Celebrating 9 Lebanese Women That We Are Incredibly Proud Of This Women’s Day
On Independence Day, we celebrated Lebanese women. Now that it’s International Women’s Day, we’re doing it again. Here are some women that have done incredible things, both in the entrepreneurial field and socially, by contributing to society in such a positive way. We couldn’t be prouder.
1. Reverand Rola Suleiman, the first female pastor in the Arab world
Image from Huffington Post
Rola Suleiman has been serving in the church since 2008, and has been holding weddings, funerals and ceremonies since. However, there was always a male pastor by her side, and she wasn’t allowed to perform all the roles her male counterparts could. Recently however, Rola has been ordained and is now Reverand Rola Suleiman, heading a church in Tripoli. This is a proud moment in history, and indeed a step forward in the Arab world where male dominance governs.
Sarah’s Bag is more than just a pretty line of handbags, but a business that employs, trains and rehabilitates vulnerable women and female ex-prisoners. Sarah fused an unlikely combination of her work at an NGO and her love of fashion, contributing significantly to society and empowering these underprivileged women.
It’s no secret that kids hate school. Rana however, has found a fun and exciting way for children and the youth to engage with science, winning numerous awards for her work. Partnering with summer camps, and with workshops located around the Arab world (including Qatar and Libya), Rana is dedicated to hosting these practical workshops to equip students with skills and knowledge of current topics including robotics, renewable energy and sustainable environment, prepping them well for the world of the future.
Karam is one of the brains behind the #NotYourAshta campaign which took Lebanese Twitter and Instagram by storm a couple of months ago. Aimed at tackling sexual harassment in the country, individuals were invited to share powerful messages hashtagged #NotYourAshta. Ashta, a sweet fruit, is a common word used by harassers to pass unnecessary comments in the street. This project initiated both men and women to share their stories, and sent out a powerful message against sexual harassment.
Ghida works effortlessly with ABAAD to promote gender equality and protect women. She is one of the brains behind the recent “Abolish Article 522” campaign which captivated Parliament’s attention, and is in the process of abolishing an old piece of law that states rapists may be exempt from punishment if they marry their victims. This campaign was welcomed with open arms from the Lebanese population, and for all the right reasons. Anani has won numerous awards for her efforts, and has previously also worked with KAFA, another organisation aimed at ending gender-based violence and exploitation within Lebanon.
Lebanese born Mikara became legally blind at 7 years old, however was met with great support and encouragement thanks to her upbringing in the US. However, she soon realised that blind or partially blind children in other countries were not afforded the same privileges. She set up Empowerment Through Integration to work with these vulnerably children to teach them skills including how to walk with a white cane, and how to use a computer and most importantly, teaching them to be confident. Sarah was recently featured in Forbes 30 under 30, and we couldn’t be prouder.
The world of fashion seems like a very distant concept for many of us. From the creativity and innovation it requires to the ridiculously expensive design schools, many young designers would be put off before even starting. Hermez however recognised this issue, and created Creative Space Beirut for budding designers. This is a free school which hosts individuals from around the country, including refugees and teaches them fashion and design. Pieces are sold at a public exhibition and 100% of these proceeds are reinvested back into the school to make sure the education remains free. This innovative space has gained international recognition, including by Marie Claire, Al Jazeera and Brownbook magazine, and rightly so.
Cocoa and Co may be just another name for some, however, the founder and owner is an inspiring mother of three who had a talent that could not be ignored. This business began from the comfort of Beydoun’s own kitchen, baking for her daughters’ birthday parties which led to great success, with people ordering for their own occasions. Now, Beydoun owns one commercial kitchen and three shops around Lebanon. When sickness overcame Beydoun and her family, things became hard, however she kept looking forward to getting back into the kitchen and doing what she does best. This incredible woman has won two entrepreneurial awards, and does us Lebanese women proud.
9. Christine Sfeir, CEO of Meeting Point and Treats Holding
Sfeir began her entrepreneurial journey at just 22 years old, persuading Dunkin’ Dounts to grant her their Lebanese franchise. Though she recognised this was risky, it was one of the best decisions ever made since Dunkin’ Donuts operates more than 30 Lebanese branches and Semsom (part of Treats Holding) is open around the Arab world and in the US. Sfeir has been recognised for her entrepreneurial efforts and has maintained her name on four “powerful women” lists over the years.
