{"id":807,"date":"2020-03-19T12:29:41","date_gmt":"2020-03-19T12:29:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/acdzgharta.org\/?page_id=807"},"modified":"2022-03-17T14:52:59","modified_gmt":"2022-03-17T11:52:59","slug":"made-in-zgharta","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/acdzgharta.org\/?page_id=807","title":{"rendered":"Crafts Development"},"content":{"rendered":"

Association for charity and development (ACD) in collaboration with the Lebanese foundation for permanent civil peace (LFPCP), within the program of Qudurat el Chamal, implemented by GIZ and under UDP_NL program, funded by European Union and Germany, launched a new project in April 2021 about \u201cenhance social cohesion through cultural exchange and empowerment for handcrafters and entrepreneurs\u201d.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Project Objectives:\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Our Project is about enhancing the social cohesion between Zgharta caza youth through cultural exchange and empowerment.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

A cohesive society can be understand as a society that strives for social inclusion and builds up the necessary social capital to create a common sense of belonging, and as a place where prospects exist for upward social mobility. Conceptually poverty reduction and sustaining long-term growth (growth sustainability) will have impact on social cohesion.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The country is facing daily challenges due to political differences and the severe deterioration of the purchasing power. These challenges are risking the increase of tensions between its members.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Artisans, especially women are struggling economically in marketing their products. Many of the artisans are force to quit their professions and look for other sources of income due to high competition and severe economic crisis in the country. Without the support of the local CSO, handicrafts sector in Zgharta like all other regions will not survive the economic crisis with the low governmental support.<\/p>\n

Handcrafts are very symbolic and could help the youth exchange their cultures and\u00a0increase their sense of belonging and patriotism. In addition to, a study done in 2015<\/a> and after creating a booklet for the artisans in that time. we understood crafters struggles very well. and that brought us back to recreate a full project that enhance crafters in the caza while facing this economic crisis.\u00a0Unfortunately,\u00a0the handcrafters are facing the following challenges:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Lack of knowledge in the needs of the market\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Low quality designs and finishing\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. Lack of knowledge and skills in branding & packaging\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n
  4. High production cost\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n
  5. Lack of social media literacy and basic knowhow of digital age marketing<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In this particularly worsening economic crisis coupled with the disastrous effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, handcrafters in Zgharta are in urgent need of support \u201cto keep their head above the water\u201d. Our project proposes to enhance social cohesion between the villages of Zgharta-Caza and north Lebanon by supporting the handcrafts community in a rescue initiative for a fragile sector on the verge of a definitive collapse. The initiatives consist of improving the capacities of the handcrafters in 52 villages, while creating a chain and community between them to support each and get organize collectively through a platform for increased exposure and visibility as well as sales.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0II.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Project activities:\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

    The activities and the deliverables that were provide to enhance the social cohesion between artisans and entrepreneurs while insisting on the exchange culture between artisans and entrepreneurs are listed as below:<\/p>\n

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