The Creative System Operators Working Group
Outcomes: This program accomadated for 9 guided sessions, 4 learning capsules, 3 milestone presentations, and a detailed pitch for Studio Madane’s strategic direction.