Dignity for displaced women and girls in Lebanon

Naba’a Achievements; During the last period, Naba’a aimed to improve the situation of the women and girls living in the most marginalized and impoverished communities. Through different interventions Naba’a also works on gathering both (Palestinian refugees women who are already living inside the camps and those who fled from Syria) to raise together their common problems and sufferings, monitoring the violations of their rights in the local community and to reduce the conflict among themselves. By taking a grassroots approach we aimed to help women to become effective actors for social change; giving them the knowledge, skills and confidence to drive social change in their own communities. Therefore, Naba’a intervention is based on two mainstreams;

• In Ein El Helwe, both children and women have been targeted in psychosocial activities as the following, 3051 children (males and females)and 550 parents most of them are women, including, vulnerable Lebanese, Palestinian and Syrian refugees. Whereas, in Borj Al Shamali camp 555 children (males and females and 220 parents including (Lebanese, Syrian Refugees and Palestinian refugees).
• It is worthy to note that, two child friendly psychosocial spaces were established at two UNRWA clinics (one in Ein El Helweh and one in Wadi El Zeni), where 2350 children whom their families access UNRWA clinics participated and joined the activities in these spaces.

o   Women and girls access reproductive health services; Nabaa’ targeted 9689 beneficiaries 820 male and 8869 provided two non-consecutive days/ week – clinics in Ein el Helweh and Rashidieh which targeted 1230 female (45 from the age group of 11-18 and 1100 from the age group 19-35 and 85 from the age group of 36-50+) note that, the clinics are managed by a women gynaecologist and a female nurse and the clinic operates one day in the afternoon.

• Regarding based health awareness, 6 session’s cycles on adolescent health topics have been targeted 2555 adolescent girls from the age group of 11-18 in schools and vocational training centers. Whereas, awareness and counselling sessions have targeted 1500 boys from the age group of 11-18 in schools and vocational training centers by the male health educators.
• Moreover, monthly reproductive and psychosocial health outreach sessions targeted both men and women and it was conducted by the project’s health professionals, peer to peer team and community mothers and have been participated by 2337 female (60 from the age group of 11-18 and 1497 from the age group of 19-35 and 780 from the age group of 36-50) and by 200 men (10 from the age group of 11-18 and 116 from the age group of 19-35 and 74 from the age group of 36-50+).
• Finally, two campaigns about breast cancer and cervical cancer have been implemented and targeted 620 males and female (180 from the age group 19-35 and 440 from the age group 36-50+). Knowing that three cases whom are suffering from cancer were discovered during breast and cervical cancer campaigns and they have been referred to specialist. In addition, to that, a large number of men whom are unexpected have been targeted in awareness sessions and the number of women and girls that have been benefited exceeds the actual plan.

Case Study

• Name: AHH
• DOB: 7/15/2000
• Residency: Bebneen / Behind Mustafa Mosque
• Nationality: Lebanese
• Family Size: 9    

1. Highlight the reason for gathering this case study

ü  Violence in school

ü  engaged at 14 years’ old

ü  Dropout from school

ü  Married

1. What happened?

Since the beginning of the project, by drawing attention to the project's aim and through meetings with girls that we were targeted, she told us that she was engaged, but she liked the idea of the project and asked to participate in it. And one of the objectives of the project is to work with girls who are vulnerable to early marriage.

1. When did it happen (most recent incident if happened more than once)?

After building a good relationship and a trust between the social worker and the girls, the girl told her story to the social worker.

Because of the social norms and traditions of the area that do not allow the girl to get out of the house and mingle during her adolescence, and because of the absence of parents' interest in the feelings of the girl and lack of consciousness of her and guide her to what is best for her in the future, all that encouraged the girl to establish an emotional relationship with one of the young relatives. When parents knew about this relationship for fear of its consequences and from the words of people in society and based on the social norms and traditions, the parents agreed on the girl engagement, and it was as a joy on this step. And she decides her wedding date when she is 17 years’ old

When the engagement took place, she was encouraged to leave school because she was subjected to violence, which affected her degrees in the school, where She was retreating, especially After she failed in the grade 7. she dropped out of school and found no one to encouraged her to continues her education.

1. How has it affected the young person?

Engagement affected the study of the girl in conjunction to subjected to school violence and the lack of parents' interests, which encouraged her to drop out of school from the grade 7. And decided to marry when she becomes 17 years old.

1. Was there any Follow up, and what was the outcome?

After the participation of the girl in the project's activities, after participating in the training (protection - life skills - the risks of early marriage - the importance of education) and through integration into society through the implementation of awareness sessions for her peers and participation in advocacy campaigns that encourage girls to education, which encouraged her To participate in quick professional courses, and the participation of her parents in awareness sessions for parents, which affected the thinking of parents and girls and delay the age of marriage until after 18. the wedding was held at the age of 19 years in agreement with her future husband successfully and joyfully. Even after marriage, she still participates in the project's activities.

1. Other comments or details

We Encouraged her to return to school and complete her educational career. And raise her awareness about family planning.

Links:

• Naba'a website