FREE Mental Health Support To Arab Women In War

by Intisar Foundation

Project Report | Feb 28, 2023
Expanding our programmes and reaching more areas

By Sara Sakhi | Research Consultant

Intisar Foundation is continuing to expand its work across Lebanon to reach more women in poverty and war-stricken areas. Most recently, we finalized our fifth drama therapy programme for women in the Bchamoun area, south of Beirut in January 2023.

This programme worked with predominantly Syrian-unemployed refugee women living in the areas south of Beirut. The programme was implemented with support form our partner NGO Anamel, a well-established NGO operating in the area focusing on women's vocational training and adult education programmes.

We are proud to say that we are continuing our programmes as scheduled, with two new locations added in Beirut and near Saida, in addition to Bchamoun. Our upcoming three programmes will launch in March 2023 and are expected to reach up to 60 women in the period of 12 weeks.

Our commitment to mental health, empowerment and healing after trauma is renewed with every drama therapy programme we implement in Lebanon. Our efforts would not be possible without your support. Donate today to ensure more sessions are held and more women have the chance to experience the many benefits of drama therapy.

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Oct 31, 2022
Your continued support is invaluable

By Sara Sakhi | Research Consultant

At Intisar Foundation, we strongly believe in the necessity to continue supporting the mental health of women affected by war and violence regardless of how challenging the circumstances get. This is why we continue our efforts in Lebanon and our work to expand our programmes despite the many difficulties faced on the field.

Currently, Intisar Foundation is holding a drama therapy programme for women in Bchamoun, a city south of Beirut, impacted by the various calamities that have affected Lebanon in the last three years. Our most recent ongoing programme is an intensive 12-week drama therapy programme for 22 Syrian refugee women at Anamel center. The programme focuses on providing the care needed for the women to reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety all while improving social and emotional skills. One of the participants of the previous programme in Anamel said about her experience with us:

"Before the program, I was broken really. There was so much pressure at home. My husband was unemployed. I was always sad and angry. After the program, I realized that all of these issues are fixable and easy to solve. When I heard the problems of others and followed the exercises, my problems felt lighter... Nothing is extremely hard."

We have witnessed first-hand the psychological downfall brought about by war, violence, economic and social instability, the Beirut port explosion, and the continuous tribulations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the inception of Intisar Foundation, we have observed the invaluable contribution that mental health support compliments to the daily lives of the most vulnerable populations. With your support, we are able to continue our efforts and plant the seeds for self-empowerment and peace in the communities we work with.

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Jul 7, 2022
Mental Health to Arab Women in War

By Paola Moutran | Communication Officer

Since its inception in 2018, Intisar Foundation has worked to self-empower and psychologically heal Arab women who the brutality of war and violence has impacted in order to bring peace to the Arab world. Intisar Foundation strives to provide mental health support to Arab women suffering from war trauma, in the belief that it will empower them to rebuild their lives, their homes, and their communities in order to accelerate their transformation into the Arab world’s most prominent Peacemakers.

Intisar Foundation began a drama therapy programme in March which ended in May. The programme was held in Mgheiriyi, Iklim el Kharoub, Chouf – Lebanon in collaboration with the Generous Hand Organization. Twenty Syrian women were hosted in the intense programme for 12 weeks in a row. All of the women were widows (only 1 was divorced), raising their orphaned children, and living in shelters. The 20 participants were split into two groups, each of which met for an hour and a half. The programme included several drama therapy approaches, including physical work, sound, and movement with the goal of providing a space for the women to connect, express themselves, and heal. One of our participants said, “I used to be a very shy person, I didn’t go out a lot or see people, before the program my personality was very weak, I feel that I became stronger, and I am more able to speak up and not allow people to interfere in my life. I learned a lot of things and I benefited a lot. The main change was my personality’s development.”

We have recently implemented two new drama therapy programmes in collaboration with Anamel Center, a humanitarian development organization that manages families and develops and empowers women in general and young girls in particular through vocational training. The sessions took place at the Anamel Center in Bchemoun, Lebanon. The women participating were Syrian refugees that were impacted by war and come from low socioeconomic and educational backgrounds. Each programme consisted of around 15 women.

Intisar Foundation's psychological support programme of drama therapy alleviates psychological trauma in Arab women impacted by the brutality of war and violence. The sessions create a safe and respectful place that encourages the women to speak about the traumatic experiences that shaped their lives, to embrace and own their individual stories, and to allow their newly-found resilience to guide them forward.

With your continuous and much-appreciated support, we will be able to reach our long-term goal of healing and self-empowering #1MillionArabWomen for Peace.

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