Women economic empowerment by “Ahluna” in Saida

Al Mustaqbal newspaper published a feature about Ahluna Association which aims at empowering women economically and helping disadvantaged families in the southern port city of Saida. The article outlined the various projects undertaken by the association, namely its agro-food production unit which provides work opportunities to socially and economically marginalized women. Ahluna, it noted, established the factory after training some 50 women who work there now producing a variety of specialty cookies, jams and Lebanese popular cuisine. The association also trained some 100 underprivileged women in professional household care services aimed at creating job opportunity for them. As far as educational projects, Ahluna launched its university loan program which presently touches some 307 students of both sexes. The psychological support program  works with beneficiaries who need help in overcoming social and learning problems or need psychological treatment. One of its sub-programs is the “Dream Center” which consists of organising summer camps where stress-relief psychodrama method in music and theatre are applied by specialists for the benefit of some 60 children. Ahluna also runs an interactive learning program for family orientation which targets drop-out students so as to help them to either reintegrate schools or guide them towards vocational education. As a result, some 53 beneficiaries are currently enrolled in courses in mechanics, electricity, makeup and hairstyling, kindergarten and business administration. The group also targets orphans through its orphan sponsorship program which benefits about 144 persons. Furthermore, it supports 44 disabled children and 40 widows by organizing psychological, health, rehabilitation and awareness workshops as well as field recreational trips.  Another 50 men and women elders benefit from regular home visits. Furthermore, the association is an active member in the Women Economic Empowerment Resources Center, which was established in 2012 and is closing this year, and to which it has channeled some 100 women. Ss for in-kind aid assistance, Ahluna distributes Mooneh food parcels every three months to some 1210 registered households and every two months to 248 families suffering form acute poverty. In terms of financial resources, the association depends on community donations, grants from Arab and international embassies and organizations as well as the surplus income from its food production unit which is now financially self-sufficient. (Al Mustaqbal, 2 March 2015)