Amidst the ongoing hardship faced by people in Lebanon due to the Port of Beirut explosion, the ongoing pandemic lockdowns and the crippling devaluation of the local currency, independent craftsmen in Lebanon find themselves in an increasingly vulnerable position.

The truth is that the economy has been in deterioration for a few years, which has either forced workshops to downsize or close altogether. This unfortunate trend may indeed lead to the scenario where we lose a significant portion of artisan workshops along with their associated crafts and know-how; the ramifications of which would also affect the social fabric in Lebanon in an unprecedented way.

Facing such circumstances, the Mashghal project was founded by Ahmad Khouja and a group of civil society activists and social entrepreneurs with the aim of preserving the artisan community of Lebanon. The vision is to provide artisans with access to market by putting in motion a sustainable mechanism where artisans and local crafts are brought into public awareness to gain exposure in front of local, regional and international buyers.