Katia opened her diet center in 2017 with the help of The Maak Association. After three years of successfully managing her business and repaying her loan, she requested a new loan in 2020. Maak approved the loan, allowing Katia to purchase a vehicle for delivering food boxes to customers in
Tarek is an experienced mechanic whose garage was missing a key-cutting machine for electric car keys. The Maak Association provided Tarek with a loan that allowed him to purchase this machine, which in turn increased the number of services he is able to provide for his customers. Tarek is currently
Habib’s project focuses on vegetable plantations in green houses. Maak provided him with a loan to build a 30-meter-long and 6-meter-wide green house to increase vegetable production, improve annual yields, and generate more income. With Maak’s help, Habib’s income has been allowing him to send his two children to school.
Andrew produces and sells compost to neighbouring farmers and the market in his region. Depending on the nature of the compost, Andrew’s pricing ranges from 3 to 4 USD per 25kg. The Maak Association provided Andrew with a loan to purchase an inverter to improve the efficiency of a solar
Elie is an experienced goat-breeder who specializes in the production of milk and various dairy products. With the help of Maak, Elie was able to purchase 27 goats to generate more yields for his business, which includes producing milk and home-made cheese, Labneh, and yoghurt that he sells to people
Rima plans to start a business focused on selling a range of whole grains to support her family. She needs USD 3,500 for renovating her store, purchasing a weighing machine, and buying a sufficient stock of merchandise to launch her business. Rima’s shop will be the only one of its
Denise is a professionally trained tailor who has returned to Lebanon from abroad to take care of her sick mother. She is looking to purchase two machines and a range of materials to launch a tailoring business. The Maak Association will be financing this project in hope that Denise will
During the period of crisis of electricity in Lebanon, Elie a hairdresser in Bikfaya was dealing with severe power cuts affecting his work schedule and services to his clientele. The Maak Association granted Elie a microcredit loan to buy a small individual generator to keep his hairdresser saloon up and
The three Fakhoury brothers have been running a small restaurant in Tyr for years, serving quality fish to their patrons. Following a boom of tourists in the area, they decided to refurbish their restaurant. The Maak Association provided them with loans for the necessary repairs. The Fakhoury brothers also used
Georges, a father to five children, is a farmer whose green houses were severely damaged by turbulent wind and snowstorms. He received loans from Maak to invest in his land and repair the damages, which allowed him to resume his work. Georges currently grows various kinds of vegetables, including tomatoes,
Nidal is a single father of three who bought 10 beehives with the help of Maak in 2015. By 2016, he had cultivated and sold enough honey to double the number of beehives on his farm. With 20 thriving hives, he now produces organic honey that he sells locally. All
Microcredit activities do not eliminate humanitarian initiatives that cover emergency aid through donations. Since 2019, Maak has been present on the ground to support the Lebanese people throughout the financial crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic and the Beirut port explosion.
The year 2020 was a harrowing year for the Lebanese people. The aftermath of the revolution was exacerbated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was immediately followed by a disastrous economic crisis. To top it all off, August 4th was marked by the horrific explosion of the Beirut Port, which significantly changed the lives of the Lebanese people, especially those who lived in Beirut, Achrafieh, and their surrounding areas where our office is located.
Our response team cleaned damaged houses, business, and streets with the help of a large number of volunteers, who visited houses and businesses, assessed the damages on the field and
coordinated with suppliers and professionals to undertake the necessary repairs. This endeavour also provided jobs to many unemployed tradesmen who participated in the project.
Following the explosion, Maak partnered with two Lebanese Certified Public Accountant firms (LACPA): Serhal Nassar & Co. (LACPA no. 69/2008) & Abousleiman & Co. (LACPA no. 58/2005). They then introduced the Small Business Relief Fund #SBRF to help help freelancers, entrepreneurs, and SME businesses, from retail shops to artisans, technicians and professional services firms, art hubs and galleries who were severely affected by the blast rebuild and refinance their businesses and regain their financial security. The SBRF was launched on September 6, 2020 and funds were collected from foreign business professionals and colleagues to the two PA firms. 11 small businesses were supported through the SBRF.
Since 2019, the Lebanese population has been battling with an unprecedented financial crisis with more than 50% of the population jobless and under poverty line. Maak partnered with local multinational companies and diaspora groups from across the world to support the community, providing school tuitions and medical support as well as preparing and distributing over 600 food rations to families in need.
