FREE Mental Health Support To Arab Women In War

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.