There’s a new documentary that shines the spotlight on five exceptional women, including Sarah Beydoun from Lebanon. Titled “Five” and created by Mastercard, the documentary provides moving portraits of these women, focusing on how each of them used her creativity and know-how to enact tangible and positive change within their communities. “‘Five’ is an inspirational collection of short films highlighting the perseverance and passion of five women entrepreneurs from five countries,” explains Beydoun, who founded and runs Lebanese fashion label Sarah’s Bag.
The Lebanese designer and businesswoman is well placed to discuss female empowerment. Over the course of her career, she has changed the lives of countless disenfranchised women, helping them improve their lives by teaching them invaluable skills. “Initially, my idea was to start a support program for female prisoners and train them on various handwork techniques such as beading, embroidery and crocheting,” says Beydoun. “Their job was then to create all the decorative elements of our bags. Working with us meant they could hire lawyers to overturn wrongful convictions, educate their children or start a new life once they completed their sentences. When some of our most talented artisans completed their sentences, we encouraged them to teach other women in their communities different handwork techniques, which created a positive ripple effect… It also gave them financial independence, a critical element of successful reintegration into their families and society.”
The four other women featured in the documentary hail from Croatia, Brazil, India and the United States, and even though they live in such disparate countries, they share much in common. “Interestingly, even though we come from different places, each of us has the same goal: positively impacting her community in her own way,” says Beydoun. “We all love what we do, passion seems to be a common denominator. We are all driven by passion for our work, whether it’s baking, designing or sustainable farming. At the same time, we are all working at the intersection of passion and purpose to better our communities.”
Reflecting on the documentary, Beydoun believes that it not only highlights women’s efforts to uplift their communities, but also provides a glimpse into a brighter future for vulnerable women, who perhaps until now didn’t have many chances to succeed. “I agreed to be part of it because I am so happy that Mastercard has chosen to highlight social businesses and purpose-driven businesses run by women,” Beydoun says. “In my opinion, this type of business is the business model for a better future and a powerful way to tackle inequality.”
