Sisters’ Stories: How new friendships are helping Zarifa heal

While our projects are all about women and girls learning and gaining new skills, we also strongly believe in the power of shared experience as a means of healing from trauma.  

As a result, our safe women’s centres are geared towards bringing women and girls together so that they can build friendships, share stories and move forwards collectively.

Zarifa is one woman who has attended several of our groups and classes, and she has personally benefitted from the support of others around her. Aged 21, she has lived at Essyan camp ever since ISIS invaded her home region. Having left school with no qualifications, Zarifa first came to our women’s centre last year and has been attending awareness sessions and our popular photography course.

She says: “Being with others during classes and training makes me feel happy. I like being with friends while learning skills that benefit my life, instead of spending most of it on social media and doing other useless stuff.”

Zarifa’s view is shared by most of those we support, who otherwise have little to do. Life in cramped tents and cabins offers little distraction, and often leads to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Many women have low self-esteem too, as they are used to feeling excluded and unheard within society, while they have also lost sloved ones and family members.

Our cafe is a place for healing and friendships

As well as running our specific projects, our four women’s centres serve as a place for survivors to gather and talk freely. Additionally, our Lotus Café is a place where women can relax and eat high-quality food which they prepare and sell themselves. And we also run exercise classes which offer further opportunity for all ages to unwind and release stress and tension.

It’s this holistic approach that makes the Lotus Flower different, because traditionally there have been very few services like this for women and girls living in camps. We’d love it if you could help us support others like Zarifa by donating below…