Tahaddi Lebanon

Tahaddi is a Lebanese non-governmental organization dedicated to standing with families facing extreme economic hardship. Since its beginnings, Tahaddi has sought to provide support using a community-based and holistic approach through education, healthcare, mental health and psychosocial services, and livelihood opportunities that empower children, youth, and families to build brighter futures.

Based in the informal settlement of Hay El Gharbeh in southern Beirut, Tahaddi serves some of the most vulnerable members of society. Our priority is the community itself, offering support to all families and individuals in need, regardless of their background. With steadfast commitment, Tahaddi works to challenge injustice, break down barriers, and open pathways toward dignity, opportunity, and hope.

Tahaddi is rooted in Hay El Gharbeh, an informal settlement in southern Beirut where thousands of families live in extremely difficult conditions. The neighborhood is marked by overcrowded housing, fragile infrastructure, limited access to healthcare and education, and widespread unemployment. Many residents also lack official documentation, which restricts their rights and perpetuates cycles of poverty and exclusion.

Among them is the Dom community, a Lebanese ethnic minority that has long faced discrimination and social marginalization. Too often referred to by pejorative terms such as nawar, ghajar, or gypsies, the Dom have been denied equal opportunities in education, healthcare, and employment. For some families, the absence of formal citizenship papers continues to reinforce intergenerational poverty.

Yet, Hay El Gharbeh is also a place of resilience and solidarity. Families show remarkable creativity in making ends meet, children play in narrow alleyways with laughter and hope, and neighbors support one another in times of need. It is this spirit of strength in the face of adversity that inspires Tahaddi’s work.

From its earliest days, Tahaddi has grown alongside the people of Hay El Gharbeh. Our programs are shaped by the community’s lived reality, with local residents, including members of the Dom community, actively contributing as instructors, class assistants, secretaries, and health assistants. By walking hand in hand with the community, Tahaddi ensures that its response goes beyond meeting urgent needs; it also nurtures long-term dignity, opportunity, and hope for future generations.