Dignity for displaced women and girls in Lebanon

Background during and after the implementation of the project;

Lebanon’s political, economic, and social dynamics have a significant impact on the rights, health and overall wellbeing of the child within its territory. Despite the fact that Lebanon has reconstructed its government institutions, its health and social services, as well as its infrastructure to a large extent in recent decades, the country’s turbulent political history continues to impact the current unstable political climate, the poor governance, the socio-economic inequalities, as well as the treatment of refugee communities and other vulnerable groups. These underlying realities heavily influence the rights and wellbeing of the child in Lebanon, not solely when it comes to protection and the provision of adequate services, but further in terms of discrimination, violence, and safety. Comprehending the political history and ongoing political landscape in Lebanon is important whilst designing and implementing effective child-centered initiatives, programs and projects.

The ineffectuality of the country’s services increases economic disparities and vulnerability, and also further perpetuates families’ needs to resort to sending their children to work. With economic and financial stressors adding up, as well as the drastic devaluation in the Lebanese currency, poverty in Lebanon is likely to continue to worsen in 2021. UNESCWA estimates anticipate that as of 2021, more than 55% of the country's population trapped in poverty and struggling for bare necessities.

Poverty in Lebanon is concerted in specific regions, primarily in Baalbek and surrounding villages of the Beqaa, as well as in Akkar in North Lebanon, and a number of heavily populated Beirut suburbs as urban-based poverty continues to be on the rise.Based on ESCWA’s 2021 report, “Poverty in Lebanon: Impact of Multiple Shocks and Call for Solidarity,” women and children are mostly vulnerable to fluctuation in the accessibility of affordable social services. As stated earlier, the majority of basic social services in Lebanon are privatized, including 90% of primary health care, over 50% of schools, and 30% of drinking water. Moreover, due to the overall weakness of public services, a culture of clientelism based on partisan politics, personal connection, political, and sectarian affiliation governs the provision of social and welfare services to the general public.

Main Achievements; 

- NABA’A worked on three projects centered around women empowerment and gender-based violence (GBV).

- The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Child Protection (CP), Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention and intervention services in the Palestinian Camps and Gatherings in Lebanon targeted beneficiaries located in Ein El-Helweh and Burj El-Shemali camps, engaging them in multiple activities designed to build skills, strengthen resilience, support the cognitive, social, and motor skills of children and youth (mostly females), and improve parenting skills, among others. As a result, girls, women, and children were empowered, acquired new knowledge, and enhanced their skills. Some of the project’s main results are listed in Figure 5.

- A second project targeted different areas in the North of Lebanon where unemployment rates were specifically high, including villages in Akkar, one of Lebanon's poorest regions. Under this project, seven trainings were conducted for adolescent girls as shown in Figure 6. Consequently, a committee comprised of socially active women and girls aged between 18 and 25 years old and residing in Muhammarah area in the North was formed. The committee focused on defending women's rights, encouraging women's involvement in political action, providing women and girls with a safe platform to speak up freely, and forming a permanent committee in collaboration with the local municipality to address issues of concern.

• Around 3020 Youth and adolescents (70% females) involved in the life skills program including different topics such as (Communication skills, leader ship skills, how to protect themselves from abuse, reproductive health, peer to peer, human rights, child rights, women rights, etc…).
• Nabaa’ provided inclusive education for 3210 boys and girls of school age (6-12 years) in the Palestinian camps and Syrian gatherings in Lebanon (Tripoli, Saida, Tyre, Nabatieh) “In line with UNRWA's educational reform and MEHE curriculum to support the education of refugees children from Syria, Palestinians or Syrians.
• Children and women have been targeted in psychosocial activities as the following, 3051 children (males and females)and 550 parents most of them are women, including, vulnerable Lebanese, Palestinian and Syrian refugees. Whereas, in Borj Al Shamali camp 555 children (males and females and 220 parents including (Lebanese, Syrian Refugees and Palestinian refugees).
• It is worthy to note that, two child friendly psychosocial spaces were established at two UNRWA clinics (one in Ein El Helweh and one in Wadi El Zeni), where 2350 children whom their families access UNRWA clinics participated and joined the activities in these spaces.

