YUSRA AL-EHMED

Raqqa- Hilala Al-Diri is one of the women making a living in agriculture in the village of Hawija Hassan, west of Raqqa Canton of North and East Syria. Facing disadvantages of living in a rural area, the women have to walk for hours to fetch drinking water.

Being engaged in both agriculture and animal husbandry, the women of the village have to work the whole day. “As women, we make great efforts by planting and growing the crops. We harvest some fruits and vegetables in winter and wheat and barley in summer,” Hilala Al-Diri told NuJINHA.

 Although they make great efforts and work for hours, they receive low wages in return. “We work very hard and face many challenges but we receive low wages. In summer, we are affected by hot weather. I cannot cover the expenses of my family with the money I earn.”

‘We cooperate with each other’

Despite all the challenges, Hilala Al-Diri is happy to be engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. “Although the majority of women prefer to live in cities, I am determined to stay in the rural areas and maintain my life this way. I grew up here, in the lap of nature and I cannot live without it. Rural women cooperate with each other. We work in solidarity with our relatives and neighbors and help each other.”

‘There are more job opportunities in cities’

47-year-old Alia Al-Derwish works in a mineral water bottling plant in Raqqa. Emphasizing that women have more job opportunities in cities, she said, “However, women in rural areas can be only engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry.”