DUHOK, KRI, Iraq, (North Press) – Wajiha had no much time to talk as she is preoccupied with sewing a dress that ought to be handed over within hours. Though she had recently a sore throat and a severe cold, she keeps working.
A couple of years ago, Wajiha Muhammad found herself in a difficult position after her husband lost hearing. She had no choice but to find a way to provide for her family.
The Syrian refugee, who lives with her husband and daughter in Domiz refugee Camp since 2012, says she decided to depend on herself. She had profession of sewing.
Muhammad, 45, commenced her profession by receiving training courses. She bought a sewing machine on installments.
Since the Syrian crisis in 2011, hundreds of Syrian women fled to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) residing in cities and camps.
Syrian women bore the brunt of hardships in the new life they lead. A lot of them have commenced their own projects in the camps to secure a safe living for their families.
According to a report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2014, “More than 145,000 Syrian refugee families in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan – or one in four of all households – are headed by women facing a lone fight for survival.”
At her house, Wajiha has allocated a small room on the street for her.
In her house within the camp, Wajiha allocated a small room overlooking the street for her profession. She painted and equipped it in the best possible available way.
“I bought some pieces of clothes and sold them, besides my profession. I have made some profits hence I was able to pay my debts. I have been able to earn my family a living. My daughter also goes to the schools with all necessary needs,” she said.
The Syrian refugee sews every items of clothes, and she is adamant to be on time to earn more clients.
“I found no other way to earn my family a living. I am not very well though. However, my work has relieved and revived myself. We live in stability, financially speaking. My neighbors and friends come to my shop to have their fabrics sewn,” she said.
Wajiha concludes, “I have had a monthly sum of money by which I could provide for my family.”