From Where I Stand: “Some women call me brave for expressing my thoughts, and I respond to them, ‘You are equally brave.’”

Najwa, 33, a mother of five, is employed as a trainer in the beautician section at the UN Women Oasis Centre in Azraq Refugee Camp. Najwa has been caring and providing for her family as her husband is ill. She wants to pass on to her daughters the strength she gained for this experience.

I am Najwa, and I am 33 years old. I am originally from Aleppo, Syria, and I moved to Manbij after I got married. My husband and I sought asylum in Jordan in 2016 with our two daughters, as I was pregnant with our third child. We fled the devastation of war and airstrikes, enduring hardship along the way. Our journey was marked by inadequate accommodations and lack of healthy food.

I was in my ninth month of pregnancy when we were allowed into the camp following a month long stay at the border. We were relieved to be inside the camp because it was safe, and we no longer heard bombing. We could do our laundry. We had food and water. We felt more hopeful.

We were farmers in Syria. I would assist my brothers in their fields. When we arrived here, I did not consider the option of looking for employment at first. I had not yet come to terms with the idea of being able to balance household and professional responsibilities. When I saw people working and found out that the Oasis Centre has been offering job opportunities, without the requirement of a college degree, while ensuring access to childcare, it gave me hope. I learned that the women were working in the beautician section, in tailoring, Information Technology (IT), childcare, supervision, and cleaning.

Finally, I got a place where I could work while my children were being taken care of. I applied to become a trainer in the beautician section, which I had always been interested in. Back in Syria, my husband and I had lived next to a woman who worked in a beauty salon. When I finished my chores, I would visit her and sometimes even help her. I enjoyed this very much. I loved that she worked and was doing so in a safe environment for women. This experience kickstarted a passion for the beauty industry and respect for the idea of women working, but I did not, at that time, have the confidence or courage to start my own business. Now, things have changed. If, I go back to Syria one day, I will continue to work and be a professional. I would like to start my own beauty salon. I am confident that with what I have learned at the Oasis Centre I would be able to build a business there.

Working helps build your self-confidence considerably. It makes you feel like you are contributing to something that matters. As I work, I get to interact with other women in the Oasis Centre and learn from them. I share with them my own experiences as well. I go back home feeling better, excited to be able to spend time with my family after work.

Since joining the Oasis Centre, I exercise greater flexibility in perceiving and responding to things. I have learned patience from the women here. I have also made many friends. I understand the importance of helping each other, and I am amongst people who support me.

The Oasis Centre makes us feel valued. Our experience here has also taught us to appreciate and celebrate ourselves as successful mothers. I can pass this on to my daughters. I can raise them to value their strength and their independence.

Life is not always easy, but a sense of independence and self-confidence can make many things possible. Some women call me brave for expressing my thoughts, and I respond to them, ‘So are you. We are all human. Nobody was born knowing everything. Everyone started from zero. You need to have the confidence. You must keep trying, even if you fail sometimes. You are capable.’”