LocationsNever too late for hope: A story of perseverance against all odds
September 8, 2023
This is the story of Dalla, a 50-year-old woman from Al-Ashara, a rural area in Deir ez-Zor, in eastern Syria.
“I was ashamed of the fact that I did not know how to read, write, or count. Especially when my nieces and nephews asked me to help them with their homework. I used to fake being busy or tired to excuse myself” says Dalla.
After more than fourteen years of crisis in Syria, 16.5 million people require humanitarian assistance, the highest number of people in need since the beginning of the crisis in 2011*. Like most of the residents of Al-Ashara, Dalla had to flee her home due to the unrest, including more than three years under the control of ISIS. Today, 65 percent of the population have returned in addition to 50 families displaced from other areas. All are trying to rebuild their lives despite the severe damage to the infrastructure, shortage of basic service, lack of job opportunities and the deteriorating economy.
Dalla with her father cleaning wheat
“When my husband passed away five years ago, I lost my only source of income and I had to move back to my parents’ house where I realized they were even in a much worse situation financially than I thought”.
Dalla’s mother was working small jobs harvesting lands and cleaning houses. While her disabled father made rosaries and cleaned wheat from home.
“I worked any job I could get, cleaning houses, washing carpets, making hay brooms and conserving seasonal foods”.
When she could not find any work in Syria, she migrated to Lebanon for about a year and then to Turkey for more than three years working long hours in sewing workshops.
“I did not know numbers or how to measure. During my work as a seamstress in Lebanon and Turkey, I used my palm and fingers to measure. A sweater is two palms and a few fingers in length, for example”.
Soon after Dalla returned from Turkey, her sister moved in along with her six children after getting divorced and kicked out by her husband. All of her hard-earned savings went on an emergency surgery for her nephew. She went back to do small jobs wherever she could find them and depended on charity to make ends meet.
Dalla working in the cash-for-work solid waste management project
“One day, I heard about an organization that is recruiting workers to remove debris and solid waste. I was desperate. I needed a job”.
Debris and solid waste removal is the first step in UNDP’s Integrated Area Based Approach where female workers are always strongly encouraged to join.
“I still remember how happy I was when I received my uniform and met my wonderful colleagues on my first day. Everyone was so nice and respectful. It was strange at first because people are not used to seeing women working in this field in the village, but this did not stop us. I am not ashamed, on the contrary, I am proud to be cleaning my country, my village, my home”.
“When I received my first salary, I immediately went to the store to buy some groceries we needed. I handed him all the money I had since I did not know how to count and told him to return what is left of it. He started laughing because I still owed him ten thousand Syrian pounds. He was kind enough to wait till I receive my next salary to pay him back”.
“One day, I heard about UNDP’s literacy courses, and I immediately knew that this would change my life. I wanted to learn, to read, to write, to count. I still remember my first day in class. We looked at each other and laughed because none of us understood what was written on the board. I knew it was not going to be easy to start at my age, but I was never more determined to learn”
Dalla practicing at the literacy course
The literacy courses are part of many courses and capacity building workshops held at a UNDP rehabilitated and run community centre in the area. In 2022, around 1,300 vulnerable women and men and community leaders underwent various trainings, which in addition to literacy, it included gender justice awareness, conflict resolution, community security and access to justice for peace, housing, land, and property. The main purpose of the community centre is to promote dialogue and expand the network of peace builders in the community.
“I became more confident! Sometimes I would stop and read signs in the street. Sometimes people would stare at me wondering what I am doing, but I did not care. I wanted to learn, I wanted to practice all the time”
Working in her sewing workshop
“After the debris and solid waste project has finished, I started thinking about how I can best invest my savings. That is when I heard about another UNDP project supporting businesses start-ups in the area. I decided to open my own sewing workshop”.
The Integrated Area Based Approach also included the revival and establishment of 86 shops and small businesses in the local market, in addition to on-the-job training and job placement for 30 people.
“I started by renting a place and fixing it. A tailor examined my sewing skills, and I was approved to start my project. With the payments I received I bought machines, batteries, and supplies. I am currently training a young girl with me. People know me well around here and I am making a very decent living for myself and my family”
The Integrated Area Based Approach (IABA) was based on the findings of context sensitivity in Deir Ezzor that highlighted main dividers and connectors of Al-Ashara. Responsive and tailored interventions were designed in a way that contributes to increased sense of ownership and pave the way for a safe enabling environment.
Other interventions in the area included the rehabilitation of an elementary school, irrigation pumps and sewage networks. In addition, 60 local farmers benefited from agricultural activities and 40 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) received productive assets.
This project was made possible thanks to generous funding from the German government through KfW Development Bank.
Thank you note written by Dalla
“God did not give me children, but the workshop is now my life, and I am planning to train more girls in the future for free as my way to give back to society and help others…I have come a long way and I still have hope for the future!” concluded Dalla as she proudly wrote a thank you note on a piece of paper.
* 2025 SYRIA HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE PRIORITIES
By Asma’ Nashawati, Communications Associate, UNDP Syria
Related
content
content