Case Study;

1. Code: R1
2. Date of birth: 2003
3. Nationality: Syrian
4. Sex: Female
5. Referred by: Social Worker
6. Reason for referral: self-harm,   isolation, psychological stress
7. Risk level: High

             I.        The Social Status of the Beneficiary

Married

Divorced

Widow

X

Number of children

male

female

0

0

0

Notes: The beneficiary is currently married to someone else and has no children.

            II.        The educational level of the beneficiary

Illiterate   Elementary   Intermediate   High school   University

Professional/Technical

           III.        Economic and living situation of the beneficiary

1. Work: Unemployed Unstable Stable
2. Type of work: Stitching

1. Is he/she receiving financial assistance? No
2. Family income: good average low bad
3. Nature of the residence: Landlord Rent hosted   tent
4. Number of rooms:2
5. Does anyone else live in the house with the family: Thebeneficiary and her husband live with her parents and her siblings

Additional Observations on the Living Situation of the Case:

The living and economic situation of the beneficiary is terrible as the family of 8 members live in a house consisting of only 2 rooms which lacks the basic home furnishings.

          IV.        Health/psychological situation:

Beneficiary

Family

Is there any impairment/disability (blindness, autism...)?  

No

Are there any physical disabilities?

No

Are there any medications that the beneficiary takes on an ongoing basis?

No

Is there a previous psychological preview?

No

Is there a neuropathy?

No

Does the beneficiary undergo any type of drug abuse?

No

 The method of spotting the case:

The beneficiary’s case was observed during her participation in awareness sessions, covering topics related to gender-based violence (GBV).

- Summary of the background/history of the beneficiary and the problems suffered from:

After observing the beneficiary’s situation through her participation in awareness sessions, she began talking openly about her situation among the Psycho Social Support group members (group of girls aged 14-20), where she talked about the consequences of early marriage that she faced and suffered from, as she was forcibly ordered by her father to marry a man when she was 15 years old. This early marriage shortly led to family problems and complications including constant insults to her by the husband's parents, leading her to divorce few months after her marriage.

Moreover, after her divorce, she received insults from her own family who considers divorce as a shame and a social defect, where the mother told her, "You are just a divorced girl and so you are with us to serve us."

All that has been addressed and said to her had led to the emergence of high-risk psychological symptoms.

Psychological and Social Symptoms Observed:

- Community isolation (spends days without communicating or meeting with a family or friend)

- Feelings of permanent sadness (most of the time)

- Constant crying

- Fear of facing people

- Loss of self-confidence and loss of trust in people

- Sleep disorders (insomnia)

- Eating disorders

- Nail biting

- Hair cutting (self-torture for revenge)

- Harming her body by cutting off her wrists and arms

Data Collection Method:

Data is collected through the psycho-social support sessions and awareness sessions given, as well as follow-up via the telephone and home visit.

   Intervention and follow-up Methods:

Social intervention:

• Integrate in PSS activities with groups of participants of her age to improve her social life and work on her social skills to remove "isolation" symptom

• Awareness sessions about three main topics:

Topics

Aim of each topic

Early marriage

- know that ''Early Marriage" is a kind of violence

- Reasons of early marriage and its consequences on girls on different aspects (physical, psychological, social…)

- The role she can play as "Girl" to stop this Marriage

- Mechanisms to reduce early marriage

Gender-based violence

- The aim is to define the different kinds of violence

- Reasons and consequences of violence,

- Realize that gender inequality is the root cause of gender-based violence

- Stages of problem solving based on problem-solving and decision- making methodology.

Gender versus sex

- To aware about the equity and gender equality,

- Analyze the consequences of gender discrimination,

- To know the role of girls in promoting equal rights and responsibilities

Reproductive health sessions

Puberty

Ovarian cycle

Routine hygiene and care of the sensitive area

• Psychosocial support sessions (SHE DEAL sessions) how to deal with risks,

Attending the PSS sessions allows her distinguish between positive and negative emotions and cognitions that follow each of the two kinds of emotions, also to let her know her internal and external resources to support them and shield lights on how to use them in daily life events positively to improve self-esteem and self-confidence

• Art therapy sessions (fears and sources of strength, your position in society, expression of emotions)

