Safa’s First Candle Marked the Start of a Brighter Future

Safa, a 47-year-old Syrian woman born and raised in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley, is a mother of three. For two years, she barely left her home, weighed down by depression, especially after her 20-year-old daughter’s health began to decline. She never imagined that joining the “Candle of Hope” initiative within the “Fostering Refugee Leadership” project, under the Civil Society Enablement unit, would mark the beginning of something new.

On her first day of training, Safa stepped out of her isolation with a shy smile, one that quietly carried hope. She overcame her fear of being outside and was welcomed by a team whose warmth and flexibility made her feel she belonged again. Safa recalls how supportive her trainer was. And as soon as she received the training materials, she began learning how to craft handmade candles, slowly, and with a passion she hadn’t felt in years.

“When I poured the wax, I couldn’t wait for it to cool. I opened the mold like a mother seeing her newborn for the first time”, Safa says, her eyes welling up with emotion as she remembers the moment she felt a piece of her life return. It was a simple act, but it gave her a deep sense of value and purpose.

Today, Safa doesn’t just make candles; she sells them, designs them, and puts love and intention into every detail. Safa says, “This experience has helped me and my daughter to come out of the darkness we had been stuck in”.

Safa now dreams of opening her candle shop in the Beqaa Valley and taking part in local craft exhibitions. She wants to share joy through her work and give back to her community. “I want to help people who are in need, without expecting anything in return. I love people, and I love my community”, she says with a sincere heart and a hopeful voice.

To every woman reading her story, Safa has a heartfelt message: “Honor yourself, and do the things that bring out the best in you”.

Written by: Ibrahim Al Housseiny