Strengthening livelihoods and economic resilience in Syria: Shukriya’s story
Syria has faced many challenges over the last decade. Years of conflict and subsequent displacement have left many people struggling to make ends meet. Dorcas Syria supports those in need by providing livelihood training and practical assistance to support them in rebuilding their lives and earning a sustainable income. One of our project participants is Shukriya.
Shukriya is a woman in her fifties who lives in Aleppo. She is married and a mother of five children. Despite her own health issues and caring for two children with health problems, she did not give up. She continued to search for ways to secure a better life for her family.
In 2011, ongoing conflict and heavy shelling forced her and her family to flee. They left their partly destroyed home behind. While her husband took on various jobs to provide for the family, Shukriya cared for the children. Accessing medical care was a daily challenge due to the conflict and the poor state of health services. During this time, one of her daughters passed away, causing her profound grief.
A step towards economic flourishing
When the security situation improved, Shukriya returned to Aleppo in 2019 and made a decision that changed her life. Despite her family responsibilities and the long distances she had to walk each day to attend, she enrolled in a training course in detergent production at the Syrian Amanah Centre and received a certificate.
After completing the course, Shukriya started her own small detergent-making business even though she had very limited resources and no proper equipment. Her husband supported the venture while working at a small street stall. Later, Shukriya applied to the Dorcas Syria Livelihoods Programme to further expand her business. She participated in focus group discussions, demonstrating strong determination. As part of the programme, she was given the opportunity to attend training in small business management and entrepreneurship.
Building a sustainable future
These training sessions equipped Shukriya with improved skills in market analysis, pricing and marketing. She also received equipment to grow her business. Today, she continues to develop her business and expand her customer base by improving the quality of her products. Despite ongoing economic challenges and rising raw material costs, she has not given up. Thanks to her hard work, her income has increased by more than 50 per cent.
Shukriya says, ‘I am thankful that Dorcas supported my project. Today, I can provide a decent life for my family.’
