03 Oct 2025 Refugee woman and girls in Lebanon use media to tell their stories
In the bustling alleys of Mar Elias, a Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon, a quiet revolution is unfolding.
For decades, the voices of Palestinian refugee women and girls, along with migrant women, have been absent from Lebanon’s media landscape, says Farah Salka, co-director of the Anti-Racism Movement (ARM), a WACC partner in the country.
“When they are represented, it is often through harmful stereotypes – portrayed as victims, criminals, or outsiders.”
But now, thanks to Kayani Studio, a transformative project accompanied by ARM and supported by WACC, these women are reclaiming their narratives and challenging the status quo.
Launched in December 2023, Kayani Studio has empowered Palestinian and Syrian refugee and migrant women and girls by equipping them with the skills to produce their own media content and advocate for their rights.
The project is a collaborative initiative between ARM, the Kayani for Palestinian Females Project, and the Institute of Media Research and Training at the Lebanese American University (LAU). DanChurchAid has provided co-funding.
A space for storytelling
Kayani Studio was born out of a pressing need. Palestinian refugee women and girls, who have endured displacement and discrimination since the Nakba (Arabic for “catastrophe”) of 1948, are rarely given a platform to share their stories.
Similarly, migrant women in Lebanon, many of whom work under the exploitative Kafala system that ties migrant workers’ residency status to a specific employer, are often silenced or misrepresented in the media.
Kayani Studio sought to change this by creating a safe space where these women could learn, create, and amplify their voices.
“Before this project, I felt like my story didn’t matter,” said a Palestinian refugee girl who participated in the program. “But now, I have the tools to tell my story and the confidence to share it with the world.”
Building skills, building confidence
The project centered around a series of capacity-building workshops on the fundamentals of media production and strategic communication.
Over the course of a year, the participants learned how to shoot, edit, and produce high-quality videos. They also received training in media monitoring, enabling them to analyze how refugee and migrant women are portrayed in Lebanese media and advocate for more ethical representation.
One of the most impactful outcomes of the project was the production of eight short videos, created entirely by the participants. The videos, which focus on issues related to women, peace, and security, were screened at community events and shared on social media.
“The videos were powerful because they were authentic,” said Dr Gretchen King, a community media expert and professor at LAU. “They showed the resilience and strength of these women, challenging the stereotypes that have been perpetuated for so long.”
Unexpected outcomes and lasting impact
As well as amplifying the voices of Palestinian refugee and migrant women in Lebanon, the project led to other positive outcomes – unexpected outcomes.
Collaboration sprang up between Palestinian refugee women and migrant women, who came together to share their experiences and support one another.
“We realized that we have so much in common,” said Bayan, a Palestinian refugee and participant. “By working together, we were able to amplify our voices and create something truly powerful.”
The project also had a ripple effect beyond the direct participants. Their families report feeling inspired by the work being done at Kayani Studio, and other women and men in Mar Elias camp have begun to take an interest in media production.
A legacy of empowerment
The project’s impact is undeniable, says Salka, noting that Kayani Studio has not only equipped women and girls with valuable skills but also given them a platform that enables them to use those skills to be seen and heard.
“More than just a media production space, Kayani Studio has become a beacon of hope for marginalized refugee and migrant women in Lebanon. By amplifying their voices, the project has taken a crucial step toward achieving gender equality and promoting communication rights for all.”
Photo: Screengrab from the short video “Roaa’s Dream: A Room of Her Own” produced in the Kayani Studio project.
WACC works in partnership with the Anti-Racism Movement and other communication rights and sustainable development organizations worldwide through its Communication for All Program (CAP), with support from Bread for the World-Germany.
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