Zeina Daccache

Zeina Daccache

MA Clinical Psychology, Registered Drama Therapist (NADTA), Board Certified Trainer (NADTA), Founder of Catharsis- Lebanese Center for Drama Therapy

Personal data:

Date of birth 05/02/1978

Address Kfarhbab/Ghazir, Lebanon & Greens, Dubai

Nationality Lebanese

Sex Female Mobile 961 3 33 69 32 Marital Status Married Email zeina@catharsislcdt.org

Work experience:

July 2007- Present Founder / Executive Director and Drama therapist at the NPO Catharsis – Lebanese Center for Drama Therapy

2004 – Present Drama Therapist, Project and Play director of the following drama therapy/theatre projects (Produced by Catharsis):

Johar Up in the Air, interpreted by inmates residing in Roumieh Prison, (some of them suffering from mental illness), 2015-2016, funded by the EU. This play led to 2 draft laws aiming for a suitable Legislation for Mentally ill Inmates & Inmates Sentenced to Life, both submitted to the Lebanese Parliament in Aug 2016.

Shebaik Lebaik, interpreted by Migrant Domestic workers in Lebanon, 2014-2015, funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Beirut. The actors in the play Shebaik Lebaik claimed loudly during the play in Dec 2014 and May 2015 for the cancellation of the circular number 1778 issued in October 2014, and stating that Migrant Domestic Workers are not allowed to have romantic relationships on the Lebanese territory. It was abolished on July 2015 by the circular number 2262.

From the Bottom of My Brain, performed by the residents of Al Fanar

hospital for neuropsychiatric disorders, 2011-2012-2013, funded by the

Italian Embassy in Beirut.

Scheherazade in Baabda, performed by the women inmates of Baabda prison, 2012, with the support of Drosos Foundation.

12 Angry Lebanese – the play, performed by inmates residing in

Roumieh Prison, 2009, funded by the EU. This play succeeded in pushing the

government to implement Law number 463 of the penal code for the reduction of

sentences based on good behavior that was published in 2002 but never implemented.

12 Angry Men, interpreted by the residents of Oum El Nour’s

rehabilitation center, 2004.

2010- Present Professional Trainer at International and local Corporates (Roche Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Air France, Algorithm SAL, Booz Allen, Touch, Souk El Tayeb, etc.)

Offering various programs such as : team building, public speaking skills and communication skills, support through restructuring phases, conflict resolution, i also work with employees in need of exploring various life problems and expanding their quality of life.

2010 – Present Drama Therapist at Catharsis private practice

For individuals and groups who desire to explore life transitions, adjustments, communication and public speaking skills and various growth issues from a wellness perspective

2008-Present University Professor:

– At the Public Health Department of University of Balamand –Lebanon (since 2019)

– At the Occupational therapy department at the Lebanese University – Hadath (2017-till present)

– At the Lebanese German University (since 2019)

– At the Masters in Psychosocial Support (launched by IOM) at the Social Sciences University of Ankara, Turkey, 2017

– At the Holy Family University, Batroun (2018)

– At the Lebanese University- Zahle (2008 to 2011) / At the Masters in Psychosocial Support (launched by IOM) at the Lebanese University – Hadath / At the alternative training in drama therapy offered by Catharsis.

2014-2015 Guest Lecturer at NYU drama therapy program, June 2014 & October (USA) 2015

2007- Present Documentary Director

Johar – the documentary (in process in 2017-2018)

Scheherazade’s Diary (10 time award-winning documentary), 2013, with the support of Drosos Foundation.

12 Angry Lebanese – the documentary (8 time award-winning documentary), 2009, funded by the Italian Development Cooperation Office/Embassy of Italy in Beirut.

Any, 2007, a short-documentary about the Drama Therapy work done in the South of Lebanon with women after the July War 06.

2007- Present Lecturer at International Conferences, Drama Therapy and Art therapy Conferences (UNESCO youth volunteering & dialogue – France, North American Drama Therapy Association annual conferences – USA, Art as Witness conference at Concordia University-Canada, Nuqat annual conference-Kuweit, etc.)

2006 – Present Freelance drama therapist for NGOs, schools, universities and International Organizations in the region (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Turkey): WRF, IOM, Assabil, Dar El Amal NGO, Hariri School network, Himaya, AUB- Public Health department, Hariri Foundation, Caritas, Danish Red Cross, Grand Lycee, Al Jana NGO, Al Masar NGO, Lebanese Red Cross, SSCC school, René Moawad Foundation, ATTC, Abaad NGO, Rikesteatern (Sweeden), etc. And / or working directly with beneficiaries (for example Syrians residing in Tripoli from 2012 to 2015)

For some schools, providing teachers with innovative, theatre and art techniques to be incorporated in the core curriculum they teach to children.

For NGOs and schools: training of trainers on psychosocial techniques and empowering them to work with beneficiaries, and providing participants (staff members or beneficiaries) with a safe space for expression and healing.

May 03 – July 2015 Main Actress in the political satire TV program “Bassmet Watan” Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC), Adma. Lebanon

Nov 08 – May 2013 Drama Therapist at Cenacle de La Lumière- Drug Rehabilitation center Lebanon

2002-2009 Assistant for the Italian Play director Armando Punzo in the prison of Italy Volterra

2006 – 2007 Communication Director at Beirut Marathon Association-BMA Responsible for coordinating and managing the development and production of communications materials and events for Beirut Marathon 2006 & 2007.

