Generous contributions of the government of Canada and other donors help UNHCR in its effort to empower refugee women who were forced to flee the violence in their homeland.
(c) UNHCR / Raffaella Vicentini
With the Syrian crisis in its seventh year, Lebanon continues to host more than one million refugees, over half of whom are living in extreme poverty. Women and children, who represent approximately 80 per cent of the refugee population, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of displacement and exposed to severe protection risks such as exploitation and abuse. Generous contributions of the government of Canada and other donors help UNHCR in its effort to empower refugee women who were forced to flee the violence in their homeland.
In a room at a community centre in Lebanon, 32-year-old Kadiriya encourages a dozen refugee women to speak up and share their stories.
The women attending the activity are all eager to take a break from their daily life and have an exchange with their community. This meeting gives them the opportunity to meet other women and share their stories and worries.
“Through these discussions, we can learn from each other and support one another,” says Kadriya, a refugee herself from Daraa.
While today’s participants are all from Syria, in other sessions steered by Kadiriya, Palestinian and Lebanese women are also among the attendees.
Kadriya is one of nearly 600 outreach volunteers (OVs) who help UNHCR provide up-to-date information on services available to their communities as well as raise awareness about a wide range of topics.
(c) UNHCR / Raffaella Vicentini
32-year old Aysha* from Homs is concerned for her son and wants to hear from the other mothers in the room. She tells them that he is attending the second shift in a nearby school and is too scared to play during the school break because of violence between other children. Despite interventions by the school, this is still continuing.
While follow-up with the school authorities will still be needed, Kadriya advises Aysha to also communicate with the other parents, noting the importance of being part of the solution rather than simply relying on others to resolve issues for them.
“As women, each of you has a role, without which society will not be the same,” says Kadriya.
The outreach volunteer programme is one way through which UNHCR helps communities help themselves. In addition to informing refugees about the different services they can access, OVs provide feedback to UNHCR and partners on needs and solutions. This is an important step because refugee communities are often better placed to identify their most critical problems and know how best to resolve them. This also helps refugees to become less dependent on external aid. In turn, their actions contribute to building healthier communities which better protect and look after their most vulnerable members.
As an Outreach Volunteer specializing in protection since 2014, Kadriya facilitates awareness and information sessions on different topics, including for example child protection and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). She also visits refugees in their homes, and helps in identifying vulnerable refugees and referring them for assistance.
(c) UNHCR / Raffaella Vicentini
We followed Kadriya during a visit to Fatima* (33), a Syrian refugee woman living with her two children in Chatila, a Palestinian camp in Beirut where some Syrian refugees have found shelter. Fatima had learned of Kadriya from her neighbours. “I’m new here and I don’t know what to do,” she tells the outreach volunteer.
Kadriya gives Fatima specific advice that would allow her family to access the services they need.
(c) UNHCR / Raffaella Vicentini
“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have known,” Fatima says. Kadriya also invites her to participate in support groups with other women.
Kadriya explains to UNHCR that she was already active in her community in Syria. After fleeing to Lebanon, she decided to take part in UNHCR’s outreach volunteer programme because she saw many disheartened women and she wanted to help. “I have always believed strongly in the power of women,” confirms Kadriya, “and I feel encouraged to see how these women support each other.”
The refugee volunteer says she does not know where she will be in five years, but that she is sure that she will continue to help the women in her community. “Never give up. Always search for opportunities to learn and to give back to society,” Kadiriya tells them.
With generous contributions from donors such as the government of Canada, UNHCR can continue its work to empower women and help them deal with the challenges they face on a daily basis.
* Names changed for protection purposes
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