Shatila Studio

Shatila Studio is a social enterprise supporting 100 refugee women artisans living in Shatila Camp in Beirut. Refugees are not allowed to be employed in Lebanon, and to tackle this issue, we train the women on several types of embroidery and crochet to create and deliver uniquely crafted artisanal products, which we help them sell in local markets in Lebanon to provide them with monthly salaries to sustain themselves and their families. 

We want to help these women reach a global audience and customers by using e-commerce technologies and digital marketing tools, to open new markets for them. The studio is also managed by refugee women, who receive technical training in project management, accounting, and Photoshop.

This solution is quite versatile, lending itself to execution in any geography, as it is based on a set of skills, which artisans can acquire in different placements.  

Tucked into southern Beirut is Shatila Refugee Camp. Initially built in 1948 to accommodate 3,000 Palestinian refugees, it now houses an estimated 40,000 people – mostly Syrians who fled civil war. Beyond being displaced, and living in one of the most densely populated places in the world (Shatila Camp is roughly 1km wide), those that call the camp home are restricted from working, and a lot of them have skills that they cannot use in Lebanon, due to restrictions on refugee employment. 

The value we bring to each employee, to Shatila Camp, to Lebanon, to the global artisan market, to displaced persons, and to customers will positively contribute to at least nine of the seventeen U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

he global handicraft market was valued at $583.4 billion in 2018 and is projected to grow year-over- year an average of 11% through 2023. By the end of 2023, the global handicraft market is projected to reach nearly $1 trillion.

Our solution is the creation of a bridge between the community we serve and the world through artisanal embroidery products, using modern day e-commerce and digital marketing tools to highlight the stories of refugee beneficiaries, and showcase their bespoke hand-made products, all while procuring an income for them and providing them with psycho-social support. 

Our solution strives to break the traditional charity model and change the standard aid setup, by creating and promoting a platform for young women artists from a refugee camp. Shatila Studio employs tens of women from Shatila camp to make embroidered bags, scarves, pillows, and dolls. Originally inspired by the beautiful geometric patterns of Palestinian embroidery. 

Today the women produce products that use every kind of embroidery stitch allowing them to be able to create and infinite amount of products and designs. Working in Shatila Studio, these women are provided a fair wage and a chance to provide an income for their families.

The refugee crisis is one of the most critical global challenges. We are creating job opportunities for more than 100 refugee women and their families, who live in one of the most densely populated places in the world. Our solution will enable them to provide for themselves to lead constructive lives with dignity by marketing their artisanal products to reach global markets, which will generate income for these women.