BEYDA OSMAN

Kobanê- On July 7, 2023, Kobanê Martyr Şîlan Academy started a course named, “Helbest Koçer” in North and East Syrian city Kobanê. 21 women aged from 18 to 50 have received education by participating in the course. NuJINHA spoke to the executives of the academy and the women receiving education at the academy.

Hedlê Xelîl, one of the executives of the academy, told us that the main aim of the academy is to raise awareness and organize women.

‘We teach the philosophy of our leader’

Speaking about the course that started on July 7, Hedlê Xelîl said, “Our aim is to create free personalities knowing their reality. Individuals attending the course get to know themselves and their environment. The course is a 45-day course. We first teach how education is important and what education is at the course because education is one of our sine qua non. At the course, we teach the ideology and philosophy of our leader. Soon, we will start a course about how nature is important in our society and the democratic nation.”

‘We get to know ourselves’

Emina Mihemed, who lost her spouse in a clash, has been attending the course since the first day. “We get to know ourselves by attending the course. As women, we learn how we play an important role in our society. Women aged from 18 to 50 receive education together,” said Emina Mihemed. “Education is like turning a light on in a dark house.”

‘We must tell the people around us how education is important’

Emina Mihemed thinks every woman should receive education to get to know herself. “I hope all women have opportunities to receive education. I have attended the 45-day course started by the Kobanê Martyr Şîlan Academy. Since I first attended the course, my personality has changed. I feel like I was reborn.”

Silava Bekî, member of the Association of Martyrs' Families, has also attended the course. “Education is like bread and water; we cannot live without it. We have learned our rights at the courses. Women attending the course now know their history and the ideology and the philosophy of leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan). We should know that the hegemonic states want to annihilate and eliminate the Kurdish people. Today, the enemy targets women because they know that free women can build a free society. Women have been oppressed since the Sumerians; however, women will respond to all governments with the philosophy of ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’.”