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A new vegan support center has opened in the Middle East – the first of its kind in the region.
The Lebanese Vegans Social Hub, in Beirut, was created by animal advocate Seb Alex working with the Lebanese Vegans organization.
According to Alex, the center will promote veganism and the existence and work of animal advocates of color, as well as distributing free food, and holding screenings and other events.
Vegan support center
The center opening follows the devastating explosion that took place in Beirut in August this year, killing more than 200 people, injuring more than 2,000, and killing, injuring, and displacing many animals. It made 300,000 people homeless overnight.
After the explosion, Seb Alex and Lebanese Vegans distributed vegan food boxes and ready meals to more than 2,000 families, initially distributing free food seven days a week.
They were given a space to work from – a former cultural center that had been unused for 20 years. Now they have been given the site permanently, and have been working to transform it into the center, which had a soft opening on November 1 (World Vegan Day) attended by around 80 people. The center opened officially on December 22.
Fundraising
Because of the financial crisis in Lebanon – which has led to a currency value drop – the country’s banks have blocked withdrawals or online transactions.
This means the center is dependent on international support and is fundraising, so far raising around $4,000 of its $20,000 goal.
‘Push veganism’
In a statement sent to Plant Based News, Seb Alex said: “The center will run animal rights campaigns, distribute free vegan food, hold workshops, documentary screenings, and have a vegan cafe, shop, and co-working area.
“[It will push] veganism and animal rights forward and showing the world the existence of vegans of color and their work for other animals.”
