Photo by GATE Lebanon, © RET Germany

This month, we’re bringing you stories that demonstrate that the relentless work of building futures where crisis has taken root.

In Geneva, our management team gathered to chart RET’s next 25 years. In Mauritania’s M’bera Camp, children are eating better and learning more. In Akkar, Lebanon, a young woman’s first real campaign reached 39,000 people. And in Burundi, school bags and uniforms are removing the last barriers keeping adolescent mothers from staying in class.

There’s also something in it for you. Scroll down to find out how you can be part of this work. 👇

📸 This Month’s Cover Photo

Bayan Halabi, a 27-year-old Syrian woman in Akkar El-Atika, Lebanon, turned her handmade textile passion into a growing business with support from RET Germany and GATE Lebanon. Before joining the program, she sold products through Instagram but struggled to present them professionally and attract more customers. Business development sessions helped her gain practical skills, including using the Photo Room app to improve product images and strengthen her online presence. As a result, Bayan enhanced her digital marketing, increased visibility, and improved customer engagement. She is now better positioned to expand her market reach and build a more sustainable future for herself and her family.

👉 To learn more about our work in Lebanon: https://retgermany.org/lebanon/

This Month at a Glance

1. Planning the Next 25 Years: RET’s 2026 Strategy & Operations Meeting
2. Mauritania: Building Stronger School Nutrition Systems in M’Bera Camp
3. Lebanon: A Spark in Akkar and Halloum’s Journey From Learning to Earning
4. Burundi: Supporting Adolescent Mothers With School Materials
5. Peru: Strengthening Partnerships for Quality Education 

1️⃣ Planning the Next 25 Years: RET’s 2026 Strategy & Operations Meeting

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – In late April, 17 staff from 8 countries gathered in Geneva for RET’s most significant in-person meeting since 2019. Over 40 hours across 25 sessions, all three Alliance CEOs aligned on strategy, AI governance, financial resilience, and program quality, charting RET’s direction for the next 25 years.

🔗 Read more: https://theret.org/2026/05/ret-news/planning-the-next-25-years-rets-2026-strategy-operations-meeting/

2️⃣ Mauritania: Building Stronger School Nutrition Systems in M’bera Camp

BASSIKOUNOU, MAURITANIA – RET and WFP organized a two-day nutrition training for 127 canteen staff across eight schools in M’bera refugee camp, covering food safety, hygiene, and balanced meal preparation. An inter-school culinary competition followed, with School 3 taking first place. “If we had these meals every day, no child would stay home.” The Model School Project is funded by the World Food Programme.

🔗 Read more: https://theret.org/2026/05/mrt/building-stronger-school-nutrition-systems-in-mbera-camp/

3️⃣ Lebanon: A Spark in Akkar and Halloum’s Journey from Learning to Earning

AKKAR, LEBANON – Halloum Moussa joined a digital marketing training in Akkar and left with her first real client. Her team delivered a full advertising campaign for a local clothing shop, including photography, branded content, social media, and one video hit 39,000 views. In a region where opportunity is scarce, Halloum didn’t just find a way through; she brought her whole team with her.

🔗 Read more: https://theret.org/2026/05/lbn/a-spark-in-akkar-halloums-journey-from-learning-to-earning/

4️⃣ Burundi: Supporting Adolescent Mothers with School Materials

CIBITOKE AND RUGOMBO, BURUNDI – Returning to school as a young mother takes courage. Staying takes support. Through the NYIZERE NIGE project, funded by ENABEL, RET is providing school materials and uniforms to adolescent mothers in Cibitoke and Kirundo – removing financial barriers and reinforcing their right to education. “It shows me I am not alone and that my future matters,” said Jacqueline, a student.

🔗 Read more: https://theret.org/2026/05/bdi/burundi-supporting-adolescent-mothers-with-school-materials-to-strengthen-their-return-to-education/

5️⃣ Peru: Strengthening Partnerships for Quality Education

LIMA, PERU – In mid-May, we held a working session with the consortium of the Multi-Year Resilience Program Aprender Sin Barreras (“Learning Without Barriers”) to reaffirm agreements, lessons learned, and priorities for further strengthening the program in its second year of implementation.These sessions are key to consolidating a solid foundation as a consortium, enhancing collaborative work, and moving forward with a shared vision toward quality, inclusive, and protective education for children and adolescents in Lima and Trujillo.

“Learning Without Barriers” is funded by Education Cannot Wait (ECW), led by RET, in partnership with Asoventru, Plan International Peru, and UNESCO Peru. 

🔗 Read more: https://theret.org/peru/

🎁 How YOU Can Make a Difference Right Now 

Inspired by these stories? You can help us continue this life-saving work. Your support allows us to expand education, strengthen protection, and respond to where needs are greatest.   

 For U.S. supporters: RET is registered as a 501(c)(3), and your donation may be tax-deductible.  

• Donate today: https://theret.org/donate  
• To learn about giving through Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs): http://theret.org/donate/dafs/  
• Employee & corporate matching: http://theret.org/donate/employee-matching/  

Thank you for being part of our global community! Together, we’re saving lives, changing futures, and building hope. 

Until next month,

RET International HQ

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