Projects and Initiatives

Nasawiya is currently working on the following projects and initiatives:

>> Ghayreh 3adtik Bitzeed S3adtik: Feminist Tools for Change

“Ghayreh 3adtik Bitzeed S3adtik” is a training program for women on how to use a feminist analysis to bring about change. Primarily targeted at young women, its objective is to provide them with the knowledge, tools and resources on organizing for change, be it by undertaking legal reform, grassroots pressure, building a community, raising awareness, creating support groups, or running for public office – all from a feminist perspective. We like to call it feminism with a touch of activism.

To book your sessions, please write to Farah at farah[at]nasawiya.org or Rania at ran.ignatios[at]gmail.com.

>> Take Back the Tech

As members of the global collective Take Back the Tech, we work on reclaiming information and communication technology (ICT) to promote gender equality. Through specialized workshops led by women experts in their fields and related initiatives, we aim to:

• Encourage, train, and support young women to use ICTs creatively, purposefully, and efficiently;
• Encourage girls to geek up and venture into tech-related careers;
• Promote a gender lens among tech initiatives in the Arab world, especially those in the non-profit sector;
• Create and support online initiatives, programs, and applications to fight violence against women;
• Bridge feminism and communication rights in the Arab World.

To learn more about the initiative and/or sign up for upcoming workshops, write to Abir at abir.ghattas[at]gmail.com.

>> Sawt Al Niswa

Created and managed by a group of feminist women living in Lebanon, our feminist webspace, Swat Al Niswa (Women’s Voice), is designed to function as a pool of knowledge. It hosts the various social and political commentaries by women, while questioning the kind of feminist discourse they want to speak and express themselves through. The voice(s) within the website contribute to the construction of an Arab feminist discourse, reflecting a spectrum of Arab reality (ies), the same way Nasawiya and friends in the region reflect on Arab feminism attempts.

To join the editorial team or send contributions, please write to Sara at editor[at]sawtalniswa.com.

>> Feminist Discussions

Held every Wednesday, Feminist Discussions (Kira’at Nasawiya) are open-invitation gatherings for members, friends and interested individuals to explore and discuss issues and topics of interest from a feminist perspective. Discussions may revolve around a film, a hot topic, a book, a newspaper article, a law, etc.

To learn more about our upcoming discussions, write to Farah at farah[at]nasawiya.org.

>> Coalitions and Networks

Nasawiya is a member of the Coalition for legalizing the protection of women from family violence in Lebanon. We also work with the Young Arab Feminist Network to build a collective network of support for young Arab women activists in the region.

>> International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (March 8th) is a fixture on Nasawiya’s calendar. Every year, the collective comes up with different actions and events to hold around and on that day to raise awareness about women’s issues and set a reminder of the work that still needs to be done in the name of gender justice.

>> Labor Day

Labor Day (May 1st) is another fixture on Nasawiya’s calendar during which the collective celebrates achievements of workers and pushes for further labor-related changes in the name of social justice.

>> Migrant Workers Task Force

Through joint initiatives and/or stand-alone projects, Nasawiya undertakes to highlight the plight of migrant domestic workers in Lebanon and the Arab World and combat the discrimination they are subjected to. You can read our posts for updates on related actions and events. If you have ideas and/or suggestions you’d like to share with us on this issue, please feel free to write to farah@nasawiya.org.

>> The Lebanese Laïque Pride

The Lebanese Laïque Pride is a march for secularism in Lebanon, organized by Lebanese citizens who are calling for:

- the non-interference of the State in the citizen’s religion and the non-interference of religion in the State’s affairs;

- the liberation of the people’s representatives from their allegiance to the leaders of religious confessionalism;

- laws that respect human rights and absolute equality between women and men;

- a Lebanese civil code for personal status;
- the reinforcement of public schooling at the service of citizenship education;
- the guarantee of equal opportunities employment in the civil service on the basis of competence;

- an independent judicial power that protects the rights of the citizen and prevents him from resorting to his tribal society.

The march is an annual event, in which Nasawiya takes part as a feminist block.

To suggest a new initiative, please fill in the form below: