Sisters’ Stories: Surian’s healing journey with the Lotus Flower

This week, we wanted to share the story of Surian, a beneficiary from one of our latest projects, which is providing much-needed women’s livelihoods, awareness and mental health support.

Surian is aged 20, and has been living within Essyan camp since 2014 after fleeing the ISIS attacks with her family when she was just a young teenager.

Adjusting to life in camp after the huge trauma of war has of course been difficult over the years. And like so many young women, Surian has often felt like she had nowhere to turn for emotional support. When she heard about the Lotus Flower’s women’s centres she signed up for various different training courses and classes – including our latest project.

She says: “I have been attending awareness sessions on gender-based violence and group psychosocial sessions at the centre. I decided to take part in these activities because I had anger issues, and always felt down. I knew I needed to see a psychologist, and also wanted to make friends with other women. With the group therapy sessions and gender-based violence awareness, I am feeling calmer now – especially when I practice the activities from the sessions.”

She has also found her understanding of key issues affecting women has also increased. “I know more about my rights, and my obligations as a female to reduce gender-based violence against other women within my community,” she says.

Surian is one of many women and girls to benefit from these sessions, which are part of our collaboration with The Big Heart Foundation and NAMA. With escalating mental health issues and a sharp rise in gender-based violence and exploitation in refugee and IDP settings, the project includes awareness sessions plus psycho-social support with a professional psychologist. 

The year-long project is also providing financial support and business mentorship for new and existing women-led small businesses. Priority for this element of the project is being given to female heads of household, widows with children and ISIS survivors.

We’re so pleased our projects are making a difference to women like Surian, who so richly deserve these chances in life…