Jun, 2025
Youth Trainees Bring Eid Joy to Displaced Families in South Lebanon
This program is supported by UNICEF.
As Eid approached this year, it brought with it the ache of displacement for thousands of families in the areas impacted by the recent war. War has forced many from their homes, stripping away not only physical shelter but also the traditions and simple joys that make holidays feel whole.
Still, amid hardship, community and compassion persist, sewn together, quite literally, through an innovative project linking emergency support with economic empowerment.
With support from UNICEF, 18 youth were employed in the production of 1,000 eid clothing kits that were distributed by ANERA to displaced and vulnerable children and youth, aged 3 months to 24 years, across the impacted regions. The bright new outfits were not just donations. They were the result of careful sewing, stitching, pressing, and packaging by young trainees enrolled in the UNICEF supported cash-for-work tailoring program with ANERA; youth who, like the recipients, are navigating a future shaped by displacement and uncertainty
"A Simple Thing That Brings Happiness"
Azza, 18, fled Syria years ago and had recently settled in southern Lebanon when she was forced to flee again. “It is painful to have been displaced twice, once from Syria and then again from southern Lebanon,” she said. But finding the sewing course in Saida felt like a new beginning.
“When I heard about this course, I signed up right away because I love sewing, and it could become my future profession,” she explained. “It was a great opportunity, not only because it is paid work, but also because we are preparing Eid clothes for displaced children. It may be a simple thing, but it brings them so much happiness.
Trainees like Azza received a $600 stipend for the 40-day work, a meaningful income boost for vulnerable youth often excluded from the labor market. But the benefits extend beyond a paycheck. Through the program, they gain hands-on experience, develop professional skills, and discover the power of their own contributions.
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"It was a great opportunity, not only because it is paid work, but also because we are preparing Eid clothes for displaced children."
A Gift of Joy
Mohammad, 21, a Palestinian trainee in the program, says the project gave him more than technical skills. “When I heard about the course, I registered right away with my friend, especially after learning that we would be making Eid clothes for children,” he shared. “During the war, we could not help or volunteer, so this was our opportunity. The course gave us practical, paid training, but most importantly, it allowed us to take part in bringing joy to children.”
That joy is deeply felt by parents in the shelters where the clothes were delivered.
“We have been displaced in this area for two years now, and we cannot return home because the war completely destroyed our house,” said Silva, a mother of five from Kfarkela. “Eid no longer feels the same as it did when we were in our home, but small things like these new clothes bring smiles to my children’s faces. It may seem like a small gesture, but it fills their hearts with joy.”
Another mother, Zeinab, now living in Adayseh, shared a similar reflection: “We are tired of this situation. My husband lost his job because we lost everything in our village. What matters most is that my children are safe, and I am so grateful that generous people continue to support us. These new clothes will make my children very happy.”
"These new clothes will make my children very happy."
The entire process, from design to delivery, was shaped with sustainability and dignity in mind. The project not only met urgent humanitarian needs but also created jobs and empowered young people to give back to their communities.
For Mahmoud, a shelter coordinator displaced from Adayseh, the significance of these clothes extends beyond their fabric. “Most of the displaced here are without work, and it is very difficult to cover all our needs, especially now that we rely on aid,” he said. “Even the smallest gift or gesture, like these new clothes ahead of Eid, means a lot to us.”
More Than Aid
This initiative is more than a clothing distribution. It’s a testament to what happens when humanitarian relief is designed to uplift communities from within, offering opportunity, pride, and the chance to contribute.
Youth like Azza and Mohammad are gaining not just experience, but a renewed sense of purpose. Parents like Silva and Zeinab are witnessing their children light up with joy, even in times of displacement. And together, they are weaving a stronger, more dignified future; one stitch, one smile, one small gesture at a time.
Lebanon
South Governorate
The South Governorate of Lebanon is a beautiful place with white beaches, archeological ruins, bustling old souks, fertile fields of citrus and banana trees, and a deep history. Its residents are from different religions: Shia and Sunni Muslims, Druze, Eastern Orthodox, Maronite, Protestant, and Greek Catholic Christians. Its biggest cities are also the third and fourth largest in the country, Saida and Tyre.
