The Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST) has launched a project entitled “Trauma Sensitive Vocational Training for Syrian and Lebanese Women” the end of January of 2016. This project sponsored by our Canadian partners Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) started in December 2015 with the recruitment process and is set to progress until the end April 2016. This project aims at responding to several social, financial, and psychological problems between Lebanese citizens and Syrian refugees.
The recruited participants, five Lebanese and five Syrian women, will be trained twice a week on life skills, health, trauma healing and vocational training in hairstyling. The participating women will be provided with a vocational training certificate and a hair styling kit upon completion of the project. This certificate and kit will be a beginning boost for the women to begin a potential career.
It is no secret that there are tensions and negative attitudes coming from the Lebanese people towards the Syrian refugees and vice-versa. These tensions affect the social life for both sides and create borders between them. So, the project encourages positive interaction over a common ground and gives the participants a chance at starting dialogue. This interaction between the participants creates a common understanding and gives insight on their lives.
The trauma healing trainings given by expert trainers intend to treat psychological problems that the women may have suffered from as a result of the Syrian Conflict. The Syrian Conflict has caused traumatic experiences for both the hosts and the refugees. These healing sessions are essential to aid in turning negative thoughts and actions into positive ways to deal with tangible conflicts in their daily lives.
LOST through this initiative fulfills its missions for a better developed region and promotes social harmony by reducing tensions and while empowering women from both communities to be productive. The skills provided through the project boost the confidence of the participants and enable them to not only fund themselves but their families as well.
