By Zana al-Ali
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – In the corner of Social Welfare Center in the city of Raqqa, northern Syria, Umm Muhammad, a returnee from Hawl Camp, sells its dairy products and cheese she made by hand.
In the southern corner, Umm Muhammad arranged her dairy products, which she made with the support of one of the humanitarian organizationsworking in the areas held by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
Social Welfare Center, which was opened by the AANES on May, 9, 2024, aims at reintegrating the Hawl Camp returnees and to organize marketing exhibition titled “Returnees to Life.”
Start from scratch
Umm Muhammad, a female returnee from Hawl Camp in the last batch in September 2023, participated with all types of dairy products and cheese, such as cottage cheese, and Sorka (local dairy products).
She says the exhibition gives them an opportunity to showcase their work and earn their livelihood. After returning from Hawl Camp, they had to start from the scratch, and this exhibition is a significant step for them.
Women returning from Hawl Camp face difficulties in the labor market, especially since most of them do not have specific skills.
The exhibition organized by the Welfare Center in partnership with the Quality and Research Developments Organization (QRD) Organization lasts for three consecutive days, from 10 am to 2 pm, and includes 24 women who returned from Hawl Camp.
Umm Muhammad, a mother of one child, received basic production materials from the Social Welfare Center and the QRD.
Ibrahim al-Hawari, a visitor to the exhibition, bought some of the items by the women.
Al-Hawari said that this type of activity in their city is something to proud of. These products are not only beautiful but also show the stories and resilience of those who have suffered greatly, he says.
He told North Press that such exhibitions support the returnees from Hawl Camp that there are truly beautiful and well-crafted items on display now in the exhibition.
Achieving self-sufficiency
The exhibition is accompanied by other activities such as decorations and colors, adding an atmosphere and optimism to strengthen social bonds and rebuild trust among community members.
Muntaser Fehmy, co-chair of the Social Welfare Center in the city of Raqqa, says the exhibition was a desire of the beneficiaries to find their way to the local market and showcase their product they were trained to produce previously.
Fehmy told North press that through these projects, we seek to achieve economic independence for individuals, relying on their skills and creativity.
He points out that the number of beneficiaries for the Returnees to Life Exhibition is 24 families. The goal is to earn livelihood and integrate them into society.
He indicates that the exhibition was not only an economic opportunity but also a chance for communication between the city’s residents and the returnees.
In September 2023, 93 families, totaling 360 people, left Hawl Camp and went to Raqqa in an initiative by the AANES.
The AANES’ Raqqa Civil Council opened the Social Welfare Center on Jan. 29 in the city of Raqqa dedicated to the Hawl Camp returnees.