About Us
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 in the world, responding to the acute needs of both the displaced and their host communities.
What We Do
Our journey began in 2012, when five volunteers started working to serve refugee communities residing in Shatila camp in Beirut. The main goal of these visits was to assess the needs and to fill the gaps left by other aid agencies. This effort has since developed into the establishment of an NGO that runs six community centers in Lebanon and two in Turkey.
Impact Numbers
Total Cash for Work participants
2019 - 2024
Total Number of Students
since 2015
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Supported
since 2018
Small & Medium Enterprises Supported (SMEs)
2018 - 2024
Legal Protection Services
People Reached
Households & Individuals Reached
EmergencySupport
Latest News and Events
Basmeh & Zeitooneh Calls for Sustained Protection of Civilians and Continued Global Attention Amid Temporary Ceasefire in Lebanon
Beirut, Lebanon - 17 April 2026 Basmeh & Zeitooneh welcomes the current temporary ceasefire as a critical moment of
Statement: Protect Civilians and Humanitarian Front-Liners in Lebanon
Today, things are not business as usual in Lebanon. Within the first 24 hours of the escalation, an estimated
Empowering Health Workers to Strengthen Protection
As part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness and empower community
Proud Milestone for Basmeh & Zeitooneh
We were honored at the IFDO with a prestigious award in December 2025, for our submitted project "My Career My
Safe Spaces in Shatila Restoring Confidence for Women
Protection sessions continue at Basmeh & Zeitooneh’s Shatila center, where mothers
Empowering Young Married Women to Deal with Stress
At Basmeh & Zeitooneh's Center in Shatila Camp, the Protection