Psychological intervention:

Number of psychological sessions :

Three sessions – weekly attending

Objectives:

- Refer to the psychiatrist (due to the presence of the following symptoms (eating and sleeping disorders, isolation, self-harming)

- Build confidential relationship with the psychologist

- High self- confidence, and self esteem

- Make her relationship with her friend(as an external resource) stronger to make her participate in different activities together in order to stop the social isolation

- Shed lights and support her internal resources (strength points) and how to use them in a right way

Recommendations:

- Follow-up meetings with the psychologist through individual sessions on a weekly basis

- Continue participating in the sessions that she had begun as a recommendation by the social worker and at the request of the beneficiary herself (awareness sessions, art therapy sessions, social psychological support sessions).

Links:

• Naba'a Website

Background during and after the implementation of the project;

After conducting a field survey in the Bourj Hammoud area, the problems were identified and categorized as materialistic, social and psychological.

Materialistic problems: Before the explosion, the living and economic situation in Lebanon, in general and specifically, in Bourj Hammoud area already was not that good, and then the explosion occurred and caused the situation to deteriorate more. The losses were embodied by the destruction of homes, shops and private companies in addition to the inability of getting the basic needs for living (securing foodstuff ...) that were discovered through field and home visits by social workers in the Bourj Hammoud area, and this situation in turn has led to the emergence of many problems that fall under the social problems

Social problems: As a result of the materialistic losses that occurred in the region, the level of unemployment increased after the destruction of the work and livelihoods of the citizens, and thus led to the emergence of high cases below the poverty line.

In addition to the emergence of various cases of bullying, and violence that manifested in different forms between members of the society in general and the families specifically.

Psychological problems: all the factors that were previously mentioned, material and social problems, especially the explosion, which had a major role in the emergence of psychological problems and disorders for a large segment of the population of Burj Hammoud, which are manifested by the symptoms of several disorders like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and panic attacks ... Where it appeared on individuals of different ages, whether they were children, adults, or elderly, it affected everyone who was near to the explosion.

Naba’a Achievements; During the last period, The most highlighted achievements during the last period;

• We at Naba’a are doing all we can to help all affected communities during this extraordinary crisis. Our assistance efforts go to all: Lebanese, refugees and others who were affected without distinction. The devastating impact of the explosion is compounding the challenges currently faced by Lebanese and refugees and adding even more difficulties as families were struggling to survive with the economic crisis that was exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19.

• 3240 parents and caregivers motivated to be engaged in their children learning and well-being.
• The psychosocial support sessions focused on groups, as they were formed by referring service applicants who were visited in their homes, and the groups were divided into:

• The women's groups, which included 75 women, were divided into 5 groups, 10 women within the each group. in these groups it also included 23 men. The following conducted activities were art therapy, psychological drama, psychological and social support activities, and parental therapy. Among 50 women 57 were referred for follow-up by a psychologist as part of individual psychological support sessions for each beneficiary.
• The division of the groups of children's sessions were according to age (6-14):

-Art therapy sessions for children aged 6 to 10 years

- Psychosocial support "sessions for children "She deals or “I deal with awareness sessions for girls and boys from 11 to 14 years old

- Psychosocial support sessions for all age groups

• 100 children were targeted, divided into groups according to social and psychological needs. The psychologist referred 30 new children for individual follow-up.

• It is worthy to note that, two child friendly psychosocial spaces were established at two UNRWA clinics (one in Ein El Helweh and one in Wadi El Zeni), where 2350 children whom their families access UNRWA clinics participated and joined the activities in these spaces.

Case Study;

Beneficiary profile

1. Code: R1
2. Date of birth: 2003
3. Nationality: Syrian
4. Sex: Female
5. Referred by: Social Worker
6. Reason for referral: self-harm,   isolation, psychological stress
7. Risk level: High
8. Social status; Divorced

Notes: The beneficiary is currently married to someone else and has no children.

Economic and living situation of the beneficiary

1. Work: Unemployed Unstable Stable
2. Type of work: Stitching

1. Is he/she receiving financial assistance? No
2. Family income: good average low bad
3. Nature of the residence: Landlord Rent hosted   tent
4. Number of rooms: 2
5. Does anyone else live in the house with the family: The beneficiary and her husband live with her parents and her siblings

Additional Observations on the Living Situation of the Case:

The living and economic situation of the beneficiary is terrible as the family of 8 members live in a house consisting of only 2 rooms which lacks the basic home furnishings.

