ŞİRİN MUHAMMED

Qamishlo- The Peyam Association for Orphan Care was founded in the town of Amuda, Jazira Canton of North and East Syria, to provide health, psychological and educational support to orphans.

The association also aims to promote women’s economic empowerment by organizing vocational courses for women, especially widows.

Saada Khalil decided to found an organization to support children orphaned by the Syrian civil war after seeing many orphaned children in the streets of Amuda. Children saying, “We have neither mother nor father” deeply affected her, leading her to start a small-scale project and then to found the association supported by local people.

 “We founded the association three years ago to provide financial, health, psychological and educational support to the children orphaned by the war,” said Saada Khalil, founder of the association. We care about education. At the beginning, we faced many challenges due to the high school dropout rate. We sought the cause of this high rate. Now, we provide school supplies to children and organize education courses for children.”

The association also provides support to women, especially widows. “Women, who have lost their spouses and are pregnant, need support,” said Saada Khalil. “We have organized vocational courses such as sewing, nursing and healthcare, crafts, and crochet courses to promote their economic empowerment. Until now, we have supported more than 50 women in Amuda. Some of them have already started their own business after completing the courses. These simple steps make a huge difference in the lives of many women.”

The association works in coordination with local organizations such as the Council of Martyrs Families to provide support to the orphaned children and women. “We make great efforts all year round to support children and women. The association is a safe space for them.”