In this interview, Ms. Lara Daccache, Principal of Collège Notre-Dame de la Lumière – Okaibé, one of the 20 schools participating in the “Towards the School of the Future” program, shares her vision for the School of the Future and the value she aims to bring to young learners through her educational project.

Name	Ms. Lara Daccache
Position	Principal
Institution	Collège Notre-Dame de la Lumière – Okaibé

At Notre-Dame de la Lumière, the School of the Future is taking shape through the Future Leader Lifebook, an innovative digital tool that places students at the center of their academic, emotional, and personal journeys. Supported by Ed’Innov, this initiative reflects an inclusive and humanistic vision of education, one that seeks to reveal every child’s talents and nurture responsible, engaged leaders ready to face tomorrow’s challenges.

1. What is Your School of the Future Project?

The School of the Future project at Notre-Dame de la Lumière positions students as both the primary beneficiaries and active participants in their learning paths. It was born from the desire to make the invisible visible and to support each child across all dimensions of their development within a school where everyone truly belongs.

At the heart of the initiative lies the Future Leader Lifebook, an innovative digital tool designed as a genuine educational life journal. It enables students to better understand themselves, identify their strengths, talents, and needs, track both academic and emotional progress, and gradually build a balanced and fulfilling life project.

By providing educators with a comprehensive and personalized view of each student’s journey, the Lifebook supports the implementation of a truly inclusive school model, one founded on accessible, individualized learning that respects each student’s pace. Ultimately, the project aims to cultivate engaged learners capable of becoming empathetic leaders ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

2. Could You Briefly Introduce Your Institution and Its Educational Mission?

Founded in 1955, Notre-Dame de la Lumière is a French-speaking institution offering trilingual education in an inclusive, small-class environment, with an average of fifteen students per class to ensure personalized, high-quality support.

Its educational mission is built on a holistic approach that places students at the center of their pedagogical journey, integrating academic learning with personal, social, and emotional development. The school is committed to educating the individual as much as the learner by fostering autonomy, responsibility, socio-emotional skills, and active citizenship.

Deeply committed to inclusion, the institution features a dedicated support unit and both full and partial inclusion programs, backed by a multidisciplinary team. Operating as a learning organization, the school embraces continuous improvement, close collaboration with families, and pedagogical innovation to guide each student in shaping their life project within an inclusive, flexible, and future-oriented environment.

3. How Did the Idea for This Project Emerge, and What Were Its Main Sources of Inspiration?

The project was born at the intersection of long-term preparation and a concrete opportunity echoing Seneca’s words: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

With over fifteen years of experience, Notre-Dame de la Lumière has gradually established itself as an educational laboratory where innovative practices are developed and tested through field observation and action research, in collaboration with sector professionals, specialists, and national and international universities.

The project draws inspiration from three foundational pillars:

• Inclusion: Supporting every child in their life journey while recognizing their individuality.
• Pedagogical Innovation: Driven by continuous experimentation and adaptation to the real needs of students and educators.
• Leadership: Viewed as a key competency for shaping individuals capable of inspiring, collaborating, and creating lasting change in their environments.

The “Towards the School of the Future” program helped bring this vision to life through the structured support of SmartESA and Nafda, resulting in the Future Leader Lifebook which is directly inspired by field experience and designed to help institutions transition toward fully inclusive schools by 2030.

4. How Does This Project Prepare Students for the World of Tomorrow?

This initiative prepares students for the future by placing them at the center of learning while recognizing their talents, individuality, and developmental pace. Through an inclusive and personalized approach, each child learns to better understand themselves, build confidence, and strengthen essential skills such as autonomy, adaptability, and critical thinking.

By reimagining educational practices based on real-world needs, the School of the Future—through the Future Leader Lifebook—promotes a comprehensive form of education that integrates academic, emotional, and social dimensions. It also nurtures leadership by encouraging students to become responsible, creative, and engaged individuals capable of collaborating, innovating, and contributing positively to societal transformation by 2030.

5. What Role Does Collaboration With the Innovation Ecosystem Play?

Collaboration with the innovation ecosystem plays a structural and decisive role in the project’s implementation. It allows the initiative to move beyond an internal framework and become part of a broader dynamic aligned with today’s expectations regarding impact, sustainability, and educational project funding.

Through this ecosystem—comprising institutional actors, foundations, private sector partners, donors, and specialized networks—the school benefits from a demanding external perspective that helps clarify its vision, formalize expected outcomes, and professionalize governance. This interaction also provides valuable insight into emerging models such as hybrid financing and impact funding.

Moreover, collaboration encourages knowledge sharing, networking, and project credibility. It is a powerful lever for ensuring successful launch, long-term sustainability, and eventual large-scale deployment.

6. How Did the Ed’Innov “Towards the School of the Future” Program Support Your Institution?

The Ed’Innov program supported the school through a progressive, realistic, and structured approach that took into account both the pilot nature of the initiative and the constraints of the Lebanese context.

This guidance helped further structure the project by clarifying its objectives, measurable impact, and strategic roadmap. Exchanges with Ed’Innov teams and feedback from the evaluation committee strengthened alignment between the pedagogical vision, internal organization, and financial strategy.

Additionally, the program raised awareness of funders’ expectations regarding impact, communication, and long-term sustainability. Support in fundraising efforts, access to the Ed’Innov fund, and integration into the cluster have served as powerful drivers in strengthening the project’s credibility and embedding it within a lasting collective dynamic.