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Opportunities for the whole community
Run by and for women from our communities, Alsama’s social enterprises harness the talents of students and their mothers, providing them with an independent source of income.
Direct support for refugee women
with no men in the middle
Life in Shatila isn’t cheap. Even though it’s a refugee camp, inhabitants have to pay rent, water, electricity, gas, wifi - just like anywhere else.
Monthly living expenses look like $200-$250 to rent a small one-bedroom flat, and $75-$150 for utilities. So that’s $275-$400 per month before we’ve even got to food and drinkable water. And with most refugees unable to find work, many have to take on debts.
Shatila isn’t an easy place for women either. In a context where domestic violence is all too common, most remain the sole bread winners for their families.
Within the camp, there aren’t many spaces for women to gather - without their families - to talk freely and support each other. And with low rates of education among refugee women, it’s not easy to create opportunities for themselves.
Going into business to build
new horizons for refugee women
Alsama social enterprises are a way to support the foundations of our communities, create an independent income for women, and put the power in their hands. They’re businesses, not charities, and use the profit from your purchases to invest, employ more women, and create a better life for themselves.
Alsama Studio
Founded in 2020, the Studio employs around 50 mothers of students at our education centres to create bespoke, hand-made embroidery art.
Spanning fashion, home, and accessories, every item is unique and tells a story of craftsmanship and resilience. Run by women in the heart of the Shatila refugee camp, the Studio employs women aged 20 to 45. Many of them have received only a rudimentary school education. One in 10 are unable to read or write.
The workshop provides a safe place where women can give and receive support. Their homes often consist of one room which they share with children, violent husbands, and elderly and sick parents. Rarely are they allowed to go out – unless it is to the Studio. Here they can chat to other women and discuss their problems freely. Babies are welcome, and we provide weekly yoga and awareness classes.
Alsama Studio works are made-to-order. Check out our shop now.
Arabic Language School
Founded in 2024 by an ex-Alsama student, the Arabic Language School offers beginner to advanced Arabic lessons in the Levantine dialect to anyone who wants to learn Arabic.
Staffed by students who have achieved an excellent level of English and Arabic, the Language School creates opportunities for students to begin learning business skills and earning an independent income.
Offering classes in person or online, the Language School is probably the most unique - and fulfilling - way you could learn Arabic.
If you’d like to try your hand at speaking Arabic, or advance your skills in the Levantine dialect, get in touch with our Language School.
We have 53 women building businesses together. Will you help them?
Efficient business
changes lives
Our social enterprises are all about giving women the tools and infrastructure to build a business and earn their own income. We’re here to make every purchase count - that’s why we keep overheads to a minimum and separate our social enterprise accounts entirely from our own.
And with 100% of costs going directly to our refugee women, you know your money is supporting the people who matter most.
We have 53 women building businesses together. Will you help them?
100%
New horizons for refugee teenagers.
Alsama provides refugee teenagers in the Middle East with a world-class education, while transforming refugee education worldwide.
Keep up to date with our progress
Alsama Project is registered in the United Kingdom as a charity, no. 1191810. In Lebanon, Alsama Project is registered as an non-governmental, charitable organisation with the Ministry of Interior, registration no. 372/2021. In the US, Alsama Project is registered as a 501(c)3 organisation, registration no. 87-1842640.