Ala'a's Path to Resilience and Creativity
Date:
Ala’a Al-Kasabreh, a mother of 4 daughters from Jordan and a housewife, discovered the Oasis centre in Madaba through a friend's recommendation and proceeded to apply via the available online link.
When asked whether she faced any challenges when she first joined the centre, Ala’a said, “I didn't encounter any difficulties with my family when I started the tailoring course here. They were very supportive and encouraging. The experience was very different and interesting to me; it was beneficial and rewarding. The staff at the centre were also very encouraging.”
“After my experience at the Oasis centre, I am now more creative, more open to new experiences. I feel I am more independent, I feel much better about myself, and can take better care of my family. This experience has added much to my life.”
Over time, the Oasis centres have transformed, providing support to thousands of vulnerable Jordanian and Syrian refugee women. These centres have evolved into comprehensive, multi-sectoral service hubs, with a primary focus on promoting resilience and empowerment among women and girls.
“I am very glad I could meet new people during this journey, we all exchanged and benefitted from each other’s experiences, and I am well connected now.”
Ala’a shares her aspirations, “My dream is to start my own business one day that I can manage.”
She passionately recommends the centre to other women, emphasizing, "I always recommend the centre to all women I know; I always tell them to register. My advice to all women is to never stop trying and experiencing new things."
The Oasis model's remarkable success has earned recognition from both international and national stakeholders. Since its inception in 2012 with a single Oasis centre in Zaatari, UN Women Jordan has extended its reach to establish four Oases in camp settings and eighteen centres in non-camp settings by the close of 2022.
Ala'a's transformative journey, funded by the European Union through the Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian crisis, the Madad Fund and the governments of Canada, Australia, Finland, France, Iceland, and Italy, in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development, echoes the impact of the Oasis centre on women's lives.
