Blog: The Middle East

Smyrna, Turkey

We started a knitted Christmas stockings project within the scope of the Smyrna Women's Empowerment Centre’s efforts. We carried out the project in less-fortunate neighbourhoods. We thought that making money is an important factor for women's self-confidence, and we aimed to help disadvantaged women to make some money. At the same time, we helped them to solve some of the problems related to their children. Women were able to earn money without having to look for a job during this compelling pandemic season. 

Refugees in Lebanon

House of Ruth, Jordan

Sewing Class

In April, our trainer Manal started a new sewing course with new women, in order to qualify and empower them. This type of course helps women to enhance their self-confidence.

Renas* is a divorced woman with a child; she has no source of income. She expressed her happiness to be part of this course because she wanted to buy a sewing machine in order to help support her son.

Goat Loan Programme, Jordan

A field visit was made to the project in this village, and we found that the woman in the family was infected with COVID-19. While she was under home quarantine, her husband took the goats to an open area and built a small tent in order to take care of the goats away from his home.

Vocational Training Programme, Jordan

Khaledi* is a Syrian refugee who came to Jordan 10 years ago. He has seven children. He asked us to help him with a sum of money in order to start a small business (a fodder shop for chickens) in one of the camps for Syrian refugees. According to his economic study, he could achieve a daily income of 10 dinars through which he could cover part of his monthly expenses.

Holy Land Garden

We are currently at a crossroads! The original project location, for reasons beyond our control, is no longer available. We are now evaluating the possibility of relocating to a new site. It is a bit early to say with 100% assurance that everything is in order to move and begin setting up the new location. We will communicate in future reports how things develop over time. 

Refugees in Lebanon

House of Sara's School

The school project has been launched, developed and adapted to provide the best education for our students since 2019. At the present moment, our school is following hybrid learning. Students are receiving their everyday classes online, taking their weekly worksheets from the school, and having their exams on campus while the country is still in lockdown.
 

House of Ruth, Jordan

Sewing Course 

These Jordanian women are the trainees in the ongoing sewing course: 

Remas* is 34 years old. She is from Ma'ain and lives with her family. She likes sewing and makeup. Remas wants to learn more about sewing. She dreams and hopes to start her own business to keep doing what she loves and improve her family's living conditions by generating income.
 

Goat Loan Programme, Jordan

The season of milking the goats is here, which means the time to see the payoff of the project is here, too, and self-sustainability is activated.
 

Um Karam* is making cheese, yogurt, and labneh from the goats' milk. Through the sales of the milk products to the people of the village, Um Karam is generating some income. She is making 5-6 JDs per day which she uses to buy the groceries and other supplies for her family and household. 

Vocational Training Programme, Jordan

This month we have asked a group of Syrian and Iraqi refugee men to help us organise, fold and pack the blankets in our warehouse to be ready for usage and distribution.