A Story from the Field
From the Workshop to Independence
Leilav, a 26-year-old married woman, lives in Qamishli. Like many of her generation, she suffered from the effects of the war in Syria, and the subsequent lack of job opportunities and harsh economic conditions. Although she holds a diploma from a computer institute, this certificate remained hanging on the wall, far from any opportunity to benefit from it under the prevailing circumstances.
However, her ambitious spirit did not give up. She decided to search for a new path that could open the doors to work and stability for her. This is where her decision came to enroll in a vocational training course in hairdressing at the Vocational Training Center affiliated with Women's Initiatives.
During the training period, it was not just about learning hairstyling skills; it was a journey of rediscovering herself. She learned the foundations and secrets of the profession, from hair care to the latest cutting and layering techniques, and gained practical experience that boosted her self-confidence and her ability to start her own project in the future.
Leilav found great support, patient teaching, and continuous encouragement from the trainers and management, which helped her believe that she is capable of turning difficult circumstances into a real opportunity for success.
Today, Leilav stands with greater confidence, ready to begin her professional path with firm steps. She is preparing her own salon and taking the initiative to train other women.
"Circumstances and war should not stop anyone from pursuing their dreams. You gave me the opportunity to shape my future with my own hands, and to prove that willpower is stronger than any circumstance."
Leilav
Basket of Goodness
In 2020, before any funding or official registration, we launched the "Basket of Goodness" initiative. The idea was very simple: neighbors would buy extra quantities of vegetables and grains, place them in a shared "basket," and women who were the sole breadwinners for their families would come and take what they needed for free and with dignity.
This initiative was not just food assistance; it was our first lesson in organizing community work and managing resources based on mutual trust. From this small basket, Women Initiatives Organization launched to become today capable of managing full economic empowerment programs.
Seek knowledge even unto China
In the summer of 2022, during our "Insan Project" providing free courses for children, we welcomed two young children who arrived at the organization's premises exhausted. We asked them how they got there, and they replied that they had walked approximately 1.5 kilometers on foot, simply because they heard there were free educational courses for children.
This moment was a lesson for all of us. It confirmed that children's desire to learn is stronger than any distance, and that providing a free and safe educational space is not just a service, but a dream awaited by the children of our community. Today, years later, we remember these two children as a primary motivation for continuing our educational programs.
