Sewing Sisters

Sewing Sisters was our very first project, and launched in November 2016 at our centre in Rwanga Community Camp. The project followed a needs assessment which we conducted with 200 women from the community, the majority of whom requested help an income-generating scheme which specifically involved sewing. Our research showed that female Yezidi survivors want an opportunity to financially provide for their families while also creating a supportive community environment to recover from the atrocities they've experienced. 

During the three-month training programme, the students were taught on sewing machines and we provided all materials needed while they completed the course. Women who were unable to read or write were also able to participate in our adult literacy course prior to beginning Sewing Sisters. 

At the end of the course, all women received a professional certificate and the opportunity to work through local contracts in the community in order to generate an income. Some women also received a sewing machine for their homes enabling them to continue production there.

By offering professional training and connections to the local market, this economic livelihood programme helps enable women's future long-term stability, empowerment, and financial independence.  As an example, many of the  graduates made use of their skills by creating fabric face masks for the community, to help guard against the spread of Covid-19.

As well as clear financial benefits, the project helps women emotionally and socially – giving them an opportunity to leave their cabins and tents, and providing a space for them to work, meet and heal together.

CASE STUDY

When Almas first arrived at Rwanga camp after the ISIS attacks, she found living in a tent very difficult, especially as there was no water or electricity and she didn’t know anyone. “But slowly, I got to know the Lotus Flower staff, and they signed me up for the Sewing Sisters course,” she says. “It really interested me, and not only because I made new friends. The course was three months, and after finishing it, I received a sewing machine. By working with the machine and practicing my new skills, I was able to earn money and care for my children. I am so grateful to the Lotus Flower for what they have done to help me and my family.”

Lotus Café

In July 2019, we launched the Lotus Flower Café with the support of Asma Khan, founder of Darjeeling Express, in Essyan Camp, which is home to almost 15,000 displaced individuals. With a shortage of culturally accepted public spaces for women and girls to gather, as well as a lack of employment opportunities, it is difficult for them to rebuild their lives or communities. 

The Lotus Café means women and girls can eat healthy, high-quality food in a safe space that has previously not existed in camps. We provide the space, equipment, and supplies, and the women build their cooking skills, teamwork and economic independence. After training in small business management, the female chefs are responsible for managing and operating the café daily. Crucially, the women are able to keep any profits they make, meaning they can support their families and reinvest the money however they see fit.

CASE STUDY

Alya is an ISIS survivor and mum-of-three, who has been a key part of the Lotus Café project. During the atrocities of 2014, she saw many of her friends and relatives taken as sex slaves, and ended up with her family at Essyan camp. Having no income at all before she got involved with the Lotus Flower, she is now able to provide for her family, and says: “Working in the Lotus Café means I’m able to help my parents and feed my three kids. It makes me happy, and it feels good to be self-empowered.”