Summary of the background/history of the beneficiary and the problems suffered from:

After observing the beneficiary’s situation through her participation in awareness sessions, she began talking openly about her situation among the Psycho Social Support group members (group of girls aged 14-20), where she talked about the consequences of early marriage that she faced and suffered from, as she was forcibly ordered by her father to marry a man when she was 15 years old. This early marriage shortly led to family problems and complications including constant insults to her by the husband's parents, leading her to divorce few months after her marriage.

Moreover, after her divorce, she received insults from her own family who considers divorce as a shame and a social defect, where the mother told her, "You are just a divorced girl and so you are with us to serve us."

All that has been addressed and said to her had led to the emergence of high-risk psychological symptoms.

Psychological and Social Symptoms Observed:

- Community isolation (spends days without communicating or meeting with a family or friend)

- Feelings of permanent sadness (most of the time)

- Constant crying

- Fear of facing people

- Loss of self-confidence and loss of trust in people

- Sleep disorders (insomnia)

- Eating disorders (anorexia)

- Nail biting

- Hair cutting (self-torture for revenge)

- Harming her body by cutting off her wrists and arms

Data Collection Method:

Data is collected through the psycho-social support sessions and awareness sessions given, as well as follow-up via the telephone and home visit.

   Intervention and follow-up Methods:

Intervention was conducted in the following ways:

• Awareness sessions (early marriage, gender-based violence, gender versus sex)
• Psychosocial support sessions (SHE DEAL), how to deal with risks
• Art therapy sessions (your strengths and weaknesses, fears and sources of strength, your position in society, expression of emotions)
• Referral to the psychologist for follow-up

Recommendations:

- Follow-up meetings with the psychologist through individual sessions on a weekly basis

- Continue participating in the sessions that she had begun as a recommendation by the social worker and at the request of the beneficiary herself (awareness sessions, art therapy sessions, social psychological support sessions).

Links:

• Naba'a Website

In 2015, world leaders recognized that gender equality is a prerequisite for achieving sustainable development [2], and the fifth goal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development promised to achieve gender equality and empower all women because they are among the most vulnerable and marginalized groups. In this context, women's participation in the development of their local community is an essential means for achieving sustainable development, and an end to achieving gender equality.

Improvement is One of the fundamental elements of development while in gender practice, is often disagreement about what constitutes an improvement while in comparison with local practices in Akkar region, we recognize the following;

Family income; man is considered the first breadwinner for the family, and this intersects greatly between both the Syrian communities and the Lebanese host community, where the local community disavows the efforts of the woman, even if she works in agriculture side by side with the man, bu t she is considered as a secondary assistance (72% of Akkar residents live on less than $110 a month, and 20% of them live on less than $40 a month) [1]

Literacy rate (women and men): The level of education of the population provided another form of social inequality. The illiteracy rate is particularly high in the north, especially in the Akkar district and in the far south. Illiteracy among women draws a wide veil that covers all areas, except for the districts that contain large cities, such as Sidon, Zahle and Tripoli.

The sectarian dimension of this division is very strong, because these rural areas have a large Muslim population. On the contrary, the map of university degree holders gives dominance to the central regions of the country. It is through inequality in access to education that the unbalanced development of the country can be read. The parties are still very much outside the modern world. Because of the weak economic development, these areas remain highly dependent on the state, which remains the only entity that provides job opportunities and equipment of public interest in time the whole country is facing the worst type of economic deterioration since 2019.

Naba’a Achievements; During the last period, The most highlighted achievements during the last period;

-          We at Naba’a are doing all we can to help all affected communities during this extraordinary crisis. Our assistance efforts go to all: Lebanese, refugees and others who were affected without distinction. The devastating impact of the explosion is compounding the challenges currently faced by Lebanese and refugees and adding even more difficulties as families were struggling to survive with the economic crisis that was exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19.

