"Basma" for empowering young women and men from Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Iraq

The Basma project in the Borj el Shemaly village in South Lebanon provides educational and training opportunities for young women and men on pastry making, learning of languages, training in fashion design, in photography, theater arts, handcrafts and other skills.  This project is funded by the Canadian Embassy, is implemented by foreign NGOs Mercy Corps and Shield, and targets young people between 13 and 17 years of age from the Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian and Iraqi resident communities.  According to the center’s director, Said el Natoor, Basma aims at providing safe spaces for these young people so that they can make use of their idle time to strengthen social cohesion as well as to facilitate social and individual empowerment in addition to strengthening self esteem and ability to take decision. 

 

(Source: As-Safir 25 December 2014)