Empowering Women Through Handicrafts and Skills
Anamilouna – Women Empowerment Center is a handicraft center aimed at improving the livelihoods of impoverished women and their families, and at the same time promoting and preserving the rich Lebanese handicrafts that reflect the rich history of the country inspired by the many ancient and contemporary cultures the country has passed through. Hariri Foundation launched the women empowerment center in 2001 and equipped it to promote the economic empowerment of women through the acquisition of traditional, skills, capacity building, job creation and career development.
Through a range of activities and services, from educational, economic and legal advice, to psycho-social counseling and support, the center strives to create permanent sources of income, targeting women between the ages of 17-70. The center builds on existing traditional activities that women are engaged in and which represent an important source of income to them. Women used to sell their outputs through local shops, exhibitions, and seasonal bazaars. However, the returns are generally low because of poor marketing channels and incompatibility with consumers’ tastes. Women also lacked the power and bargaining skills to demand a fair price for the product. Anamilouna trains women on modern and creative handicrafts by providing them with professional advice on new lines of production. Women have been trained on weaving, embroidery, sewing, and other methods of handicrafts. The indirect impact of this project would be empowering and building the capacity of women through a series of diverse informative lectures on women rights, health-related lectures, basic computer skills, languages and design.
Address
Rafic El Hariri Boulevard, Historic District,
Saida, Lebanon
Phone
+961 7 727 344
anamilouna@hariri-foundation.org
Empowering Women Through Craft
Since its establishment, Anamilouna has successfully participated in around sixty local and regional exhibitions where Lebanese handicrafts produced by the “anamil” (finger tips) of empowered women were proudly presented.
When clients purchase an Anamilouna product, they are also purchasing a sense of content knowing that you have contributed to the process of sustainable human development. Anamilouna also provides tactical marketing and sales strategies required to sell these products as well as protecting their copyrights resulting in a stress-free environment where women can grow and enjoy her new career.