Catharsis is an NGO run by Zeina Daccache that provides various social, educational, artistic and health service programs. It promotes and offers therapeutic interventions through the use of art, theater and drama.
Zeina Daccache hosted the Norwegian and UK Ambassadors in a visit to Roumieh Prison on Wednesday 7 April. The purpose was to take part with 35 inmates in drama therapy sessions organized by Zeina. Zeina meets with different groups of inmates, each including around 35 residing in Roumieh Prison, three times per week and facilitate drama therapy sessions. These sessions allow them to express themselves constructively, to work in a group and most of all to help them plan a better future life once they are out of prison (if they are ever out!) or adapt to the prison conditions if they have life sentences.
She succeeded last year to direct a play “12 Angry Lebanese” a Lebanese adaptation of “12 Angry Men” performed by the inmates themselves inside the prison and attracted a wide range of audience: politicians, decision makers, international community, Lebanese citizens, the inmates’ families...
"12 Angry Lebanese" the documentary won the Muhr Arab Documentary First Prize Award and the Peoples Choice Award during the closing Night Ceremony at the 6th Annual Dubai International Film Festival on December 16, 2009 in Dubai.
The visit’s program included two ice breaking games that gave the inmates and their visitors, two female Ambassadors in addition to four female journalists, the opportunity to introduce themselves in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Followed by a Q and As session that shed the light deeper into their daily lives, sufferings, thoughts and hopes. The inmates’ living conditions are harsh: over- crowdedness, lack of proper health care, bad food quality, violence, frustration, lack of proper sanitation, detention without trials for months and years. To sum it up they admit they are guilty but feel deprived of dignity.
Zeina has made a change in their lives. Working with couple hundred out of 4000 in a place that is built to accommodate 1000 inmates, Zeina managed to bring hope, respect, willingness to live, ability to express, create and aspire for a more promising tomorrow.