FADIA JUMAA

Beirut- In Lebanon’s Tyre city, a popular destination for tourists, three women opened a coffee shop named “Impresso Bee”. Despite all the criticism, challenges and social restrictions, they are determined to achieve their dreams.

‘We have a team spirit’

Sarah Wahba is a 18-year-old young woman and one of the owners of the coffee shop. “Sometimes life doesn't give you what you want,” said Sarah Wahba, whose childhood dream was to become a doctor. “That’s why we decided to open a coffee shop. People can play some games such as backgammon, chess, Monopoly, and others at the shop. We also created a dedicated reading space at the coffee shop.”

Sarah Wahba told us that they had a team spirit. “We work as a team. The team spirit gives us strength and enables us to achieve more success. We are three young women and always help each other. All women should trust each other and be self-confident to achieve their dreams. In our society, women and girls face social pressure. We must challenge and confront social pressure in order to get what we want,” she told NuJINHA.

‘Women should struggle to achieve their dreams’

Nahrawan Rifai, 26, is from the city of Zahlé and actually a photographer. “I came to the city of Tyre for the first time three years ago to visit my friends, Heba and Sarah. We always thought of starting your own business,” said Nahrawan Rifai. During her visit, three friends decided to open a coffee shop in the city. “We opened the coffee shop in Tyre because it is a popular destination for tourists.”

Three friends faced a lot of criticism. Some told them, “You are women and cannot work at night”. “Despite all the criticism, we opened our own coffee shop. All women should struggle to achieve their dreams,” added Nahrawan Rifai.

‘We are three independent women’

“We worked hard for eight months to open our coffee shop,” said 25-year-old Heba Al-Muqali, who is a football player and coach. “Unfortunately, women are seen as weak in our society. We want to inspire women by opening this coffee shop. We are three independent women. We chose to open our coffee shop in this city because it has a beautiful atmosphere and it is a popular destination for tourists. Our families supported and helped us to achieve our dream.”