Expressive Arts based Psychosocial intervention

On August 4th 2020, in the midst of a pandemic and a severe economic collapse, a massive explosion in the Beirut port injured thousands of people, left more than 300,000 people without a home and caused the death of more than 200 citizens from different backgrounds and nationalities. Many shops, restaurants and offices were destroyed, and many people thus suddenly lost their property and livelihoods. The devastating incident took place at a time when people in Lebanon are already struggling with hyperinflation, the Covid-19 pandemic, lack of medicine and medical equipment, shortage of electricity and a threat of famine. Before the explosion, 75% of the population were estimated to be in need of humanitarian aid – the situation now is dramatically worsened by the destruction caused by the explosion - as it further exacerbated these crises, overwhelming traumatized residents.

SHiFT Social Innovation Hub, a Tripoli-based local NGO, responded to the emergency situation in Beirut by putting together all its capacities and resources and launching the #TogetherForBeirut initiative that has mobilized over 100 volunteers and helped among other things clear rubble from almost 300 homes or business spaces and conduct over 90 Psycho-social support visits.

Based on an assessment done by MSF Lebanon, “people’s trauma has been triggered again by several incidents, for instance when a fire broke out at the port, close to the location of the explosion, in September. These events come on top of an acute economic and financial crisis, which has left people struggling to provide for their families, as well as political instability in Lebanon.” From here we believe this project is highly needed intervention since people are not recovered yet from all the pressuring factors on mental health level. Shifts’ team has been working on the ground since the 4th of August and till now they have been dealing with a huge need on a mental health level that needs to be addressed.

The intervention will take place over a period of 10 months in Beirut aiming to work with individuals including children and vulnerable groups such as refugees, migrants and impoverished Lebanese that were affected by the Beirut Blast through a psychosocial support intervention based on their individual needs. This intervention will be focused on Mar Mkhael and the surrounding areas. The intervention is an Expressive Arts based intervention, in which the facilitators would be utilizing artistic methods and approaches.

SHiFT is looking for a senior facilitator with an extensive experience in leading group processes and in Mental health and psychosocial support to conduct Art based psychosocial support intervention with a group of 10 residents in Beirut over the course of 8 weeks. The program will include 8 sessions, 3.5 hours per session, once a week.