Sisters' Stories: ‘Being part of Peace Sisters was so precious’
Our Peace Sisters project has grown so much since it first launched, and we’re really happy that it continues to inspire the women and girls who take part.
One of the first Peace Sisters to graduate from the programme was Hajar, a 22-year-old from Syria who fled to Domiz 2 refugee camp following the ISIS atrocities. She has six sisters and a brother, and life has been extremely tough for the family in recent years – especially as she has an inherited blood disorder called Thalassemia.
The condition means that the body has less haemoglobin than normal, which can cause anaemia and fatigue. “My life doesn’t run smoothly, so I usually spend most of my day at home and am unable to do much,” says Hajar. “Being sick while living in a camp with this condition makes life much harder, and puts more obstacles in your way.”
Hajar is now a trained Peace Sister
Last year, Hajar had the chance to take part in our Peace Sisters programme, which trains women and girls to be peace defenders and mediators within their own communities. In partnership with the German Consulate in Erbil, the project also provides skills in communications, teamwork and public speaking. “I participated in the training because I love learning new things and discovering new skills,” says Hajar. “I enjoyed the training days, and learned many things. The fact the mediation was taught by women was one of the most significant experiences for me.”
She hopes to pass the skills she developed on to others in her community and adds: “The time I spent with the Peace Sisters was so precious, and I hope we as girls and women keep being part of this family.”
The Peace Sisters ‘family’
We believe Peace Sisters is one of the first projects to focus on women becoming primary drivers of peacebuilding and social cohesion in this way. The programme features workshops that encourage inclusion, collaboration and open dialogue across multiple faiths, cultures and generations, as well as involving men and boys in key conversations.
Having recently started a brand new run of the project in Zakho and Al Hamdaniya districts, we look forward to many more women and girls becoming fully-trained Peace Sisters soon!