Tailoring a life for herself
Like so many others, Ahlam’s family was forced to flee the war in Iraq when Islamic State group (IS) took over Mosul and other parts of the country in June 2014. Ahlam was just 13 years old at the time.
“I was a child, and we were forced to leave our home because of IS,” says Ahlam. “We feared for our lives.”
After spending years in displacement, the family eventually returned to their hometown, Bartella, after it was liberated.
“When we came back, the situation was very bad, especially the economic situation,” she recalls. “So, I decided to look for a job to help the family.”
Finding a job and earning an income is not an easy task in a town where a war has just ended. However, Ahlam, now aged 20, was determined to do something useful to help her family and to become self-reliant.
Learning a craft
Through friends and relatives, Ahlam heard about the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) community centre in Bartella and its support programmes for young people. The centre was set up to help young people in Iraq learn a new craft and start along a career path.
“I was excited when I registered for the tailoring course at the centre and my name was accepted,” says Ahlam.
She is now one of over 1,600 young people who have completed a vocational and educational course at the centre, which is funded by the European Union.
Through her studies, Ahlam built good relations with her trainer and learned new things. “The trainer supported me and helped every step of the way,” says Ahlam. “I have learned a lot from the centre and the people there.”
Lazem, tailoring trainer at the Bartella centre, recalls Ahlam’s first few days. “When she started, Ahlam didn’t know much about sewing, but she had the desire to learn,” says Lazem.
Independence
“NRC and the centre have played a big role in helping me not only to work and depend on myself, but also to learn a lot about life itself,” explains Ahlam.
Ahlam completed the tailoring course with merit and was one of the top five graduates in her course. She received a business start-up kit as an award.
Throughout the course, Ahlam learned tailoring professionally, step by step, and she was excited to finish the training and serve her first customer.
“Now I work from home, and I have my customers, mainly the neighbours,” she says. “But I’m hoping to open a tailoring shop soon, to expand my business.”
Now Ahlam, and the other young people who have participated in this project, have a skill that can generate income. They’re becoming independent, and can begin to build lives for themselves, despite the turbulent experiences they’ve been through.