In the heart of the Baalbek-Hermel region, between November 2024 and August 2025, the project “Contributing to Building the Resilience of Refugee Women and Women with Disabilities” stands out as a model for empowerment and protection. Supported by MPDL and funded by Asturias, the LUPD worked to strengthen resilience and improve livelihoods for over 150 women and girls with disabilities from different nationalities (Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian).

Key Project Achievements

Livelihoods Support and Basic Needs

150 women and girls were identified, with 140 receiving vital relief through the distribution of food parcels and personal hygiene kits, alleviating the impact of the severe living crisis, especially after the war. Additionally, 50 women received comprehensive training in financial literacy to enhance their money management skills.

Safe Spaces and Social Empowerment

An accessible safe space was established in Baalbek, becoming a support hub for 150 women, providing psychosocial support services and skill-building activities. These spaces featured recreational workshops such as candle-making, which not only gave women practical skills but also ignited a spirit of initiative and broke stereotypes, affirming their ability to use these skills to create income-generating ideas that support their financial independence.

Specialized Protection and Addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

The project provided specialized case management and essential support to 60 women and girls who were survivors of or at risk of violence, with a special focus on 26 women with disabilities. The program succeeded in building trust, helping survivors restore their self-esteem and move towards independence.

Peacebuilding and Community Engagement

To achieve sustainable change, men and the wider community were engaged:

• 8 awareness sessions were held with the participation of 90 men, including 41 persons with disabilities, to deepen their understanding of gender-based violence and their role as active allies in preventing it.
• A field activity was implemented in the Baalbek public garden as part of peacebuilding efforts among 50 women from different backgrounds to enhance social cohesion, where they shared stories and built mutual support networks.

This project goes beyond providing immediate assistance; it represents an investment in the capacities of women with disabilities and caregivers of persons with disabilities, affirming their right to safety, empowerment, and active participation in building more just and peaceful communities.