In the words of Salma: “Most people laughed when they heard I was learning carpentry. But I said: Why not?”

Salma attending to carpentry in Zgharta, northern Lebanon. Photo: UN Women / Salma El Douaihy.

Salma El Douaihy, 63, comes from Zgharta in northern Lebanon (about 90 km from Beirut). A former public school teacher and grandmother of four, last year she became one of many women to join the cash-for-work carpentry initiative at Al Manchara through the UN Women-supported project “Women’s Economic Empowerment through Leadership, Empowerment, Access and Protection” (LEAP), implemented in partnership with arcenciel and with generous funding from the Government of Australia.

For Salma, carpentry was never about learning a new skill, it was about making home repairs and strengthening her household’s resilience. The project also combined safety training with psychosocial support and employability workshops. Over time, participants crafted small wooden pieces, repaired household furniture, and even helped rehabilitate 20 houses belonging to vulnerable families in Beirut.

“I grew up in a small neighborhood in Zgharta where carpentry was a very popular trade, but of course, amongst men only. I enjoyed watching carpenters in their workshops, crafting everything from a wooden chair to an entire dining room. Living in such a vibrant ‘carpentry’ area, their skill fascinated me, and I wanted to learn more. When I learned about this training opportunity last summer, I did not hesitate. With soaring repair costs and limited income, I saw carpentry as both a way to save money on household maintenance and to contribute directly to my family’s self-reliance.

At first, the workshop was daunting: loud, big machines, sharp tools, and seasoned male carpenters watching skeptically. But the trainers were patient and encouraging. They taught us how to drill, fix cupboard doors, glue, and clamp wood. These may seem like small things, but they are so useful in daily life.

Many laughed at the idea of women doing carpentry. Even one of the professional carpenters doubted us. But later, he admitted women can work with incredible precision, sometimes more than men. That really moved me deeply.

We learned how to read blueprints, use drills, fix hinges, and build furniture. One of the most memorable moments came during a house rehabilitation. The house belonged to a woman from a vulnerable background. We helped assemble a closet in her bedroom and repair chairs. It felt so good to contribute to something meaningful.

A woman in carpentry training practices furniture assembly at Al Manchara. Photo: UN Women / Nour Abdul Reda

I may not plan to open a carpentry shop at this stage in my life, but the training gave me a true sense of independence. With the carpentry kit I received at the end of the project, I can now carry out repairs at home. Even my husband borrows my tools for his painting work. More than skills, I found purpose, a safe space in the midst of conflict, friendships, and confidence. We became like a family.”

Salma’s journey is one of many. Through the LEAP project, 246 women across Lebanon received emergency livelihood assistance, including 89 women who accessed cash-for-work and training opportunities, and 157 who received one-time cash support to sustain their families during the conflict. Through the carpentry initiative, women engaged in community kitchens and other reprogrammed activities in response to the outbreak of war in 2024, prepared over 98,000 hot meals, and distributed 1,000 hygiene kits to more than 2,000 women and girls across the Bekaa, Beirut, and South Lebanon.