Photo © Yiannis Kourtoglou
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we honour the remarkable achievements and resilience of displaced women and girls around the world, who, despite all the challenges, are showing extreme resilience and strength. This year’s theme, For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment, calls for action to unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities for all, envisioning a future where no one is left behind. Investing in education and economic opportunities for displaced women is crucial for economic transformation and active participation in communities for the benefit of all. UNHCR encourages and calls for more higher education programs for refugee women and girls by investing in scholarships, mentorship programmes and skills development.
On this Women’s Day, we are proud to feature the empowerment journey of three young asylum-seekers in Cyprus with a passion for fashion. While the road to self-reliance can be extremely difficult for many asylum-seekers, particularly women, we met participants who found hope through a series of hands-on fashion workshops. The workshops were offered pro bono to nine refugees by the Department of Arts and Communication at Frederick University and were tailored to their specific needs and interests.
The coordinator Victoria Leonidou explained that these workshops aimed to enhance the participants’ skills, facilitate their professional development, and integrate them into the fashion industry. Focusing on practical skill upgrades, the workshops helped participants refine their practice and gain confidence in their abilities to thrive in the competitive environment of fashion design. “It is a priority for us to support every individual in the same way we support our students, so they can reach their full potential,” she said, adding:
“With this initiative, we are taking on our share of responsibility towards very talented individuals, giving them the opportunity to achieve their goals.”
Jeanne*, an asylum-seeker from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and a fashion model, discovered a new passion for fashion design through the workshops. “Through this course, I started to learn about fashion design and understand better what suits me. It was a very good course, learning about styles and fashion, and how it’s connected to modeling,” she shared. Jeanne produced her own garments through the workshops and expressed her gratitude for this opportunity. “I like to be here in Cyprus. I found my life here. For the moment, the situation in Congo is very bad, not only in the province but also in the capital.
“I would like to attend more of these workshops. Staying home is not nice; it’s better to learn, get more experiences, and change.”
Marie*, a young asylum-seeking woman from Cameroon, has been living in Cyprus for seven years. While continuing her Greek lessons, she discovered her passion for fashion design through a series of sewing classes she attended at a local NGO some years ago. Now, she has a sewing machine at home and produces handbags, often modifying their designs. She orders fabric online from Africa and sews but needs to promote and sell her creations. Marketing them remains one of the top challenges, which is why she found these workshops particularly helpful. “Fashion is my path,” she says. “I am looking forward to more similar workshops and to the next fashion show; we will do much more,” she says with a big smile.
“The fashion show organized last October and these workshops gave me power and courage to believe in myself and what I want to do in life.”
Similarly, Afi*, an asylum-seeker from Togo, and a mother of two, aspires to become an agent of social change. Originally a cashier in her home country, she had always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer and helping vulnerable women in becoming self-reliant. Reflecting on the fashion show last December, she said, “I produced so many garments; if I were to show you all, you would stay here forever.” She enjoys working on her designs at home while her children are sleeping. Her dream is to create a community for women with children to empower them through workshops.
“I want to help women take their lives into their own hands, not stay home and be marginalized.”
Anna Merry Economou, faculty member of the Interior Design programme, further explained: “These workshops were not just about fashion design; they represented a vital step toward empowerment and inclusion for refugee women in Cyprus. For the women who participated, many of whom have faced numerous challenges, the workshops offered a safe space to express their creativity, and to build new skills. It was a reminder that design and creativity are universal languages capable of bridging gaps, fostering understanding and empowerment.” She added that:
“There is a clear need for more empowerment projects tailored specifically to women from refugee backgrounds, to: nurture talents; amplify voices; and create opportunities for meaningful social and professional integration. Ultimately, the program was a powerful reminder of how design and education have the potential to drive social change.”
The workshops, led pro bono by the Department of Arts and Communication at Frederick University, were part of the broader Face Forward …into my home program that was featured in the 5th Nicosia International Festival. The program culminated in an exhibition of portraits and personal narratives in the foyer of the Nicosia Municipal Theatre from October 2024 to January 2025. It was also a catalyst for empowerment and further actions, notably including the impressive African Fashion Show, a refugee-led initiative that was also held at the Theatre in October 2024, where nine fashion designers with a refugee and migrant background alongside two Cypriot designers showcased their creations.
*Names changed for protection reasons
Μοιράσου το στο Facebook Μοιράσου το στο Twitter
