Syrian women learn new skills to sustain a living

DAMASCUS, Syria – The smile on Nour’s face lit up the room as she received her first sewing machine after a year of sewing training courses provided by Silesian Charity in cooperation with UNHCR and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.

Nour, a Syrian displaced woman from Daraya, has learnt many skills throughout the year. “I am really happy of what I have achieved and with this sewing machine, I am going to start my own project, cutting out dresses patterns and sewing them myself”, Nour said excitedly.

Earlier this month, around 100 women from the displaced and crisis-affected communities graduated from the sewing vocational training at the Silesian Charity and received multi-functional sewing machines.

The representation from SARC, Silesian Sisters Charity and UNHCR proudly handed over graduation certificates and sewing machines to these distinguished women.

“With this sewing machine, I am going to start my own project”

Sister Carol Tahan, the head of Silesian Sisters Charity, in her inspirational speech thanked the women for their hard work throughout the year. The sewing training was designed to build the capacity of women that enables them to earn their own living. They learned stitching, embroidery and customizing female clothes.

For this year’s final evaluation, Sister Carol changed it up. In the past years, beneficiaries used to exhibit their work at a bazar. This time around, the women had to produce a female dress to be judged by experts. Also, part of the test was to undo the sewing machine and put it back together.

Assadullah Amin, a Field Officer at UNHCR’s Damascus office added, “We know that you had invested a lot of your time in this training, but we really believe that the work you have achieved is a great success, we hope that this course will enable you to support yourselves, your families and your communities.”

Silesian Charity has been collaborating with UNHCR since 2010, starting with helping thousands of Iraqi refugees. Today their work has expanded to support the Syrian internally displaced and host communities.

The Charity runs a productive unit where they employ the most talented and vulnerable sewing course graduates. It supports roughly 85 to 110 women yearly. “This year, 300 women were registered on the waiting list, 100 out of them were accepted due to budget shortages.” said Sister Carol.

UNHCR continues to work hand-in-hand with partners on the ground to support the displaced and affected communities, mainly by providing these women with the tools and skills to empower them for a better future.