Support Lebanese-Led Mutual Aid and Response.
Lebanon is a place that's had a deeply profound impact on the lives of so many in our network, on so many levels, which is why the past week has been so heartbreaking and brought so much anger, given what the country is being unjustly subjected to. At Locally Led we talk a lot about turning the intensity of anger, grief, and mourning-- that often befalls many in our network around the world-- into action, impact, and care. Through radical intentionality and radical love.
In that spirit, we're going to be highlighting and promoting a couple of local fundraising campaigns by our friends in Lebanon raising funds for community-led response and mutual-aid efforts that are supporting those displaced or in immediate need following these deplorable attacks.
This week, we want to direct you to following Lebanese-Led mutual aid and response efforts we can personally vouch for:
Our friend Watfa’s campaign supporting a number of community-led initiatives happening right now in her home city of Beirut. The money will go directly to those leading the initiatives and create a direct, immediate, critically important impact on those most in need of help right now.out
Our friends at Raseef-Beirut, which has turned their restaurant/cultural space into a community solidarity kitchen helping feed those in need. They’ve already provided just over 700+ meals to surrounding neighborhoods.
You can give by contacting them directly at info@raseef-beirut.com or donate to this Chuffed campaign personally put together by one of our members. If you’re currently in Lebanon you can arrange a personal cash or donation drop off by calling or texting the number: 01 340 081
Follow and give to ARM (Anti-Racism Movement), a locally led organization/movement organizing with migrants for social, economic and gender justice in Lebanon. Migrants in Lebanon are especially vulnerable in times like these and so ARM’s positionality as a support network, place of refuge, and as powerful advocates is more critical than ever. A number of our members have a close relationship with ARM and we can 100% vouch for them.
A community-based organization that comes highly recommended throughout our network. It is founded and led by migrant domestic workers in Lebanon. Egna Legna Besidet is composed of community-based, feminist activists working on issues that migrant women domestic workers face in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Lebanon and Ethiopia. They provide holistic solutions to the challenges that migrant domestic workers face daily through legal, housing, and food assistance, shelter and medical referrals, skills training, as well as repatriation and reintegration services. They
also advocate for the rights of migrant domestic workers as women, laborers, and dignified members of society.
Migrant workers are systematically excluded from emergency/humanitarian response. In cases like this past weeks brutal attacks on Beirut, Egna Legna Besidet has provided critical community-led responses to memebrs of their community, setting of a community kitchen and distributing essential food items, medications, and hygiene packs. They’ve also provided spaces for sheltering and emergency transport for rescues.
To donate directly you can use their DonorBox link here.
A number of our members have had a long standing relationship with leaders of Seenaryo, an incredible organization that uses theatre and play to support people to heal, lead and learn. Seenaryo co-creates performances with under-served communities in Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine, trains future leaders and transforms classrooms through play. Their Lebanon team is entirely locally and refugee-led, with deep roots in communities around the country.
Seenaryo recently shared a list of trusted organizations and mutual aid efforts here providing critical assistance to those in need following the bombings that they recommend their network giving to. We can 100% vouch for them that those they trust, can be those you trust.
Again, this is strictly a list of folks we have a personal connection to. Many of you are likely aware of the multitude of incredible resources and activists highlighting so much incredible work by local Lebanese organizations, coalitions, and mutual aid networks responding to ongoing brutal attacks. We strongly encourage you to continue to follow, support, and highlight those people, the resources rooted in local knowledge/experience, and the organizations and coalitions they direct you to.
Our love to our beloveds in Lebanon 🇱🇧 .