SUZANNA ABU SAID

Beirut - Natural, nutritious products are an example of social cooperation that has resulted in economic growth and support for women amid Lebanon's economic crisis.

Bayssour Women's Social Association (BWSA), a non-political, non-profit organization founded in the Bayssour village of Aley district, Lebanon in 2009 to support women. The association has carried out a project named “Al-Gharb Center for Food Processing” to promote women’s economic empowerment.

Western Food Processing Center

"The project began in 2014 after a meeting held by the local municipalities, the Union of Municipalities of Gharb and Shahr Al-Ala, and associations in the region. During the meeting, the idea for establishing an agricultural cooperative was suggested to develop projects in the region for farmers, including women working in agriculture,” Hiyam Malaeb, head of Bayssour Women's Social Association Baissour's Ladies Association in West Lebanon for food processing.

Malaeb acknowledged that, as part of the My Country initiative, a contract was signed with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Caritas organization, as well as the “Green Hand" group. “All of these partners have contributed to the initiative in some way, but we give the priority to lead it because it empowers women more effectively and on a bigger scale.”

She mentioned that “at first, we were able to get women out of their homes away from financial motives in order to crystallize social and cooperative frames; getting out of their houses was the only purpose for voluntary women, as well as getting rid of isolation and its influence, and eventually intermingling positively in their societies. The project brought moral and financial independence to a large number of women. Some women were chosen for the project because they were widowed, without a breadwinner, or a source of income, and their participation in the project marked the start of a huge life transformation for them.”

Speaking about the foundation of their association, Hiyam Malaeb said, “The association was founded in 2008 to develop and empower women in a variety of ways, including encouraging and recognizing women's cultivated and artistic performance in addition to acknowledging the media and the talented in Lebanon from Bayssour and beyond by carrying out many activities, evenings, meetings and conferences as well as administrating the binary culturing through ties and associations. We also pay great attention to healthcare by providing the necessary aid. The association is working to establish a folklore gallery in Bayssour. Other efforts of the association are environmental stewardship, tutoring the children, and providing scholarships to the young.”

Producing

 The production phase, according to Hiyam Malaeb started in May 2019.

 Hiyam said, “There were so many preparations before working on the production. We made women take part in nutrition manufacturing rehearsals, and now the project serves 18 women directly and supports about 40 women, but due to the economic deterioration, dollar crisis, and the pandemic, some of the women work seasonally or according to their needs.” She also stated that despite the difficulties and challenges they continue to work.

Hiyam stated "Caritas Group has sponsored us for the past ten months, which is considered a long-term commitment, in comparison to other charities or associations that have only received assistance from three to six months mainly supplying workers’ wages. We are among the top three, out of ten, agricultural cooperatives in Lebanon that could continue to produce, to encourage product development, as well as to promote other brand products".

“The numbers of products in the plant has reached 40,” she said, adding, “Some of them are jams, pickles, frozen food, reserved items dry and liquid (compote and makdous, etc…) seasonal food. For example, in winter, we prepare Kebah, shishbarak, pastries, cakes, and sweets, among other things.”

 Hiyam continued to talk as follows: “We also offer a variety of delicacies for homes and special occasions. We prepare seasonal recipes in addition to participating in exhibitions and feasts that are customized to the needs of customers as well as to new products development.”

 “The major obstacles that we faced were marketing and maintaining factory supply amid electricity crisis,” She said of the issues they confront, “We are currently working on the association's registration procedures because it is still in the process of establishing.”

“All people working for the association are volunteers," Hiyam Malaeb explained, “But we make sure that offering women's wages monthly will help their empowerment.” Speaking about their latest activities, she said, "We have arranged many entertaining journeys for women of all ages and from different towns. The women of Bayssour participated in the journeys. We also carried out an entertaining activity for kids after the pandemic in an entertaining local center located in Medo Maze. In addition, we have held many activities for Mother Day for women, especially the elderly to take part in.”

A comprehensive marketing approach

Hiyam Malaeb stated “The industrial project is included in a comprehensive plan for the Aliya region in Eyinab, which is close to our town. Apart from food production, it mixes craft arts and traditional manufacturing for a variety of purposes, including supporting the circle economy, boosting marketing, and empowering women and farmers, as well as the owners of mini-projects.”

She clarified that to grow and spread the charity, and in a response to the pandemic, "We have used online marketing, participating in numerous fairs on our Facebook page, and so many other methods, such as giving our products directly to customers. We are now attempting to build a comprehensive marketing plan in collaboration with other charities to increase output discharge, achieve greater self-sufficiency and recruit more women despite the numerous hurdles".

She stated that they are constantly holding conferences and training programs for women to learn various skills such as computers, cosmetics, embroidery, crochet, and lace, among others, as well as providing health aids in the association such as free medical tools such as wheeled chairs, walkers, and other items. “During the pandemic, we worked with crisis cells; we contributed to educating, launched awareness-raising activities, especially about the Covid-19 and social distancing procedures.”

  “We also focused on maintaining hyperbaric oxygen tools and White Hands' Group contributed with in-kind assistance from expatriates and village settlers in addition to financial aids, food, giving fuel in winter, and supporting formal schools among other things,” she said.

 “We have vast quantities and diverse manufacturing line,” Hiyam Malaeb said, “But marketing is still a big barrier amid the expanding economic crisis that we try to overcome.”

She indicated, “All of the products are clean and the bottles have been sterilized where it enters from one side and exits from the other, ready for selling. Our products are subjected to rigorous laboratory testing, and as a result, we are able to deliver eight different types of our products to Gulf countries.”

Speaking about their previous projects, Hiyam said, “Previously we took part in a project to sort out garbage from its source; we started in certain neighborhoods and continued for a while, but this project exceeded our abilities; there are many charities and associations that serve the town, but we are the only association that brings together women from all families.”

Creating and Innovating

Inam Al Aredy, the cooperative's production supervisor, said "I have a hobby in the field of innovating new things and developing products, and the association encouraged me, so we started developing new products for two goals:  first, to distribute our products, and second, to market farmers' production and support them in buying their products so they can stay in their lands, keep planting them, and avoid deserting villages. For example, in addition to the cherry tomato jam, which we invented, we have produced pepper jam, which can be used as a sauce for dishes or to garnish desserts and pastries. These are two types of jams that are highly recognized since they are used as jam and added to various dishes.”

“Despite everything, we have not stopped creating and inventing,” Inam said, adding, “Among organic products, there are garlic and onion powder that we keep producing due to high demand. Among other products that have been huge successes is using every ingredient from citrus fruits "mullein"; we use its peel to make jams and the mullein powder that can be used as a substitute for industrial vanilla because most vanilla on the market is made out of chemical compounds. Our product adds a distinctive flavor to sweets and pastries; we also utilize it in one of kind juice combination that is 100% natural, in addition to generating food dyes from natural sources such as mullein seeds, which we employ in products to obtain healthy and natural ones free of preservatives."