• News

    “After surviving the horrors of war for nine years, all that time fighting for peace, human rights, and democracy for the Syrian people, it is this pandemic that frightens me the most.” These are the words of Rajaa Altalli, a Syrian women’s rights activist, and co-founder and co-director of Hivos partner the Center for Civil […]

    March 27, 2020
  • News

    The estimates depend on whom you ask, but one thing is certain. Since the start of the Syrian war in 2011, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed and wounded. Millions more have had to leave everything behind, including family, in search of safety. As international power blocks fight to secure their own interests […]

    January 16, 2020
  • News

    Little Reed Farmhouse, a company supported by Hivos’ ARC program, was highlighted during a donor field visit. A perfect moment for Elissa Cortas, owner of Little Reed, to present her company and introduce the women cooks that have come to play such an important role in the community. The ARC (Addressing Root Causes) program is […]

    October 17, 2019
  • News

    This year’s annual Women Empowered for Leadership conference brought participants from Jordan, Lebanon, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Netherlands to Amman, Jordan to reflect and learn from our experiences. For example, what the main lessons should be, which strategies have worked, and how to further improve the situation of women in leadership positions. The conference […]

    October 10, 2019
  • story

    Helping Egyptian youth turn their passion into income

    “Every time I hear ‘If you left Tanta you’d have a much better life,’ I refuse. Why do we have to live in Cairo – or even abroad – to earn a decent living? I want the same opportunities for more disadvantaged places like my town.”

  • blog

    How Hivos is helping them in their battle for peace, rights, and inclusion Last July, I attended a conference on women’s rights in Syria organized by Hivos and its partners. To some it may sound strange to focus on women’s rights in a country being torn apart by a civil war. Because if you ask […]

    August 21, 2019
  • story

    Dare to dream

    Even though ISIS’ army has now been defeated, hundreds of Yazidi women are still in temporary relief camps in northern Iraq. “I want to share my story with the rest of the world, because everyone should know what happened to us. I am not just a victim. I am a mother who wants to face the past, move forward, and create a future for myself and my children.”

  • story

    Decoding Lebanese legalese

    Our work takes us to Lebanon, where inspiring partners like SEEDS continue to fight for sexual and bodily rights despite conservative forces. “In a country where police regularly stage raids on LGBTI+ events, SEEDS is a much-needed legal initiative.”

  • News

    Little Reed, an eco-friendly restaurant in a Lebanese farmhouse, is all ready for its new season. In partnership with Hivos and Alliance 2015, this idyllic spot is generating job opportunities for a growing number of women and youth. Surrounded by an organic farm, Little Reed is a weekend buffet restaurant that caters to tourists exploring […]

    June 19, 2019
  • News

    Are you a Tunisian artist or content creator? Are you passionate about storytelling and its ability to spark important conversations? Apply today to co-create an upcoming digital advocacy campaign with Hivos and Chouf which will address the issue of gender-based violence in Tunisia. Call for artists (pdf in English and French) For this campaign, we […]

    May 16, 2019
  • News

    In 1943, Lebanese nationalists took to the streets to demand the release of the first post-independence Lebanese president and other political figures who had been imprisoned under the French Mandate. Among the protestors were many women. They were fighting for Lebanon’s independence even though the union they belonged to, which was pushing to acknowledge women […]

    May 9, 2019