In search of a better life, Anne*, a Benin national, first came to Lebanon with the help of an employment agency. Unfortunately, in her first job as a domestic worker she was mistreated, and made to endure sexual and verbal harassment from the men living in the household. Unable to continue in such conditions, Anne escaped and returned to Benin. Remaining hopeful, Anne came back to Beirut soon after, changing employers several times before finally finding an employer who treated her fairly.
On her days off, Anne would often visit a community center run by Anti-Racism Movement (ARM), a Lebanese NGO—and UN Women partner—fighting racial discrimination and abuse in Beirut. The center, one of several, was designed as a place to network and build a community away from home. For Anne, the center was a space for self-improvement and for connecting with her friends. “I took English classes and we used to go on trips. I loved it, especially at Christmas,” she remembers.