Being young, disabled refugee women in Lebanon
It is not easy to be a teenager in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. Especially if you suffer a disability or illness, which makes you even more vulnerable. Such is the case of Doa'a Zidani, 18, who, because of her disabilities (she suffers from sensitive handicap, deaf and dump), has long remained confined at home, prey to their lack of confidence and fear of others. Despite starting his studies at a school in the refugee camp, she had to leave because of the inadequate infrastructure and equipment of the center to her disability.
Nor has it been an easy childhood and adolescence for H.H. Prevented from the presence of their parents, the 18-year-old girl lives alone with her grandfather and her aunt (who did not allow her to do any kind of work or activity) in an environment of extreme poverty, which some time ago led her to suffer a depression.
Some complex lives of two young men which reflect the situation in many young Palestinian refugees in Lebanon live every day. People who, as disabled or ill young people, represent the most vulnerable among the vulnerable.
In order to alleviate this need, the Movement for Peace –MPDL-, along with seven local organizations, is developing a number of projects aimed at meeting the needs (medical, surgical, psychological, educational, etc.). both of youth and of their families.
A job as complex as gratifying whose results are clearly visible: after analyzing the cases of Doa'a and H.H. the organizations began to work together with the two young women and their families, Doa’a and H.H. were able to participate in different vocational training courses (hairdresser, in the case of Doa'a, and assistant nurse, in the case of HH). Something that has dramatically improved the self-confidence of these girls, their relationship with the environment and a sense of autonomy and ability to face the future with greater opportunities.
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