Rasha and her family moved to Kahramanmaraş from Aleppo in 2014. Rasha (32) is married with four children. Despite the agonizing war and migration, she has written a story of resilience that will inspire all women with faith and determination.
After living with her family in Kahramanmaraş for about a year, Rasha settled in Ankara due to her husband’s job. Over the years, she became a role model for many of her female friends who built a new life with her efforts to work, support her family and improve herself.
“We arrived in Türkiye in winter; it was a difficult journey, especially for our children. It was well worth the effort to live in peace and warmth today,” Rasha says.
Back in Syria, Rasha had received education until the 7th grade and had no work experience. She started learning Turkish, realising the significance of breaking down the language barrier. She is currently involved in activities promoting social cohesion and capacity building at the SGDD-ASAM Ankara Community Centre.
“SGDD-ASAM stands by and empowers women, no matter how weak they may feel,” Rasha notes.
Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, Rasha emphasises the support she received from Ankara Community Centre staff for her family’s overall resilience, notably for the school enrolment of her children who received online education.
Rasha has been working as one of the most active members of the BERI Women’s Cooperative for three years, explaining that she does her best for her children’s education. The cooperative, where the beneficiaries are referred to, carries out activities for women’s empowerment and income generation.
Rasha claims that her cooperative friends trust her in helping them improve their professional skills; therefore, they have picked up on her business ideas.
“I hope our project will be our strength, our dream and our triumph,” Rasha says. “No matter how much I explain, words are insufficient. We exist as BERI, not as Turks or Syrians.”
She wishes to continue her path by becoming more resilient as a result of her work at the BERI cooperative. “I have to stand by my children in order to be a strong mother and have a solid future,” Rasha adds.
“To all the women out there: Let’s make our dreams come true. Let’s follow our dreams and make them true. “Allow yourself to do whatever you want. Infuse your love and strength into everything. As a result, you will achieve great success in any field.”
