Free Women’s Foundation, founded in 2018 to provide education and job opportunities to women and youth, opened a computer course for women at the beginning of September. We spoke to women attending the course, which attacks the attention of women. “We should develop and strengthen ourselves in all areas.”

NORŞAN ABDÎ

Kobanî- Free Women’s Foundation was founded in 2018 in the city of Kobanî, NE Syria to provide economic, professional, and cultural support for the women of Kobanî. The foundation has developed programs to prepare women for life and to provide employment opportunities.

The main purpose of the foundation is to support women affected by the ongoing war in Syria and provide psychological support for women and children. The foundation also aims to develop many projects to empower women. The foundation has organized many courses for women until now. The computer course opened at the beginning of September is one of these courses. We spoke to the teachers and students of the course.

Diyana Ehmed, one of the managers of the foundation and teachers of the course, told us they often open computer courses to teach women and youth how they can use computers. Each of the computer courses lasts 40 days. “But some women need more time to learn. The course attendees receive theoretical and practical lessons and learn computer programs such as Excel and printing methods. When they look for a job, these lessons and programs will be useful for them. After they complete the courses, we try to provide job opportunities for them.”

Free education opportunity

Pointing to that the course attenders face difficulties in learning computer programs at the beginning, Diyana Ehmed said, “We teach them slowly and the attenders take an exam every week. At the end of the course, they take a final exam. The attendees, who get a score above 70, receive a certificate.” The computer courses opened by the foundation are free. “We will continue to work for the organization and empowerment of women,” Diyana Ehmed stressed.

“I have more chance thanks to the foundation”

32-year-old Amina Şex Mihemed is one of the course attendees. She stated that the Free Women’s Foundation has many courses but she prefers to attend the computer course. Before attending the course, Amina didn’t know even how to turn on and off the computer. “At the beginning, I had a hard time. But now I can easily use the computer. A married woman should organize everything. I have just two children and don’t have difficulties organizing my day,” said Amina, who already applied to the employment service agency to find a job. “I have more chance thanks to the foundation.”

“Women should improve themselves”

15-year-old Dilvin Mihemed Husen also attends the computer course. “All women should work hard to improve themselves. I take this course to improve myself. I have learned many things. This course is a great opportunity for us and we should use this opportunity.”