In a country where conflict and instability have left deep scars,Jeanette Frangieh stands as a beacon of hope,resilience,and unwavering commitment to helping those in need. As the founder and director of Himaya Daem Aata,based in Zgharta,she has spent her life working to protect and empower vulnerable communities. Now,with the immense escalation of violence in Lebanon,her mission has taken on a new sense of urgency.
For the better part of her life,Jeanette has witnessed the brutal cycles of war that have plagued Lebanon. Yet,time and again,she has refused to be bowed by despair. From the Lebanese Civil War to the 2006 conflict,and now,as violence reignites,Jeanette has remained proactive,leading by example in the face of adversity. “At the end of the day”,she says,“it is the moment when you help a person in need that you are a real and true human being.” This philosophy,deeply embedded in her actions,reflects the heart of her work,offering support where it is most desperately needed,even in the darkest times.
Since the latest escalation,Jeanette and her team of dedicated young volunteers at Himaya Daem Aata have been working tirelessly to provide relief to inteally displaced people (IDPs). Families fleeing the violence arrive in Zgharta with little more than the clothes on their backs,and Jeanette’s organisation has become a lifeline for them. The team provides food parcels,blankets and cleaning items on a daily basis,meeting the overwhelming demand with limited resources. “We launched our appeal and are writing proposals for emergency funds,” Jeanette shares. “Demand is very high,and resources are very limited.”
Despite these challenges,Jeanette’s efforts go beyond just addressing immediate physical needs. She knows all too well that the wounds of war are not only exteal. The psychological toll is immense,especially on children and their caregivers,traumatised by the constant bombardment. “People can’t sleep; they can’t hear a single sound without being triggered,” she explains. “The same things we experienced after the Beirut blast are happening now.”
Himaya Daem Aata has made mental health support a priority,offering both individual and group psychosocial care. In an attempt to help children and their families relieve some pressure,Jeanette has also organised sports activities,moments of distraction in a landscape defined by stress and anxiety. “This is well-being,” she says,emphasising the importance of mental and emotional care as much as physical survival.
Every day,her organisation serves between 100 and 150 hot meals,providing not only sustenance but a sense of normalcy and dignity to those who have lost almost everything. This dedication to community care has long shaped Jeanette’s work and is a reflection of a deeper tradition that runs through the fabric of Lebanese society – a culture of helping one another in times of need. “We are passing on this sense of community,” Jeanette notes,“which has shaped the identity of the Lebanese [people] for many years.” In Lebanon,solidarity is not just an ideal; it is a survival mechanism,one that has enabled the people to endure war after war,crisis after crisis.
As Jeanette looks to the future,her message is clear: We need an immediate and permanent ceasefire. The suffering caused by this ongoing violence is too great,and it is only by coming together that we can survive these difficult times. Until peace is achieved,people like Jeanette will continue to embody the true spirit of humanity,standing firm in their resolve to help others,to strengthen resilience in their communities,and to never give up hope.
With every blanket distributed,every meal shared,and every child comforted,Jeanette’s work serves as a reminder that in times of crisis,the strength of our humanity is measured not by what we endure,but by what we do to lift each other up.