Photo by RET.

Article by RET Germany in Lebanon

BEIRUT, LEBANON – Our work in Lebanon, along with local partner GATE Lebanon and generously funded by BMZ, has made an enormous impact on local communities. Here we profile three women who showcase how we’re providing training, support, and opportunities for them and their communities to become more resilient, financially independent, and overcome challenges.

New Skills Unlock Income Generating Opportunities for a Single Mother

In Hermel, RET Germany spoke with Ms. Nahed Ali Amhaz. Lebanese-born, she is divorced and the sole provider for herself and her 16-year-old daughter. She receives no outside financial assistance.

In Beirut, she worked in several stores decorating chocolate and is currently searching for employment. After participating in a three-day course with GATE Lebanon, she was happy to report that she gained many skills and techniques in crochet and crafting. She plans to apply these skills to improve her own crafts and generate income.

Her enthusiasm led her to share her newfound knowledge with friends, and her daughter has even started taking orders for her creations.

“[The program] has positively impacted my income and productivity during these difficult economic times.”

Ms. Nahed expressed her gratitude to GATE Lebanon and RET Germany for the opportunity to attend the training course. She said, “It has positively impacted my income and productivity during these difficult economic times.” She looks forward to future opportunities to continue developing her skills and knowledge.

Want to make a difference? Consider making a donation to RET today.

Sweet Success: Mrs. Wafa Starts Her Own Small Business

After Mrs. Wafa attended the training sessions for preparing jams and dried food products conducted by the Gate Lebanon team and Al-Mouna Rural Cooperative, her life began to change for the better. A widow and mother of four, Mrs. Wafa joined the training seeking a way to support her family without leaving home. Through intensive training, she mastered the art of making jams and dried fruits professionally, from sterilization to packaging.

With her newfound skills, Mrs. Wafa started a small business from her kitchen, crafting high-quality jams. Customers quickly discovered the exceptional quality of Mrs. Wafa’s jams and dried fruits, and her reputation grow rapidly.

This entrepreneurial work not only secured her income but also supported her children. Like many others, Mrs. Wafa’s story is a testament to the transformative power of skill development, providing economic empowerment in challenging circumstances.

Resilient and Thriving: Shahira’s Story

Shahira Mtanos Matar, a dedicated rural farmer in Qaa, has tended to her family’s farmland from a young age. Over the years, she has become highly skilled in the field. Participating in harvest and post-harvest training sessions organized by GATE Lebanon team in Qaa in July 2022 equipped her with modern fruit packaging methods, improving her harvesting skills.

As well, as the agricultural tools received after the training sessions became helpful aids in harvesting, packaging, and protecting her produce from spoilage. She became well-known in Qaa for consuming all the fruits she harvested seasonally. Anyone who visited her was treated to delicious jams, natural juices, various types of vinegar, and even homemade ice cream – All blessings from the agricultural seasons.

Lebanon’s challenging economic conditions has created a challenging life for people across the country, and like many, Shahira must be resilient and self- reliant to survive. With her notoriety, she started receiving orders and selling all her produce. She turned to packaging her seasonal produce for sale in her town or even shipping them to Beirut, expanding her market reach.

Shahira’s participation in training sessions also improved her pest control skills and crop quality maintenance practices. This empowered her to combat annual pest invasions in her vineyard.

Motivated by these experiences, Shahira actively engaged in various activities of this BMZ-funded project, including the grape festival in Qaa. She followed farmer alerts sent through WhatsApp and the LARI LEB APP (above), staying informed and proactive.

Shahira’s inspiring journey mirrors the success of rural women in Qaa. Through this support, empowered women are more economically prepared to engage in resilient agricultural strategies, providing their families with more efficient resources and methods.

To help us continue this important work in Lebanon with women like Nahed, Mrs. Wafa, and Shahira, consider making a donation to RET today.