There are currently 1.5 million Syrian people living as refugees in Lebanon. Having fled violent atrocities at home, they now face new challenges in an unfamiliar country: families have been torn apart, living conditions are poor, and opportunities for income are scarce. However, one Syrian woman is fighting the odds, running a successful business next to the tented settlement where she lives.
Bushra has been living in Lebanon for around eight years, five of which have been in a tented settlement with her two children, 11-year-old Nadia* and seven-year-old Abdul*, and her mum Dalia*. Her husband is still in Syria, meaning she is the sole breadwinner for her family.
“It is difficult being a refugee in a new country,” she said. “You are so used to having your whole family around you, and then suddenly things change. You are on your own – with no husband to support you. It’s really hard when you find yourself the one responsible for caring for your family in a new country, living in a tent.”
Bushra has been supporting her family by skilfully running a business for the past year.
Last year, Bushra received business training and a start-up grant from Concern. She has since been running a grocery shop, selling beans, spices, lentils and sweets, among other things, to both Lebanese and Syrian people.
In the current economic climate, it is not easy to run a successful business in most places – and Lebanon is no different. The country’s economic crisis has increased costs and many have lost their jobs meaning they are buying less, having a knock-on effect on businesses. However, this hasn’t stopped Bushra.
One of the things Bushra tells us she learnt on the training is that reaching your goal can be tough, and yet with a business-savvy mind-set, she is making it work.
Bushra began small and built up her business over the following months. One problem she faced was fitting out the shop with shelves – not wanting to leave her stock in bags on the floor where they could get damp; she instead wanted to display what she had for sale.