• Around 3020 Youth and adolescents (70% females) involved in the life skills program including different topics such as (Communication skills, leader ship skills, how to protect themselves from abuse, reproductive health, peer to peer, human rights, child rights, women rights, etc…).
• Nabaa’ provided inclusive education for 3210 boys and girls of school age (6-12 years) in the Palestinian camps and Syrian gatherings in Lebanon (Tripoli, Saida, Tyre, Nabatieh) “In line with UNRWA's educational reform and MEHE curriculum to support the education of refugee’s children from Syria, Palestinians or Syrians.
• Children and women have been targeted in psychosocial activities as the following, 3051 children (males and females) and 550 parents most of them are women, including, vulnerable Lebanese, Palestinian and Syrian refugees. Whereas, in Borj Al Shamali camp 555 children (males and females and 220 parents including (Lebanese, Syrian Refugees and Palestinian refugees).
• It is worthy to note that, two child friendly psychosocial spaces were established at two UNRWA clinics (one in Ein El Helweh and one in Wadi El Zeni), where 2350 children whom their families access UNRWA clinics participated and joined the activities in these spaces.
• Teachers started to adapt, cope and learn an applicable learning methodologies with regard to distance learning in order to refine a continuous level in serving students with stressing on ensuring that every student will get an opportunity to participate and express throughout the virtual classroom in addition to support parents in technological skills. Since greeting all students with their names played a vital role in enhancing students’ engagement and commitment as they stated to feel that they belong to the classroom no matter how and where the learning process takes place.
• 219 children aged 4-6 years who are Palestinian, Syrian and Palestinian refugees from Syria have enhanced their educational and social skills, along with 2809 female and 15 males of parents and caregivers have gained knowledge on different social, educational, emotional, and psychological skills. A change in attitude and behavior of parents has been noticed during the scholastic year, where they become more aware in how to deal with their children.

Case Study;

                     I.            Beneficiary profile

1. Code: UN26
2. Date of birth: 1986
3. Nationality: Lebanese
4. Sex: Female
5. Referred by: Social Worker
6. Reason for referral: isolation,psychological stress, crying.
7. Risk level: High

                   II.            The Social Status of the Beneficiary

Married

Divorced

Widow

X

Number of children

male

female

1

0

1

                 III.            The educational level of the beneficiary

Illiterate Elementary Intermediate High school University

Professional/Technical

                IV.            Economic and living situation of the beneficiary

1. Work: Unemployed Unstable Stable
2. Type of work: --

1. Is he/she receiving financial assistance? No
2. Family income: good average low bad
3. Nature of the residence: Land lord Rent Number of rooms:3
4. Does anyone else live in the house with the family: The beneficiary moves around three houses (she live with her sisters and brother’s house).

Additional Observations on the Living Situation of the Case:

The living and economic situation of the beneficiary is terrible as she doesn’t work, also her father and mother dead from 5 years, she moves from one house to another (from her sister’s house to her brother’s house) and also their economic situation is very bad.

                  V.            Health/psychological situation:

Beneficiary

Family

Is there any impairment/disability (blindness, autism...)?

No

Are there any physical disabilities?

No

Are there any medications that the beneficiary takes on an ongoing basis?

No

Is there a previous psychological preview?

No

Is there a neuropathy?

No

Does the beneficiary undergo any type of drug abuse?

No

The method of spotting the case:

The beneficiary’s case was observed during her participation in awareness sessions, covering topics related to gender-based violence(GBV).

- Summary of the background/history of the beneficiary andthe problem suffered from:

After observing the beneficiary’s situation through her participation in awareness sessions, she began talking openly about her situation she began crying among the Psycho Social Support group members (group of mothers), where she talked about the consequences of early marriage that she faced and suffered from. This early marriage led to many health, social and psychological problems.

Psychological and Social Symptoms Observed:

- Community isolation (spends days without communicating or meeting with a family or friend)

- Feelings of permanent sadness (most of the time)

- Constant crying

- Fear of facing people

- Loss of self-confidence and loss of trust in people

- Sleep disorders (insomnia)

- Eating disorders

Data Collection Method:

Data is collected through the psycho-social support sessions and awareness sessions given, as well as follow-up via the telephone.

   Intervention and follow-up Methods:

Social intervention:

• Integrate in PSS activities with groups of participants of her age to improve her social life.

