In the heart of the small village of Souk El Gharb, within the Souk Al Hima program, the initiative “Khair Al Ard Kitchen” – “مطبخ خير الأرض” – was born. This inspiring project aims to empower women and uplift local communities by showcasing the region’s freshest produce through creative and traditional culinary dishes. It offers women the opportunity to take the lead in the kitchen, blending innovation with heritage, and serving as a model for sustainable, community-based development.
Thanks to the unwavering support of Soulaf Kanaan – president of the Souk El Gharb Development Women’s Association and manager of Souk Al Hima program– the initiative has become a beacon of local pride and collective strength. The participating women have expressed their commitment to working under the Souk Al Hima Program, further embedding their efforts in the broader vision of community-led conservation and empowerment.
SPNL has recently begun marketing and branding efforts for Khair Al Ard Kitchen through the Mount Lebanon Hima Center (MLHC), reinforcing the initiative’s visibility and long-term sustainability. As Assad Serhal noted:
“Much thanks to Souk Al Hima team at Souk El Gharb. These lovely women are using 100% local products from Aiytat and Chemlan, hiring local women, and training both women and youth in cooking skills. They’ve even been given a rent-free space on Souk El Gharb’s Main Street by Soulaf – a powerful act of solidarity as part of our women’s empowerment and income-generation initiatives.”
Serhal added:
“I encourage Ethical Customers to stop by and taste their amazing mana’eesh – and always consider buying food from them for meetings or events .”
From its humble beginnings, Khair Al Ard Kitchen is shaping up to become a pillar of the Hima network, supporting not only women’s livelihoods but also the social fabric of the eight villages and towns that are signatories of the Hima Charter in Mount Lebanon.
