Sisterhood psychological support to women in Gaza, Beirut

Al Hayat newspaper featured today an enthralling program within the ‘Challenge to Change’ platform aimed at raising awareness on mental illness among women in the Middle East region through mentoring workshops to enable women to transform challenges into positive opportunities. The newspaper interviewed the mastermind behind the Big Sister/ Little Sister program, Dina Bseiso, who said that the program targets young women affected by conflict in the region or those who face emotional challenges that had detrimental effect on their lives. The said program, Bseiso explained, has opened in Gaza and Beirut, as women in these two areas are distressed by armed conflict and lack the social and economic environment needed for their mental health. Bseiso explained that the program shows young women how to build their self-esteem to overcome obstacles and be able to realize what they want to see in their lives. She pointed out that the structured personal growth program seeks to connect experienced professional Arab women with young Arab women (ages 18-25) who may benefit from guidance, couching and counseling. The program, Beiso expounded, is based on an interactive network of big and little sisters according to specific standards of selection. Like for example, the big sister is preferably an Arab woman with 10-year work experience and achieved accomplishments. Whereas, the little sister, is a university student or fresh graduate who is curious to partake in the program and has the desire to receive the support and empowerment she seeks. (Al Hayat, March 16, 2017)