“Women's potential in boosting the economy is great. They should be acknowledged as standing equally beside men, not behind them!”

— Diana Fadel, Founder & President of Fondation Diane

8/8 Women "Change Maker" Union in Times of Crises

Fondation Diane Calls for Women’s Solidarity and Organizes the Roundtable Discussion

In the occasion of the International Women’s Day, “Fondation Diane” organized a roundtable discussion: “8/8 Women Change Makers: Union in Times of Crises”. The event took place at Saint Joseph University (USJ) - Campus de l'Innovation et du Sport (CIS), gathered men and women, and representatives of institutions, associations and organizations that believe in the effective role of women in society and their cause. The event featured interesting interventions and discussions from 8 prominent figures of women empowerment: Diana Sfeir Fadel, Ali Khalife, May El Khalil, Madiha Raslan, Michel El Helou, Sarah El Yafi, Tracy Chamoun and Joellle Abu Farhat.

This event falls within the mission of “Fondation Diane” that is to promote civic awareness and active citizenship on the one hand, and achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on the other. Through this initiative, the foundation contributes to the implementation of its fifth goal (SDG5) which calls for “achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.”

Press Release: english: bit.ly/3EBMmMh | arabic: bit.ly/3MqdHUJ | french: bit.ly/3Mi09dN
Tele Liban interview: bit.ly/3ECDiq
Wikalat Anbaa Al Maraa interview: bit.ly/3Mo9TD
Sanaa TV interview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1twsYvcoWE
Video News Release: bit.ly/3GAWMwW
Full video (Facebook Live): bit.ly/3x2MMYO

8 Prominent figures of Women Empowerment

We are Employers of Women!

14 Women

out of 25 employees at Fondation Diane

11 Men

out of 25 employees at Fondation Diane

"Women are the biggest obstacle to women. If all ladies vote for one another, we shouldn’t need a female quota!"
— Diana Fadel, Founder & President of Fondation Diane

Women Enterprises Supported by Fondation Diane

Fondation Diane has achieved measurable successes so far; it has funded 14 green startups in healthy food investments, transport, ecotourism and sustainable development, renewable energy and waste management.

100%

of their employees are women

50%

of their employees are women

55%

of their employees are women

50%

of their employees are women

3/4 of the EEST Program Winners are Women!

Congratulations to Litestyle, Olivano and Mortben, the 3 women-led startups who won at our 1st Edition of the EEST "Food & Beverage" Pitch Program. On average, 92% of their staff combined are women.

EEST (Entangling Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Transformation of the Food & Beverage Industry) is a program that recognizes the significant social, economic and environmental impact of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with a plan to broaden their business scope with environmentally-friendly solutions and innovative ideas. Through this program, “Fondation Diane” aims at contributing to the green circular economy and shaping the future of the food & beverage industry.

Check our press release to know more.

Online & Offline Events

"Solidarity between women is the key to their success in reaching the parliament in great numbers".

— Diana Fadel, Founder & President of Fondation Diane

Lebanese Women:

Journey to the Parliament

Actively Participating in Halime Kaakour's Book Signing Ceremony

On 12 April 2021, Mrs. Diana Sfeir Fadel, President of “Fondation Diane”, participated as a panelist in the signing ceremony of Dr. Halime El Kaakour’s book entitled “Lebanese Women: Journey to the Parliament”.

This ceremony was held at Université Saint Joseph (USJ), in the presence of the Ambassador of Switzerland in Lebanon, H.E. Monika Schmutz Kirgoz, represented by the Deputy Head of Mission for the Embassy of Switzerland in Lebanon, Mrs. Elisabeth Gilgen, the Head/Country Program Manager UN Women Lebanon, Ms. Rachel Dores-Weeks, and Dr. Halime El Kaakour, PhD in International Public Law and Human Rights, and hosted by the Professor of Citizenship Education at the Lebanese University, Dr. Ali Khalife.

Press Release: https://bit.ly/3ryw16h
Full Speech: https://bit.ly/3GCqfVI

"Women Leaders Council of Lebanon" honoring a Woman Leader

President of "Fondation Diane" Appointed as an Honorary Member in the WLC "Women Leaders Council of Lebanon"

In the context of women empowerment, President & Founder of “Fondation Diane”, Mrs. Diana Sfeir Fadel, was appointed on 20 May 2021, as an honorary board member in the "Women Leaders Council of Lebanon" (WLC). This gathering was held at the WLC headquarters in Sanayeh-Beirut at the Chamber of Commerce as part of the council’s yearly general assembly, and it aimed at recognizing the merit of Diana Fadel in achieving a long and successful career that was recently crowned by her appointment as Chairwoman & CEO of one of the most renowned enterprises in Lebanon, the ABC Department Stores, while supporting young women, men, and startups, and consequently boosting the economy. She discussed the role of woman in her self-development in specific, and in female empowerment in general.

Press Release: https://bit.ly/3Bef305
Full Speech: https://bit.ly/3stki8p

Trainings

Break the stereotyping norms set by our society, for they hinder gender equality. Don't be ashamed, and fight fiercly for your rights!

— Diana Fadel, Founder & President of Fondation Diane

A great title

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Training of Trainers

Signing an MOU with UNFPA about Gender-Based Violence Training for more than 35 Trainers & Specialists

The Chair of “Fondation Diane” for Education on Eco-citizenship and Sustainable Development (CEEDD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to develop a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Training of Trainers program. The MOU signing took place on 16 November 2021 at the University of Saint Joseph Beirut- USJ, in the presence of the Chair holder, Prof. Fadi El Hage, the UNFPA representatives, Mrs. Asma Kurdahi and Mrs. Nicia el Dennawi, in addition to the Professor Salim Daccache s.j., Rector of Saint Joseph University (USJ).

Funded by the UNFPA, this 9-day GBV (Gender-Based Violence) training was very interactive! The participants were mostly GBV specialists and social workers who were given the opportunity to experiment a systemic and holistic approach in order to integrate content in innovative and interactive methods of training.

The purpose of this training is to establish a team of 35 GBV senior and experienced social workers with the needed GBV knowledge as well as soft and hard skills required as a predictor of sustainability; upskilling and expanding local workforce; cascading trainings; promoting standardized approaches, messages, and tools; providing opportunities for continuous learning and transfer of knowledge; and putting in place a monitoring/ mentoring/ coaching system for the trainers.

Videos

International Women's Day 2021

"Women are the primary source of inspiration. Whenever they are given power and a role to play, They make the world a better place!"

Watch Video

"16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence" Campaign

"With or without knowing it, Lebanese women play a central role in fostering gender inequality and promoting gender-based violence that is dictated by the unfairness of the Lebanese laws".

Watch Video

Women's Day 2021

"Women's potential is enormous. The higher their ambition, the bigger the obstacles they face. Break the stereotyping norms set by the society! What doesn't kill you will make you stronger. The only way out is to be confident in what you are capable of achieving, believe in yourself and your potential".

Watch Video

International Peace Institute, Webinar

"Women should be acknowledged as standing equally beside men. Mothers should bring up their daughters in a different way that they were brought up themselves and we, mature women, should be a role model of freedom and professionalism in our work to the young ones".

Watch Video