Vision
A Constructive Society that Lives with Dignity.
Founded by refugees, for refugees
A Constructive Society That Lives With Dignity
Basmeh & Zeitooneh is a co-led relief and development organization responding to the acute needs of displaced and host communities.
Our History
From a grassroots relief operation to an established refugee-led organization.
Our work is rooted in community trust, proximity, and lived understanding.
Basmeh & Zeitooneh started as a grassroots organization in 2012 when a group of volunteers in Lebanon – driven by the plight of displaced communities – began a small relief operation. Today, Basmeh & Zeitooneh has grown into one of the largest and most established refugee-led relief organizations, responding to the acute needs of both the displaced and their host communities.
We’re proud to be founded by refugees, for refugees. It is what sets our work and us apart, and gives us a deeper understanding of the community we serve. As part of the community, we understand its unique, ever-evolving, needs and challenges. We are also positioned close enough to respond swiftly when new challenges arise.
Our interventions are co-designed alongside participants and adapted with their input and the trust and credibility we have built over eleven years gives us access few others have.
Mission
Basmeh & Zeitooneh is a co-led relief and development organization responding to the acute needs of displaced and host communities to help people reclaim dignity and agency over their lives.
Programmatic Pillars
Six connected pillars guiding our work.
While each pillar offers distinct impact for both individuals and communities, they are intimately connected.
01Peacebuilding
02Education
03Protection
04Food Security and Livelihood
05Civil Society Enablement
06Research & Advocacy
Working with communities, not only for them.
Our interventions are shaped alongside participants, adapted through their input, and strengthened by years of trust and credibility.