By Shella Abdulhalim
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Many non-governmental organizations operate in Hawl Camp in the southeast of the city of Hasakah, northeastern Syria. They provide different activities for camp residents in order to empower them and help them reintegrate into society.
Residents of the camp, be they Syrians or Iraqis, face many difficulties due to their difficult living conditions amid lack of job opportunities. They are eager to make the most of any learning opportunity provided by the organizations operating there.
Hassan al-Hussein, an IDP residing at the camp, told North Press that he has been participating in a barbering training workshop provided an organization operating in the camp.
“I am attending a barbering workshop provided by QRD Organization. The workshop will last for 15 days. After I leave the camp, I will open my own barbershop,” al-Hussein said.
He told North Press that it was difficult for him to find a job within the camp. After attending the workshop, however, he now feels empowered to rely on himself. “It will help me secure my livelihood and benefit my community.”
These workshops aim to enhance individuals’ capacities, enabling them to become productive and contribute to their respective communities. In addition, it facilitates their reintegration to these communities.
Abdulghani Ibrahim, a barbering instructor, informed North Press that he has partnered with an NGO to organize a barbering training workshop. The purpose is to provide camp residents with the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue a career in barbering and establish their own businesses.
“The workshop has been well received by many young people. They want to learn and have a profession that they can benefit from when they leave the camp,” Ibrahim said.
Upon finishing the workshop, he added, these trainees will be able to open their own barbershop. “Many of them are ready to open their shop. Many young people have benefited greatly and learned quickly.”
In addition to offering vocational training programs, NGOs operating at the camp also provide psychological support to its residents.
Muhammad Jamal, an official at the Organization for Research and Development (QRD), said the organization offers psychological support for the camp’s residents, aiming to help them in coping with the challenges they face within the camp and pave the way for their reintegration into their communities upon their release from the camp.
He added that their organization has multiple projects that cater to various segments of society across different age groups. Jamal emphasized that their focus extends to children, youth, and women.
“We provide psychological support activities to children, youth and women within the camp to help them deal with the challenges they face here,” he said.
“We also work on rehabilitating them so they can be prepared to integrate into outside communities upon their release from the camp,” Jamal added.
Aside from psychological support, the official said, the organization provides sessions on hygiene, anger management, and social skills.
The camp houses 55,000 individuals, including 28,725 Iraqis, about 18,641 Syrians from various governorates and 8,803 of foreign nationalities, according to the latest statistics obtained by North Press.