• Awareness sessions about three main topics:

Topics

Aim of each topic

Early marriage

- know that ''Early Marriage" is a kind of violence

- Reasons of early marriage and its consequences on girls on different aspects (physical, psychological, social…)

- The role she can play as "Girl" to stop this Marriage

- Mechanisms to reduce early marriage

Gender-based violence

- The aim is to define the different kinds of violence

- Reasons and consequences of violence,

- Realize that gender inequality is the root cause of gender-based violence

- Stages of problem solving based on problem-solving and decision- making methodology.

Gender equality

- To aware about the equity and gender equality,

- Analyze the consequences of gender discrimination,

- To know the role of girls in promoting equal rights and responsibilities

• Psychosocial support sessions how to deal with risks,

Attending the PSS sessions allows her to deal positively with her daughter especially when she faced problems with her husband.

• Individual sessions to give her awareness about how to deal with her daughter and how to deal with stress.

Psychological intervention:

Number of psychological sessions :

5

Objectives:

Improvement for self-esteem and self-confidence, reduce negative emotions

Recommendations:

- Follow-up meetings with the psychologist through individual sessions on a weekly basis

- Continue participating in the sessions that she had begun as a recommendation by the social worker and at the request of the beneficiary herself.

-Searching for a work suitable to her.

Links:

• Naba'a Website

Background during and after the implementation of the project;

After conducting a field survey in the Bourj Hammoud area, the problems were identified and categorized as materialistic, social and psychological.

Materialistic problems: Before the explosion, the living and economic situation in Lebanon, in general and specifically, in Bourj Hammoud area already was not that good, and then the explosion occurred and caused the situation to deteriorate more. The losses were embodied by the destruction of homes, shops and private companies in addition to the inability of getting the basic needs for living (securing foodstuff ...) that were discovered through field and home visits by social workers in the Bourj Hammoud area, and this situation in turn has led to the emergence of many problems that fall under the social problems

Social problems: As a result of the materialistic losses that occurred in the region, the level of unemployment increased after the destruction of the work and livelihoods of the citizens, and thus led to the emergence of high cases below the poverty line.

In addition to the emergence of various cases of bullying, and violence that manifested in different forms between members of the society in general and the families specifically.

Psychological problems: all the factors that were previously mentioned, material and social problems, especially the explosion, which had a major role in the emergence of psychological problems and disorders for a large segment of the population of Burj Hammoud, which are manifested by the symptoms of several disorders like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and panic attacks ... Where it appeared on individuals of different ages, whether they were children, adults, or elderly, it affected everyone who was near to the explosion.

Naba’a Achievements; During the last period, The most highlighted achievements during the last period;

• We at Naba’a are doing all we can to help all affected communities during this extraordinary crisis. Our assistance efforts go to all: Lebanese, refugees and others who were affected without distinction. The devastating impact of the explosion is compounding the challenges currently faced by Lebanese and refugees and adding even more difficulties as families were struggling to survive with the economic crisis that was exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19.

• 3240 parents and caregivers motivated to be engaged in their children learning and well-being.
• The psychosocial support sessions focused on groups, as they were formed by referring service applicants who were visited in their homes, and the groups were divided into:

• The women's groups, which included 75 women, were divided into 5 groups, 10 women within the each group. in these groups it also included 23 men. The following conducted activities were art therapy, psychological drama, psychological and social support activities, and parental therapy. Among 50 women 57 were referred for follow-up by a psychologist as part of individual psychological support sessions for each beneficiary.
• The division of the groups of children's sessions were according to age (6-14):

-Art therapy sessions for children aged 6 to 10 years

- Psychosocial support "sessions for children "She deals or “I deal with awareness sessions for girls and boys from 11 to 14 years old

- Psychosocial support sessions for all age groups

• 100 children were targeted, divided into groups according to social and psychological needs. The psychologist referred 30 new children for individual follow-up.

• It is worthy to note that, two child friendly psychosocial spaces were established at two UNRWA clinics (one in Ein El Helweh and one in Wadi El Zeni), where 2350 children whom their families access UNRWA clinics participated and joined the activities in these spaces.

