Nahla’s Story
Seeking Stillness Amid War, Worry, & Family Strain
At 53, Nahla has weathered a lifetime of conflict and emotional hardship. A Lebanese woman married to a Syrian man, she was forced to return to Lebanon when war broke out in Syria. Now living in her parents’ home in Bar Elias, she faces financial difficulty, family tension, and the emotional toll of displacement.
For Nahla, our Women’s Center offers not just programs — but space to breathe. Away from home, she finds moments of peace, sisterhood, and physical relief through yoga. It’s here she escapes the stress of household conflict and reconnects with herself.
“Coming to the center helped me get away from the problems I face at home. Practicing yoga helps me release negative energy and provides psychological comfort.” — says Nahla.
When she’s here, she feels a world away from the arguments and pressures of home. She dreams of returning to Syria, where her husband owns land and a home — a place where they could live with dignity.
Living in Lebanon as a woman, Nahla shares, comes with its own struggles:
“It’s difficult. Women here are not very independent. We’re affected by what people say, and many of us can’t act freely — because we’re afraid of how society will judge us.”
And with the ongoing war between Lebanon and Israel, her fears run even deeper:
“We Lebanese are used to war. I lived through the Beirut war, the invasion, and the Syrian war. But now… I fear for my children. That fear is what affects me the most.”
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