An individual women initiative in Baalbek to help women holders of small projects

As Safir newspaper published a report on an individual development initiative launched by a young woman, Farah Abdulsater and her sister, May, in Baalbek and which is a novelty in the region.  Farah tells As Safir that the initiative will prepare for the creation of a network which will bring together women holding small enterprises as well as other women who has significant experience as well as the capacity to provide technical and material input.  Both groups will collaborate to create or develop existing small businesses.  
The first project to benefit from this initiative is the Samra Café run by the forty year old woman who is the head of her household and its only provider.  For many years the owner of Samra Café was baking “Manaqeesh” in her wood oven and spoke of her dream to expand her small café which already employs four people.
Farah noted that they do not intend to turn their initiative into an association but would like it to remain within a framework of “woman to woman”.  She added that the support needed is not only financial but also includes building capacities, training and other support.  She added that the financial support which will be provided is unconditional and is not a loan and the supporting party will provide advice and monitoring of projects progress.  Farah added that she intends to create a website for the initiative to play the role of a go-between women project holders and potential supporters.  She also added that this site will be used as a communication tool to suggest projects, provide support or even form volunteer groups through the initiative’s official facebook page.
Source: Al-Safir 7 July 2014