Case Study;

Beneficiary profile

1. Code: R1
2. Date of birth: 2003
3. Nationality: Syrian
4. Sex: Female
5. Referred by: Social Worker
6. Reason for referral: self-harm,   isolation, psychological stress
7. Risk level: High
8. Social status; Divorced

Notes: The beneficiary is currently married to someone else and has no children.

Economic and living situation of the beneficiary

1. Work: Unemployed Unstable Stable
2. Type of work: Stitching

1. Is he/she receiving financial assistance? No
2. Family income: good average low bad
3. Nature of the residence: Landlord Rent hosted   tent
4. Number of rooms: 2
5. Does anyone else live in the house with the family: The beneficiary and her husband live with her parents and her siblings

Additional Observations on the Living Situation of the Case:

The living and economic situation of the beneficiary is terrible as the family of 8 members live in a house consisting of only 2 rooms which lacks the basic home furnishings.

Summary of the background/history of the beneficiary and the problems suffered from:

After observing the beneficiary’s situation through her participation in awareness sessions, she began talking openly about her situation among the Psycho Social Support group members (group of girls aged 14-20), where she talked about the consequences of early marriage that she faced and suffered from, as she was forcibly ordered by her father to marry a man when she was 15 years old. This early marriage shortly led to family problems and complications including constant insults to her by the husband's parents, leading her to divorce few months after her marriage.

Moreover, after her divorce, she received insults from her own family who considers divorce as a shame and a social defect, where the mother told her, "You are just a divorced girl and so you are with us to serve us."

All that has been addressed and said to her had led to the emergence of high-risk psychological symptoms.

Psychological and Social Symptoms Observed:

- Community isolation (spends days without communicating or meeting with a family or friend)

- Feelings of permanent sadness (most of the time)

- Constant crying

- Fear of facing people

- Loss of self-confidence and loss of trust in people

- Sleep disorders (insomnia)

- Eating disorders (anorexia)

- Nail biting

- Hair cutting (self-torture for revenge)

- Harming her body by cutting off her wrists and arms

Data Collection Method:

Data is collected through the psycho-social support sessions and awareness sessions given, as well as follow-up via the telephone and home visit.

   Intervention and follow-up Methods:

Intervention was conducted in the following ways:

• Awareness sessions (early marriage, gender-based violence, gender versus sex)
• Psychosocial support sessions (SHE DEAL), how to deal with risks
• Art therapy sessions (your strengths and weaknesses, fears and sources of strength, your position in society, expression of emotions)
• Referral to the psychologist for follow-up

Recommendations:

- Follow-up meetings with the psychologist through individual sessions on a weekly basis

- Continue participating in the sessions that she had begun as a recommendation by the social worker and at the request of the beneficiary herself (awareness sessions, art therapy sessions, social psychological support sessions).

Background during and after the implementation of the project;

After conducting a field survey in the Bourj Hammoud area, the problems were identified and categorized as materialistic, social and psychological.

Materialistic problems: Before the explosion, the living and economic situation in Lebanon, in general and specifically, in Bourj Hammoud area already was not that good, and then the explosion occurred and caused the situation to deteriorate more. The losses were embodied by the destruction of homes, shops and private companies in addition to the inability of getting the basic needs for living (securing foodstuff ...) that were discovered through field and home visits by social workers in the Bourj Hammoud area, and this situation in turn has led to the emergence of many problems that fall under the social problems

Social problems: As a result of the materialistic losses that occurred in the region, the level of unemployment increased after the destruction of the work and livelihoods of the citizens, and thus led to the emergence of high cases below the poverty line.

In addition to the emergence of various cases of bullying, and violence that manifested in different forms between members of the society in general and the families specifically.

Psychological problems: all the factors that were previously mentioned, material and social problems, especially the explosion, which had a major role in the emergence of psychological problems and disorders for a large segment of the population of Burj Hammoud, which are manifested by the symptoms of several disorders like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and panic attacks ... Where it appeared on individuals of different ages, whether they were children, adults, or elderly, it affected everyone who was near to the explosion.

