Dignity for displaced women and girls in Lebanon

Background during and after the implementation of the project; The increase in refugee numbers in Lebanon has vastly exacerbated the needs of girlren and families desperately requiring humanitarian support. More over girlren are in need of psychosocial support and protection.

After having experienced severe armed violence and having to leave their homes, many Syrian refugee girlren and families are in serious need of psychosocial support to be able to cope with their emotions. Although these families have now found a place to stay in Lebanon, most of the refugee girlren are still acutely vulnerable traumatized and at risk.

As for many of them, distress is a product of direct exposure to war-related trauma, challenging family dynamics associated with trauma and displacement, and stressors related to adjusting to life in Lebanon. Parents and other family members exposed to traumatic experiences and showing symptoms associated with stress and trauma are more likely to demonstrate poor parenting, including abuse and neglect in some cases.  Women are disproportionately affected by the issues that face the Palestinian refugee and marginalized communities in Lebanon; they have lower self-reported physical health and restricted opportunities to work.  Conservative attitudes again compound this isolation, by creating limited chances to socialize or ‘let off steam’, with social interaction between women being largely restricted to each other’s’ homes.

The conditions for women and girls in the camps are of particular concern. Conservative attitudes mean that many women are excluded from public life and suffer restricted social spaces and employment opportunities, meaning that they make up just 13% of the workforce. Similarly, girls complain of having few places to socialise or express themselves, and suffer crowded school classes where physical/verbal abuse is rife. Youth therefore grow up in an environment whether there are high levels of violence, and where their emotional, physical and psychological needs are often not met and their rights are violated.

Naba’a Achievements;

During the last three months, Naba’a focused on the project which is matching the Gender Mainstreaming, as its targeting Female-Headed Households and the most marginalized adolescents and neglected females according to two facts ;

-          Female-Headed Households are one of the most marginalized groups because they are not supported by breadwinners.

-          In the Syrian culture women are usually side lined especially among the refugees who come from Damascus.  And due to the fact that it’s a male-orientated society, it’s usually men who are advantaged by emergency responses. Therefore, the most highlighted activities implemented during this period;

o   Raising awareness 150 adolescent girls on how to protect themselves from abuse and on Self-esteem.

o   Raising awareness women and adolescent on how to protect themselves from transmitted disease, particularly they are sharing toilets and bathrooms.

o   Providing 25 women and girls with Pajama and Underwear targeting those the most impoverished

Case Study for one of the girls who is in need of assistance;

Age: 17 years
Nationality: Displaced Palestinian from Syria

School: Dropout of school

Family members: 4 members

Background: the girl lives with her mother, brother and sister in one room in grandfather’s home, since two years when girl’s parents were divorce.

Economic situation: the economic situation is very bad, since girl’s father doesn’t cover the cost of living, so the family depends on girl’s brother work that he doesn’t complete the 18 years old; also they depends on financial support from other organization in Ramadan month.

This bad economic situation appears on the girl’s look since she refuses to go out with her friends because she can’t cover the cost of picnic, and she rarely changes her clothes, in addition the girl cant buys any new things especially her needs as a teenager like shampoo and privacy things.

Social situation: 
The relation between girl and her mother: there is a good relationship between mother and the girl, the mother is very close to her daughter and she talks to her always, also the mother goes with the girl whatever she wants.
The relation between the girl and her father: the relation between the girl and her father is very bad, she doesn’t see him always especially in this stage.
The relation between the girl and her sister: the relation between them is good and they spend lots of their time together.

The relation between the girl and her brother: the relation between them not good since there are many fights between them and he doesn’t let her go outside home.

The relation between the girl and her friends: her friends complain always that the girl's voice is very loud, and she uses her hands to beats them, in addition she doesn’t respect her friends' opinion; lastly the girl prefers to be friend with boys more than girls.

The main problem: 

Violence:  The girl was exposed to violence from her father before the girl's parents were divorce, and the neighbors always intervene to solve the fight. girl's mother mention that the father drinks alcohol and play lottery always and when he comes back to home at night he beats his daughters, and she also mention that in one time the girl went onto a hospital when she was 12 years old
in addition when the girl was 14 years old the father betakes that if he lose in lottery he will merry his daughter to the winner. All this situation lead to let the mother and her 2 daughters leave the home at midnight.
this  situation not changed after the  divorce since the father calls to take his daughter to clean the home of her stepmother and the girl has to do and clean the home well, and she not allowed to reply of insults that the girl exposed, in addition the father gave the authority for the girl’s brother to control the family.
Intervention:
1.persuasion the brother to merge his sister in vocational training program in Nabaa Organization, but he refuses first time but after efforts he agreed, he mention that Nabaa would take and comeback the girl to her home.
2. Involve the girl in psychology and social activities like “she deals"
3.involve the girl in entertainment activity.
4. Involve the girl in listening session with psychologist.
5. Give the girl kit support like hygiene kit

Results of intervention:
The behavior of the girl changed like she became respect her friend's opinion, also she listened to them and participate with them.
Recommendations:
Follow the girl's psychological, and involve her in more activities.