Sisters' Stories: Photography helps Dilveen tackle mental health issues

Our popular Storytelling Sisters project provides girls with a combination of photography and creative writing skills, enabling them to share their experiences through imagery and words. 

Dilveen is a 19-year-old conflict survivor who lives at Essyan camp after fleeing the ISIS attacks of 2014, and she is just one of those who have found huge personal benefits from the project. She says: “I like being part of the photography training classes at the Lotus Flower centre, because they build my skills in taking professional photos and telling stories of people through them.”

After her traumatic experiences of the war - which saw Dilveen and her family forced to leave their home - she suffered from mental health issues which left her feeling alone and unable to make new friends. “The classes have helped me socialise more with others inside the camp, which comes after I was isolated due to psychological issues.”

She adds: “The training here is so useful to me, and I hope there will be  more opportunities like this for me and other young girls in the camp.”

As part of the programme, women and girls learn how to use DLSR cameras and photo editing software, plus how to create video content and use social media platforms to share their work. The scheme serves as a creative outlet which helps women and girls process their emotions after years of conflict, as well as the harsh realities of being displaced.

Storytelling Sisters also aims to offer the participants highly transferable skills which will prove useful in securing future employment, while others have gone on to obtain a job as professional trainer within the Lotus Flower itself.

Please do support our work so that we can continue to provide these valuable opportunities for women and girls…