Women make up only 28% of the total labour force in Lebanon According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2018, many studies attribute this huge gap in economic participation to domestic burdens and responsibilities placed on women, as well as to the discrimination the face in terms of access to leadership or management positions, as well as to many other challenges, such as difficulty in obtaining funding.

Despite this, many women struggle on a daily basis to create jobs for themselves and other women. They are also actively engaged in improving and developing their communities, especially in light of the economic and environmental crisis undergoing in Lebanon.

Zoap project, is a very a good example on these efforts. It was created by a group of women who made soap using oils recycled by other women in need of jobs. The project also aimed at contributing to environmental awareness about the importance of recycling through workshops and school visits.

The project started in 2014 as a solo initiative from a group of women who learned to make soap at home, and then developed into a successful company that won the Best Social Business Award in the regional competition “Ripples of Happiness” for sustainable projects.

To learn more about this pilot project, please check the link below.