Roshel Junior

As-Sweida – The women of the Syrian city of Sweida continue their preparatory efforts to launch a Women's Collective Forum aimed at unifying women's energies and enhancing their role in society.

The Women's Collective Forum aims to strengthen women's presence and enable their active participation in various social, cultural, economic, and political fields, ensuring the optimal investment of their voices and abilities, and consolidating their role as a fundamental partner in shaping the present and drawing the features of the future.

Raja Al‑Shoufi, a teacher and one of the participants in the forum's preparation, said that the idea for the forum was launched on International Women's Day after observing the great efforts and capabilities possessed by the women of Sweida, and their ability to withstand the various challenges and circumstances the city has gone through.

She added that the women behind the initiative saw that the city of Sweida is characterized by the diversity of its social and cultural components, which prompted them to think of organizing a forum that brings together women from all walks of life – whether educated, religious, cultured, young, musicians, or workers – reflecting the true diversity present in society.

Raja Al‑Shoufi explained that work began by rallying support for the idea, which met with great acceptance and turnout from women, encouraging the team to move forward with practical steps, including preparing a questionnaire addressing the goals, aspirations, and expected outcomes of the forum. Communication and meetings have also taken place with a large number of women in various areas and villages, and these meetings continue, with a clear desire among women to participate and contribute to the success of the project.

She pointed out that the mobilization and support process is carried out through two tracks: the first is electronic, through publishing a questionnaire link that reaches women in distant villages and areas who are difficult to contact directly; the second is field‑based, through communication with women's organizations and influential women figures in the city. In this context, a meeting was held in Shahba city and several meetings in Sweida city, and similar meetings are being prepared in Salakhad and Al‑Qraya.

Unifying efforts

For her part, political and civil activist Raqiya Al‑Sha'er, one of the participants in launching the idea, affirmed that the forum came in response to the need of Sweida's women to unify their efforts and place them within an organized framework that allows them to be a real and active partner in community development processes, as well as in decision‑making centers.

She explained that the work path includes several stages, starting with mobilizing support from women's organizations and local community women, then moving to forming a preparatory committee comprising one or more representatives from each women's organization in Sweida, in addition to independent women, to ensure the broadest possible representation of women.

She added that the task of the preparatory committee will be to prepare the main agenda of the forum, plan its venue, number of participants, objectives, and the committees that will emerge from it. After the forum is held, the implementation of its outcomes will be followed up through the formation of specialized follow‑up committees that work to transform recommendations and agreements into practical steps on the ground.

A space for exchanging experiences and expertise

For her part, Amal Al‑Atwani, a kindergarten director and one of the participants in the forum's preparation, said that this project contributes to enhancing women's role and raising their voice within society, provides a space for exchanging life experiences and expertise, and contributes to women's self‑development at various levels.

She added that the forum would raise women's awareness in various life fields, as well as enhance knowledge of women's rights and individual rights in general. It will also form a space for building social relationships and mutual support networks among women, whether at the social or economic level, in addition to skills development and capacity building.

Regarding the expected support from the local community, Amal Al‑Atwani explained that the community is the primary and most important pillar for the forum's success, affirming that the anticipated support will be local first and foremost, not external. She pointed out that the local community can contribute to enhancing the forum's credibility, securing event venues, and supporting its activities media‑wise and field‑wise, helping to achieve its goals.

Regarding expected outcomes, she believes that the forum may achieve positive effects at the social and economic levels, through empowering women and developing their capabilities, in addition to contributing to creating job opportunities and enhancing women's ability to adapt to various life circumstances by acquiring the necessary awareness and skills.

She also spoke about the possibility of the forum becoming a positive pressure group on social issues, explaining that this can be achieved by organizing individual efforts and transforming them into organized social work based on planning, coordination, prioritization, identifying obstacles, and working to address them.

She affirmed the importance of social media in supporting the forum's success, alongside dialogues and discussions that bring together various groups of women and decision‑makers, which may lead to initiatives and projects with tangible impact on society.

Regarding the expected future impact of the forum on the reality of women in Sweida, Amal Al‑Atwani said that the initiative represents a transition from individual work to organized collective work, which may reflect positively on various groups of women in the city, especially as participation expands to include the entire city of Sweida.

She sent a message to women ahead of the forum's launch, calling for dialogue based on love and acceptance of others' opinions, organizing ideas and views to serve the common goal, affirming that differences in perspectives and ways of thinking are natural, but success requires managing this diversity with a positive spirit and constructive dialogue.

In her vision for the future of women's work in the coming years, she expressed optimism about the possibility of achieving positive results if work continues in an organized manner with the participation of various groups of women.

Amal Al‑Atwani pointed to a set of skills that women need to enhance their societal presence, including self‑confidence, independence, decision‑making ability, as well as persuasion and communication skills, conveying ideas, and dealing intelligently with others. She stressed the need for women to possess knowledge, technological development, and awareness in various fields, to help them be more influential and capable of active participation in society.