As-Suwayda-Sana
The ambition to improve and advance their living situation, as they are the breadwinners for their families, prompted several women from As-Suwayda Governorate to go towards small and micro projects to be a main supporter for them in their livelihood.
Among these women is Fatina Abboud, who succeeded in establishing a micro-business in which she combined needle and hook products and food manufacturing for more than 20 years, as she told SANA reporter.
Abboud explained that she started her work on the hook in order to support her family, and with her gaining experience, she started making bed sheets, pillows and crochet, then she went to manufacture gift boxes and was more encouraged after displaying her products at the permanent crafts house exhibition.
Abboud, or “Umm Saleem,” indicated how often she is called, that she has recently focused her work on manufacturing canvas bags with needles and hooks with various types of threads through the “Tabastri” art that was used by the Greeks in the Middle Ages, and it requires great effort and accuracy in work, noting that she has exported some of her works from this. Art is outside Syria, and according to Abboud, who participates in several exhibitions in Suwayda and the governorates, she won the award for the best handicraft for a bag with “Tabastari” art within the Second Art of Life Forum at the level of Syria, which was held in Suwayda, pointing out that it also excels in the manufacture of food products such as kiosks, jams, pickles, vinegar, corn flour and drying. Molokhia and roses are marketed within her sister's shop in the Suwayda city market.
Abboud finds that through her work she achieves herself and fills her spare time with useful things, showing how she was able to reconcile her work and her home duties as a family head.
As for Wedad Hamad Ghanem, with her will and determination, she transformed her acquired experience as a housewife in the field of manufacturing food products into a small project that knew its launch after receiving support from the Social Solidarity Program of the Maqam Ain al-Zaman Charitable Center.
Wedad, 46, stated that her project combines the manufacture of traditional pastries and sweets such as al-Marshim and Lazakiyat and special occasion foods such as Moroccan and Arab Mansaf and various supplies, indicating that she started her project in her home and then moved during the current year to a rented shop in the city of As-Suwayda, where she was helped by her husband and she continued to work after his death and currently supports 5 children It also provides a job opportunity for a woman. Umm Ayham explained that her start to work came after undergoing a course on establishing projects within the social solidarity program at the Ain Al-Zaman Center, in addition to financing it through the program with the necessary equipment, stressing that she has ambitions to expand her project with the aim of providing job opportunities for the largest number of women.
According to Huda Kiwan, she works with Umm Ayham on a daily basis in order to support her family's income, especially with her experience in the manufacture of food products.
As for Ilham Abu Marra, she used her experience in the field of sewing over a period of 30 years to establish a micro-project based on converting the remnants of clothing and furniture fabrics into multi-use products at home, such as tablecloths, tissue boxes, floor coverings, and others, in addition to artistic paintings.
Abo Murra, 53, explained that she started her project about a year ago, after undergoing a course in the field of fabric recycling at the Old Ghosn Center for Handicrafts.
She indicated that this work brings her additional income for her work in the field of sewing and an expense in support of her family, indicating that the time she spends to complete her work does not distract her from her role as a housewife, and that she relies in marketing her production on the exhibitions she participates in in addition to acquaintances, friends, social media and electronic marketing through one of companies.
According to Carmelinda Raslan, a specialist in textile recycling at the Old Ghosn Center for Handicrafts, she trained Ilham with a group of women at the center, and after a month of training, she succeeded in participating in the first exhibition “Pioneering Women” with the Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development, and became part of the center’s team and participated with it in several exhibitions.
long life
Baba Abboud
Wedad Ghanem
Ilham Abu Marra
