180 Degrees

1 in 20 people in Lebanon is a female migrant domestic worker of Afro-Asian nationality. Working from early in the morning till late at night, with just one day off, they provide a huge service to Lebanese households and the country’s economic growth. However their contribution is not seen as labour, their rights are not human rights, their legal protection is close to none. Depending entirely on corrupt recruiters and empty promises by agents and sponsors, they are in a tremendously vulnerable state. Their quality of life is controlled by the charity of their employers. The Anti-Racism Movement and Project 180 Degrees aim to turn lives around and give workers the power to live the life they want. Working with and for the domestic workers we are informing and enabling them, granting access to healthcare, a service often denied to them, strengthening community bonds and, most importantly, giving them a voice. Throughout the project we work with and unite the various NGOs working on this cause, we volunteer at community centres, hold participatory and productive workshops and allow the workers to tell us what is needed, what conditions they live in, and how we can help. We aim to facilitate integration by bringing the communities closer to each other, by establishing solidarity and community-based services. Their work and thoughts are of value and so are they.

“DESMEEM: Rethinking Design through Cross-Cultural Collaboration” is an international multidisciplinary social design project that has been developed in Beirut for the past few months with European and Lebanese designers and architects. As a research-led initiative, all the projects revolve around themes that are of high social or environmental significance to Lebanon. These include urban space, energy/electricity, sustainable consumerism, creative education, disability, migrant workers integration, personal finance, and gender/LGBT rights. This project is one of the eight that was created by this process.