Gharsah Association: Syrian Refugees Empowering Communities Amid Marginalization

Gharsah Association was founded and established in the Beqaa district of Lebanon in 2014 by a group of Syrian activists and multidisciplinary professionals wishing to contribute to alleviating the multiple hardships of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.  The organization focused on educational, psychosocial, and civic empowerment for children, adolescents, and women. It began as an initiative in a tent within a camp in Beqaa and has since expanded into a center located in Marj, in the Western Beqaa area.

In addition to offering alternative education for children and empowerment programs for Syrian women, Gharsah provides knowledge about sexual and reproductive health, rights, and leadership skills. In later stages, Gharsah helps women build skills to improve their job prospects. Over the past few years, it has worked with approximately 240 children and around 500 women and young girls.

Identifying as a civic initiative led by women, it operates with limited resources rather than as a formal institution. It has a team of 15 people, with different administrative and executive roles, 80% of whom are women. The work is highly participative, with team members collectively discussing and forming stances on various issues.

Building Community Collaboration to Counter Political Hate Speech Against Syrian Refugees

In the past two years, Gharsah adopted a strategy of working alongside local communities that welcome Syrian refugees in Beqaa’s villages. “What we do is, with Syrians and locals from the villages, we look at the needs of the villages and help fill the void,” explains Ola AlJoundi, one of Gharsah’s first founders, whom I had the opportunity to speak with.

For example, Gharsah supports local clinics in the villages where its members reside, assists in raising funds to address health needs, and helps meet various needs within the local communities. AlJoundi emphasizes that “we think more of locals than governmental bodies,” as the initiative cooperates directly with local people rather than through government entities, helping create a grassroots solidarity movement between Syrians and local communities.

When asked why Gharsah decided to build a collaborative strategy with local communities, AlJoundi explains that racism often originates from media narratives and political elite rhetoric rather than from grassroots society itself. While racism exists everywhere, she argues it is the exception rather than the norm. For her, racism is often fueled by the media and sectarian political parties. With their work, Gharsah aims to highlight the solidarity that can exist between locals and refugees, rejecting divisive political hate speech that encourages insecurity.

AlJoundi stresses the importance of fighting this rhetoric “through common work.” The recent economic crisis has affected both Syrians and Lebanese alike, making it essential to join forces. “We are part of society; we see its problems, and we respond to this collectively,” she adds. “We take a feminist approach that integrates social and political perspectives,” says AlJoundi, describing the initiative’s focus on women’s empowerment in local communities.

Adapting Gharsah’s Mission in Response to the Ongoing War and Displacement

Since the recent escalation of war in Lebanon, Gharsah’s team in Beqaa has adapted its work to address emerging needs. “Since the beginning of the escalation, and even beforehand, we have been encouraging local communities to prepare by storing food, medications, and other essentials, as we sensed that the war might spread across Lebanon.,” says AlJoundi.

Initially, Gharsah believed displaced Syrian refugees from southern Lebanon would face the same conditions as displaced Lebanese. However, they soon discovered that official shelters were not welcoming Syrian refugees. In response, Gharsah created a small emergency fund to support those affected by displacement.

To address the crisis, Gharsah employed various strategies: it rented homes specifically for displaced Syrians from the south and briefly opened its center in Beqaa to displaced families. While the government eventually designated specific locations as official shelters, Gharsah was not included, which required its closure.

Gharsah subsequently redirected its efforts toward relief, providing food and other essentials to people in official shelters. The association also adapted its existing programs to address the displacement crisis, providing psychosocial support to Syrians in Beqaa affected by trauma, as well as to team members impacted by the ongoing war. Psychologists and social workers now provide mental health support to impacted individuals.

Navigating Family Fragmentation and Enforced Disappearances in Syria

Since the escalation, around 300,000 Syrians have returned to Syria, escaping the war in Lebanon with strikes killing at least 207 Syrians as of late September 2024, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

As shelters prioritize displaced Lebanese nationals, and xenophobia rises, Syrians are left with few options, often feeling compelled to go back to Syria. Since the beginning of the escalation, 23 Syrian refugees have been arrested upon their return to Syria. Families have been fragmented by the situation, with some men remaining in Lebanon while their wives and children go back to Syria. In some cases, women are afraid to return due to fears of enforced disappearance and sexual violence.

Although Gharsah does not actively monitor this issue, they are aware of the devastating impact the war has had on Syrian families. In every war, the impact on families—particularly on women—is often neglected, affecting mental health, family unity, and socio-economic stability. This occurs amid calls from some European & Lebanese leaders who argue that Syria is now safe for returns, pushing for forced return.

In response, several human rights organizations continue to call the UNHCR to maintain its position that Syria remains unsafe for returns and continue monitoring the harsh conditions facing Syrians compelled to flee back.