June 01 – Aug 06 Director of the Drama therapy program at Oum El Nour (NGO for the rehabilitation from drug addiction), Beirut – Lebanon

April 02 Director of the play “L’Homme dans Le Cercle” produced by St Joseph school, Antoura, within its drug prevention program for students. The play won the Mentor Foundation prize at Unesco for youth in social work. Interpreted by the students and performed at Beryte Theatre, LAU theatre, and schools around Lebanon.

Education & Credentials:

March 2017 Board Certified Trainer with the North American Drama Therapy Association – NADTA, USA

Nov 2011 Registered Drama Therapist with the North American Drama Therapy Association – NADTA, USA

2007 – 2011 MA in Clinical Psychology. Haigazian University-Beirut 2006 – 2007 Graduate studies in drama therapy.

USA Kansas State University. (USA)

January 05 Nominee and selected to benefit from the American Fulbright Master degree scholarship.

Oct 00 – June 01 L’ Ecole Philippe Gaulier (International Drama School) London

July 2000 BA in Scenic and Dramatic Art, Communication Arts (completed with honors)

Institute of Scenic Audiovisual and Cinematography Studies (IESAV) St

Joseph University, Beirut

Sept 2000 International Certificate in Italian as a Foreign Language. (CILS) Italy Translator and interpret from Italian to Arabic, French and English, and vice versa.Universita per Stranieri di Siena

June 1995 Baccalaureate in Experimental Sciences (A-level: Biology, Math, French and English). Ecole des Soeurs du St Cœur, Kfarhbab, Lebanon

Trainings and Workshops:

July 2017 “The Hero’s Journey” training workshop implemented by The fool’s dance Ireland gestalt company- Paul Rebillot School – Ireland.

February 2017 “Gestalt art-counselling” workshop organized by Istituto Gestalt Firenze (IGF-Italy) and Azioni e ContaminAzioni in Beirut, Lebanon.

July 2015 “Owning the Shadow” training workshop implemented by The fool’s dance Ireland gestalt company- Paul Rebillot School – Ireland.

2014-2015 Drama therapy and psychodrama trainings at the NADTA annual USA conferences

2011 – Present Support therapy with a life coach / psychologist in Beirut, Lebanon 1997-2007 Personal psychoanalysis. Achieved in Beirut, Lebanon.

Spring 02 Training sessions: “Working with Substance abusers Young Groups in the after medical treatment stage”, Social Education Lebanese

School. St-Joseph University, Beirut

Fall 02 Theatre Forum Workshop (Augusto Boal method) with the French theatre company: N.A.J.E. (Fabienne Brugel and Jean-Paul Ramat)

Social Education Lebanese School. St-Joseph University, Beirut

August 2000 Workshop with Marco Baliani, Miguele Abbondanza and Antonella Lebanon-Albania Bertoni . “Theatre and Modern Dance”

Monot Theater, Beirut, And the National School of Drama, Albania

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Summer 1998 Commedia Dell’Arte Workshop. International School of Antonio Fava Italy Reggio Emilia

Publications:

– Author of the Chapter “The Unheard Stories of Those Forgotten Behind Bars in Lebanon” in the book The Self in Performance, Autobiographical, Self-Revelatory, and Autoethnographic Forms of Therapeutic Theatre. Pendzik, S. Emunah, R & Johnson, D (2016). The Self in Performance. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

– Author of the Chapter “The Unheard Stories of Those Forgotten Behind Bars in Lebanon”, in the Spanish book Dramaterapia, teoria y practica, Schuchner, G. & Ferrandis, D (2017). Buenos Aires: Letra Viva.

– Author of the Chapter “12 Angry Lebanese in Roumieh Prison” in the book Doomed by Hope: Essays on Arab Theatre, Houssami, E (2012). Beirut: Dar Al Saqi.

– Articles on Drama Therapy published in the Dramascope/ New York and Daily Star newspaper/ Lebanon, 2008, 2009.

Fellowships: Arab World Social Innovator with Synergos since 2013

Some of the Awards received:

∙ The Documentaries 12 Angry Lebanese and Scheherazade’s Diary won many Awards at International Festivals since 2009 up till present (8 awards for 12 Angry Lebanese and 10 Awards for Scheherazade’s Diary)

∙ Winner of the Arts & Culture 2018 Lebanon Impact Award – Hult Prize (that aims to recognize the country’s top Impact leaders).

∙ Winner of the International Gramsci Award for theatre in Prison, Italy, Dec 2016. ∙ Honored by Gebran Tueni Foundation for the work achieved in prisons. Sept, 2012. ∙ Recipient of the Performance Award from NADTA in 2012 (North American Drama

Therapy Association), in recognition of the exemplary use of live or recorded performance to facilitate individual or collective awareness and transformation. ∙ The Graduate Student Research Award, 2011. Given by the Drama Therapy Fund-USA, for my thesis on Drama Therapy in Lebanese Prisons.

∙ Medal of the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities for directing and managing the theatre project “12 Angry Lebanese” inside Roumieh Prison, 2009.

∙ Honored by YWCA for directing and managing the theatre project “12 Angry Lebanese” inside Roumieh Prison, 2009.

∙ “Annahar Newspaper” Woman of the Year Award, 2009.

∙ And several other awards for her work in drama therapy

Languages: Arabic (mother tongue).French, English and Italian (written and spoken) Computer Literacy: Advanced knowledge of Microsoft, Windows Server, and Office package

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Extra-curricular activities: Hiking, horseback riding and snowboarding

References:

Sally Bailey

Director of the Drama Therapy Program

Kansas State University

129 Nichols Hall,Manhattan

KS 66506-2301/USA

Armand Volkas

Founder and Director of the Living Arts Counseling Center 666 Santa Rosa Avenue

Berkeley, CA 94707

USA