Women Empowerment

"We believe that women are vital contributors to economic and social progress."

While Lebanon is generally known for its recognition of the rights of girls and women, problems remain. Women still face roadblocks in education, their careers, and social opportunity. Recent statistics (Status of Women in Lebanon, Dr. Maral Tutelian) say that 15% of families in Lebanon are headed by women. Most of these women are old, illiterate, and ill-prepared to shoulder that burden.

The disparity between rich and poor is great and worsening. Many communities are marginalized, living in poverty, under-served by public services such as water and electricity, and essentially ignored by the government.

MFA's action plan. MFA provides educational opportunities for nontraditional female students through financial assistance to Makassed literacy and vocational training programs for women in underserved areas in Lebanon.

MFA supports Ward Al Makassed, the first community development center of its kind in Beirut's impoverished neighborhood of Tarik Al-Jadidah. Its mission is to provide women and youth with job opportunities, education, and capacity-building through rapid vocational training in cooking, sewing, and cosmetology. The program is designed to improve participants' opportunities in the labor market and to give them social skills for the workplace.

A gift of $200 covers the training of one woman.