Naba’a Achievements; During the last period, The most highlighted achievements during the last period;

• We at Naba’a are doing all we can to help all affected communities during this extraordinary crisis. Our assistance efforts go to all: Lebanese, refugees and others who were affected without distinction. The devastating impact of the explosion is compounding the challenges currently faced by Lebanese and refugees and adding even more difficulties as families were struggling to survive with the economic crisis that was exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19.

• 3240 parents and caregivers motivated to be engaged in their children learning and well-being.
• The psychosocial support sessions focused on groups, as they were formed by referring service applicants who were visited in their homes, and the groups were divided into:

• The women's groups, which included 75 women, were divided into 5 groups, 10 women within the each group. in these groups it also included 23 men. The following conducted activities were art therapy, psychological drama, psychological and social support activities, and parental therapy. Among 50 women 57 were referred for follow-up by a psychologist as part of individual psychological support sessions for each beneficiary.
• The division of the groups of children's sessions were according to age (6-14):

-Art therapy sessions for children aged 6 to 10 years

- Psychosocial support "sessions for children "She deals or “I deal with awareness sessions for girls and boys from 11 to 14 years old

- Psychosocial support sessions for all age groups

• 100 children were targeted, divided into groups according to social and psychological needs. The psychologist referred 30 new children for individual follow-up.

• It is worthy to note that, two child friendly psychosocial spaces were established at two UNRWA clinics (one in Ein El Helweh and one in Wadi El Zeni), where 2350 children whom their families access UNRWA clinics participated and joined the activities in these spaces.

Case Study;

Beneficiary profile

1. Code: R1
2. Date of birth: 2003
3. Nationality: Syrian
4. Sex: Female
5. Referred by: Social Worker
6. Reason for referral: isolation, psychological stress
7. Risk level: High
8. Social status; Divorced

Notes: The beneficiary is currently married to someone else and has no children.

Economic and living situation of the beneficiary

1. Work: Unemployed Unstable Stable
2. Type of work: Stitching

1. Is he/she receiving financial assistance? No
2. Family income: good average low bad
3. Nature of the residence: Landlord Rent hosted   tent
4. Number of rooms: 2
5. Does anyone else live in the house with the family: The beneficiary and her husband live with her parents and her siblings

Additional Observations on the Living Situation of the Case:

The living and economic situation of the beneficiary is terrible as the family of 8 members live in a house consisting of only 2 rooms which lacks the basic home furnishings.

Summary of the background/history of the beneficiary and the problems suffered from:

After observing the beneficiary’s situation through her participation in awareness sessions, she began talking openly about her situation among the Psycho Social Support group members (group of girls aged 14-20), where she talked about the consequences of early marriage that she faced and suffered from, as she was forcibly ordered by her father to marry a man when she was 15 years old. This early marriage shortly led to family problems and complications including constant insults to her by the husband's parents, leading her to divorce few months after her marriage.

Moreover, after her divorce, she received insults from her own family who considers divorce as a shame and a social defect, where the mother told her, "You are just a divorced girl and so you are with us to serve us."

All that has been addressed and said to her had led to the emergence of high-risk psychological symptoms.

Psychological and Social Symptoms Observed:

- Community isolation (spends days without communicating or meeting with a family or friend)

- Feelings of permanent sadness (most of the time)

- Constant crying

- Fear of facing people

- Loss of self-confidence and loss of trust in people

- Sleep disorders (insomnia)

- Eating disorders (anorexia)

- Nail biting

- Hair cutting (self-torture for revenge)

- Harming her body by cutting off her wrists and arms

Data Collection Method:

Data is collected through the psycho-social support sessions and awareness sessions given, as well as follow-up via the telephone and home visit.

   Intervention and follow-up Methods:

Intervention was conducted in the following ways:

• Awareness sessions (early marriage, gender-based violence, gender versus sex)
• Psychosocial support sessions (SHE DEAL), how to deal with risks
• Art therapy sessions (your strengths and weaknesses, fears and sources of strength, your position in society, expression of emotions)
• Referral to the psychologist for follow-up

Recommendations:

- Follow-up meetings with the psychologist through individual sessions on a weekly basis

- Continue participating in the sessions that she had begun as a recommendation by the social worker and at the request of the beneficiary herself (awareness sessions, art therapy sessions, social psychological support sessions).

Links:

• Naba'a Website