In August 2020, Lebanon fell into an unprecedented crisis following the explosion in Beirut. As a Franco-Lebanese woman, Manon, founder of Meanwhile Boutique , mobilized with her friends to take action. Together, they created SAWA POP UP , an association which promotes Lebanese products and creators to help the country of their origins to get through the crisis. Today she would like to present this supportive and positive initiative to you.
SAWA POP UP: celebrating Lebanon to better help it
Lebanon is home to millennia-old cedars, legendary gastronomy, a dynamic diaspora and extraordinary artistic and artisanal know-how.
A rich and lively country to which I am very attached and which is bearing the brunt of the economic and social consequences of the explosion of August 4, 2020.
The crisis is what we hear all over the world when we talk about Lebanon, without knowing that today, the new generation of Lebanese artists is reinterpreting the know-how of their country with talent.
When Camille called me shortly after the explosion to think of a way to help Lebanon , I didn't hesitate for a second.
Faced with the humanitarian need and the lack of international visibility of Lebanese artists , with Camille, Loulwa, then Katia, Talia, Tatiana, we created SAWA POP UP: an associative project which highlights the products and works of Lebanon in order to to help him overcome the crisis.
Today, Myriam and many other volunteers joined us to help us in a heart-warming show of solidarity.
Together, we plan to carry out several pop-up events per year to help Lebanon rebuild.
Moreover, Sawa means “together” in Arabic, a symbol of the solidarity that has been organized for Lebanon.
1st pop-up sale of Sawa Pop Up last DecemberSolidarity sales for the benefit of associations and Impact projects
With Sawa Pop Up we aim to support and promote Lebanese creation while at the same time donating part of the profits to Lebanese associative projects.
2 ephemeral solidarity sales per year are planned, over a period of 2 days: a Christmas edition and a summer edition.
The very first sale took place in December 2020 in Paris.
We raised more than €10,000 which was donated to the Marion Fund, an initiative of Stand For Woman and The Women Collective , supporting SMEs run by women, impacted by the crisis.
This will make it possible to support 12 projects of women entrepreneurs , 6 of which we have already helped and have news of even several months later.
Between Paris and Beirut, there are many messages of support that encourage us to continue organizing events for the benefit of reconstruction, culture and the future.
Our second event will take place on Friday June 4 and Saturday June 5 in Paris, still at the Ladoucette private mansion in the 16th arrondissement, which welcomes us graciously.
For this edition, Sawa Pop Up has once again brought together around forty creators and will support Bank to School , an initiative in partnership with the ArcEnCiel association to finance the education of Lebanese children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Friends from Paris or elsewhere in France, we are waiting for you in large numbers to help this new generation of Lebanese artists , craftsmen and projects.
Go to the event page to register and stay informed of all the news:
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