Rita Khawand

Rita Khawand is the co-founder of SOILS Permaculture Association Lebanon. A little under a decade ago, following a career in the cultural sector as a performer, project coordinator, and fundraising officer in Lebanon and Europe, Rita embarked on a personal and professional journey and transitioned to a lifestyle grounded in permaculture (permanent culture/agriculture). Since then, she’s been working closely with municipalities, organizations, and individuals to raise awareness of sustainability issues and promote best practices. Rita studied with the late Patrick Whitefield (UK) and Daniel Halsey (US). In 2014, she partnered with like-minded friends to establish SOILS in her native village of Saidoun in South Lebanon and has managed the organization ever since, promoting viable local solutions to global problems linked to development in rural areas, ecosystem conservation, and sustainable agriculture. That same year, she put together and started running the first internationally-recognized Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course in Lebanon. In addition, she has led several projects across the country aimed at empowering vulnerable communities, including refugees, through building capacities in sustainable agricultural practices. Khawand has also facilitated numerous workshops and training in agroecology, waste sorting, beekeeping, and composting. In parallel, she has collaborated on different permaculture design projects in Lebanon, building a team of professionals with a proven track record. She is now managing all aspects of the AFIR Beekeeping and Nature Discovery Center, a comprehensive initiative involving sustainable agriculture, income generation, and eco-conservation.