War has not save any city or area without affecting them with its negatives impacts and results besides burdened its citizens with poverty and deprivation from the basic necessities of living in addition to unemployment particularly in liberated areas. This is because regime on purpose and according to a plan targeted service institutions and factories in order to destroy the understructure and not to make use of them ; here work opportunities turn to be few so that only people who have “capital” can start new projects giving them stable source of earn living.
Here the idea of “Small Projects” sparks which were suggested by some relief and humanitarian organizations in Idlib city and its countryside. The goal is offering financial support for the families of martyrs, arrested, orphans and widows in addition to the very poor families which have no breadwinner or supporter aiding them in earning living.
It was set an amount estimated to “400” dollars as a launch for every beneficiary in the project where other amounts can be set in the next phase after the committee of projects carries out detect on the project whether successful and fruitful and needs more financial support, according to an official in the relief organization.
Om-Yazan who is one of the beneficiary in the project, is a widow and a breadwinner of five children. She talked about her small project:” I considered so many projects and my kids suggested some. I decided to open a second-use clothing shop in our neighborhood after my neighbor agreed to hire his shop at small rent till selling increases. So I bought the goods from a store dealing with wholesales. After that I classified the goods according to its quality in order to set the price for every piece counting the profits I will gain”.
“The shop was well received by the citizens of my neighborhood where they shopped in it due to the encouraging prices. Despite the project is in its beginning, but I feel I am an operative citizen in the community accomplishing an honor job to support my children providing them with their needs without waiting no pathetic of anyone”, she proceeded.
Women of Idlib city are creative in selecting their small projects; some have chosen sewing revealing their creativity in recycling old clothes forming new clothes. While others have selected to make delicious home-made sweets and candies to sell them with acceptable prices
The small projects are not carried out by women only but by men as well; there are men in Idlib countryside who accomplished agricultural projects aim to develop and improve production providing a source of money for farmers unable to find agricultural supplies including seeds, watering and compost.
Idlib city women have proved their excellence and strength in making advantage out of small amount of money finding small projects hoping they can be good launch in the difficult circumstances of war in Syria.
By Samah Alkhaled
Translated by Sabah Najem
#Syrian_press_center
