Sisters' Stories: Ghazal lands her dream photography job

All Lotus Flower livelihoods projects are designed to empower women and girls so that they can establish a career in a field they love. And for Ghazal Abdi Darwish, who lives in the Essyan camp near Duhok, this means she has been able to starting working as a professional photographer and video maker.

Ghazal now works as a photographer and video maker

Ghazal took part in the Lotus Flower’s Storytelling Sisters project, which teaches women and girls how to document their lives and stories through the medium of photo journalism.

Having moved into the Essyan camp in 2015 when the ISIS atrocities forced her to leave her home in Shingal, Ghazal says: “I had to leave my studies because of the circumstances. Life was really hard for us in the beginning.” She began taking photographs to tell the stories of those living within the camp. “My photos were shown in an exhibition in Duhok province, and when I saw I was capable of doing this work, I created a page to show my pictures.” 

Ghazal then began working with the Lotus Flower as a photography trainer on the project, encouraging women to record their experiences visually as a healing and inspiring artform. “I then got promoted in my job and have started working with the Lotus Flower as an official employee,” she adds. “It is a joy to share my hobby with other women and girls, and also to be working in this area.”

As part of the Storytelling Sisters programme, women and girls learn how to use DLSR cameras and photo editing software, plus how to create compelling video content and use social media platforms to share their work. The scheme serves as a creative outlet which helps women and girls heal from trauma, after many experienced unthinkable suffering at the hands of ISIS.