ESMA MUHAMMED

Qamishlo- Sara Organization to Combat Violence against Women in North and East Syria has carried out activities in the Newroz Camp to provide a safe environment for displaced women, support them, and enable them to stand on their own legs.

 The organization launched a comprehensive initiative in the camp in July 2025 to raise awareness against all forms of gender-based violence and promote women’s economic empowerment. Since July, the organization has held awareness-raising seminars and sewing courses for women.

The organization has held meetings to raise awareness among women against all kinds of violations such as harassment and rape in th camp, Fatma Muhammed Şexi, a displaced woman of Serekanîyê and a member of the organization, told NuJINHA.

“We have held meetings and seminars to warn women of sexual and online violence. The aim of these meetings and seminars are to tell women how they can protect themselves. We also hold awareness-raising meetings for fathers.  A free woman is a woman who has freedom of thoughts and can stand on her own legs.”

The Sara Organization has also held sewing courses for the displaced women in the camp. “We want to promote women’s economic empowerment because we want to open doors for them to realize their dreams that have been blocked by war and displacement. Despite all the impossibilities, we aim to be an umbrella organization for them.”

‘The initiative strengthens motivation among women’

The initiative provides a safe learning and socialization space for women, said Nura İsmail el-Ahmed, a volunteer of the initiative.

“This initiative is an opportunity for women to participate in the labor force. I teach women from all ages how to sew. They come here to learn how to sew and socialize. They make new friends and support each other. This initiative strengthens motivation among women to pursue their dreams.”

Nura İsmail el-Ahmed called on all relevant institutions and organizations to support the displaced women in the camp and promote women’s economic empowerment.