“Concerted and creative new solutions are needed to enable… [and support] women to enter the job market, particularly at this challenging time. UN Women invests in women’s human and social capital to provide them the steppingstones needed to enter the economy.”
-Rachel Dore-Weeks, Head of UN Women Lebanon
Nisrine Kaf Al-Ghazal, a Syrian woman living in Beirut, Lebanon, started her own business, Zeytuna Chocolate, in the midst of multiple crises. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the August 4th Beirut explosion have been devastating for Nisrine and many others in her country. With the help of a UN Women training program, Nisrine was able to create her own business when she needed it most.
A recent feature in UN Women highlights Nisrine’s inspiring story of using a newly learned skill to help her and her family make ends meet. UN Women’s Social Development Center has provided training in various facets of entrepreneurship to 117 women. The center’s objective is, “supporting women and girls to foster their economic independence.”
The Social Development Center did just that for Nisrine, who had never been able to have her own career until taking several of their courses, at the age of 33. UN Women describes the impact that this education had on Nisrine’s livelihood as follows,
“Throughout her training, Nisrine acquired new skills in event planning and wedding design. This included designing chocolate wrappers for formal occasions, setting up flower arrangements and crystals, and matching linen colors…For the past two years, with the help of her son in making deliveries, she was able to sell chocolate wrapping designs and souvenir sets for engagements, weddings, birthdays, and baby showers.”
wegg® knows the power that education can give to a woman. Nisrine’s story is an inspiring one that has further proven to us how important this work is. wegg vows to continue our work of providing our own training to women entrepreneurs around the globe for many years to come.
