Four Years After its Liberation, Raqqa is Setting an Example for Post-War Syria

When Raqqa was liberated four years ago, the city was largely in ruins. The streets were covered in rubble, its citizens were largely displaced, and tens of thousands of mines and IEDs that were left by ISIS littered the city, posing a huge risk to the safety of both security forces and civilians. The education system of the city had been utilized by ISIS to brainwash the people, including children. Services were nonexistent after months of warfare. The status of women in the city had been abysmal under ISIS rule. Raqqa’s society had to be rebuilt from the ground up.

Dismantling “Power” by building “Democratic Autonomy”

In a time of deep despair, human and ecological crisis, the example of Democratic Autonomy in Rojava has created hope, and given new inspiration to people in Syria and the Middle East. In fact, a lot of people in other parts of the world have become a part of this process and are connecting it to the struggles in their own regions. Despite all the shortcomings and numerous obstacles during the last decade, we have learned that the democratic confederal organization of society can fulfill many spiritual and material needs of society. We have learned that democratic transformation is a continuing process, which requires constant societal and self-reflection. Our achievements are not assured forever, if we do not protect and advance them.

She aims to plant 2 million trees in Dersim

Şükran Yılmaz, who has been making a living by selling grapes growing in her village in Dersim for years, also voluntarily travels from village to village to distribute mulberry and walnut tree seeds to women. The aim of Şükran Yılmaz, who encourages women to take part in the production, is to plant two million mulberry and walnut trees in Dersim.